How can you make a difference? 

Student Athletes need the support of their parents/guardians in the stands while participating in school sponsored events.  The pandemic has created so many obstacles but a plan can be implemented to safely follow the Virginia Governor's Executive Order.    

VHSL has approved the attendance of spectators at school sponsored sporting events.  

Under Executive Order 72 - Governor of Virginia

https://www.governor.virginia.gov › executive-actions dated Dec 13, 2020 — Recreational Sports a. For sports played indoors, spectators must be limited to 25 persons per field. For sports played outdoors, spectators are limited to two guests per player. The total number of spectators cannot exceed 30 percent of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue.

Of course each stadium or sport complex in the Seminole District will offer different spectator capacities based on the 30% guideline implemented by the Virginia Governor.  

LCA stadium:  30% capacity would cap near 3600 or 5706 spectators

Lynchburg Stadium:  30% capacity would cap near 4500 spectators

Liberty High School:  30% capacity would cap near 600 spectators

Jefferson Forest High School:  30% capacity would cap near 600 spectators

Brookville High School:  30% capacity would cap near 1200 spectators

Amherst High School:  30% capacity would cap near 600 spectators

 

 

Historically during the 11 months, the pandemic has taught us that athletes can participate in sporting events and have spectators attend safely.  This has been done with many travel team sports, college sport teams, and professional sport teams.  Also, many other states and different localities in the Commonwealth have worked closely with their local health departments and created solid implemented protocols to safely allow spectators attendance at different sporting events.  

Here is our Parent  attendance policy for games:

We are still limited to spectator capacity based on the school/stadium total non-participants in the stadium per the Virginia governor’s executive order. 

● We are allowing families that are on the pass list to come to games. Those families will undergo a Covid Screening and temperature check at a designated checkpoint and then be allowed on the bleacher side of the field at Stinger Stadium or spread out around the stadium and socially distanced and masked. 
 

● Visiting teams will be allowed while being expected to follow the same expectations.  . 
● Remember to show your school pride while showing great sportsmanship
 

 ****areas can pre sectioned off, screenings can occur prior to entering, law enforcements could be utilized to enforce social distancing or designated adults

 

A plan should be developed with the local health department 

 

The ones in charge need to understand they are the advocates for the student athletes and their actions are showing students how to deal with situations.  Good leadership involves takes a proactive approach and allows students, parents, educators and others to voice their concerns and allows for them to have choices.

-The Gillispies (BHS)