BELOIT — The West Branch school district has published guidelines for fall sports attendance.
After Gov. Mike DeWine announced fall high school contact sports would be allowed to move forward, the athletic directors of the Eastern Buckeye Conference schools developed attendance protocols that each has committed to follow, schools Superintendent Timothy Saxton told the school board Thursday night.
Admission will be $5 for all sporting events regardless of grade level and there will be no adult or student price, nor season passes for anybody.
For varsity football, Clinton Heacock Stadium home stands hold 525 at 15 percent capacity, which is the limit set by DeWine. Each player, cheerleader and band member will be given up to four vouchers per home game that may be given to whomever they want. The vouchers can then be used to purchase admission at the gate.
Masks must be worn at at all times by fans while inside the stadium and fans must be seated six feet apart unless with their own family members.
Saxton said vouchers for away games will depend on the other venue. It is not clear at this time whether students not participating in the sport will be allowed to attend, he noted.
For visiting teams, the stands hold 203 at 15 percent capacity. Each visiting team can pass out vouchers for a varsity football game that can be used to purchase admission. Teams will be allowed 20 names for free admission.
All fans will be allowed to attend contests for junior varsity and middle school football at the stadium and boys and girls soccer at the soccer field. Masks must be worn by all fans and fans must stay 6 feet apart unless sitting with family members.
Attendance for both high school and middle school volleyball will be limited. Each player will receive up to four vouchers to each home game and no passes will be accepted. Visiting teams will be allowed 10 names for free admission and 100 vouchers to pass out. Fans must wear masks at all times and be seated 6 feet apart unless sitting with their own family members.
Fans are expected to sanitize their hands before entering a venue and do a self health check before attending. A failure to comply with rules will result in removal from the event.
For football, home fans will park and enter the stadium from the north parking lot. Visitors will park and enter the stadium from the south parking lot.
Fans are reminded the students have worked hard to prepare for the season and following the rules per state guidelines will give them the best chance to complete their seasons.
The guidelines are available on the district’s website at www.westbranch.k12.oh.us as well as its Facebook page.
In other business, Saxton responded to visitor concerns regarding the district’s social media sites. He said the district is streamlining all the district’s school buildings to the main Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WBLSD) Sept. 1 to ensure all messages are going out through the one page. All other social media outlets will remain the same, including Twitter and Remind, he said.
Saxton also reported an online survey remains available for parents to share their plans for attendance and transportation of their children. Parents without access to Internet should call the central office at 330-938-9324 or their child’s building for assistance in completing the survey.
