We want to see the amount of spectators allowed at all Holland Patent winter sports events change. The rule of allowing 2 spectators per player is outdated and needs to be changed immediately. While these rules are upheld to keep everyone safe from COVID-19, there are many schools in the surrounding area that allow 4 spectators per player, 50% gym capacity, or don’t limit the amount at all. For example, West Canada, RFA, Clinton, Adirondack, Oriskany, and Oneida. 

These school districts may not be in the CSC league, but they are in Oneida county or surrounding counties. If we do not allow our gyms to be filled to capacity, why are we sending out athletes to play teams that allow theirs to be? We want to see any alternative that allows more than two spectators to enter the gym for athletic events. Something needs to be done quickly about this regulation as athletes, parents, and members of the community are fed up and want to see a change. 

Senior athletes and athletes with divorced parents specifically wish to see this change. Nobody should have to choose which family members are excluded from coming to a sporting event. We see other schools promoting their games to “pack the gym” and “pack the student section”, and we are worried about who to give our tickets to for our next home game. It’s time to start living life again and allowing this to return to some form of normalcy. 

Please consider signing this petition to show the Holland Patent Central School District the amount of disagreement with this regulation.