Spectator policy in place

Tickets will be limited. Spectators will too.

But at least the stands won’t be empty.

Ticketing priority will be given to immediate families of athletes and a plan for spectators was also announced for all Jay County Junior-Senior High School athletic events this fall, Jay School Corporation announced in a release Wednesday.

“The goal of the Jay County Junior-Senior High School Athletic Department is to preserve the opportunities and experiences of interscholastic competition within the safest conditions possible in the environment of COVID-19,” the athletic department said in its release. “In order to achieve this goal, all (15) athletic teams made of Jay County Junior-Senior High School students competing this fall will require modified spectator attendance planning in accordance with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive orders.”

The corporation’s plan was approved in conjunction with Jay County Health Department environmentalist and administrator Heath Butz.

“It is important to understand that the willingness of spectators to cooperate will impact the ability of the Jay School Corporation to maintain in-person attendance and student athletic participation,” the release said while also emphasizing spectators to self monitor for symptoms of COVID-19.

For the full release, visit bit.ly/JSCathletics.

Priority for tickets to events will first go to immediate families — the parents, siblings and grandparents of team members, managers, band members and cheerleaders.

Second priority will go to junior high and high school students, then those who hold a Patriot Pass, Super Ticket or season tickets. The fourth priority level will go to the general public, and then a limited number of tickets will be provided to families of opposing teams.

Tickets will not be sold at the door at any contest.

In terms of attendance at such events, each venue will have a separate entrance, area of seating and set of restroom facilities for each section. Those sections will be filled to a maximum of 50 percent of available seating capacity.

Ticket checkers will be wearing masks and gloves, and fans entering the contests will place their tickets in a box with a minimum of 6 feet between the fan and the checker.

For outdoor venues such as Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium, the soccer fields and tennis courts, facial coverings will be required for spectators when proper social distancing is not possible between family groupings.

Facial coverings are required at all indoor venues.

Items at concession stands will be commercially pre-packaged, and workers will be trained and equipped to eliminate contamination. Additionally, barriers will be in place to limit air flow between patrons and staff, and 6-foot spacing designations will be at each stand.

“Spectators are encouraged to time their visits to concession areas accordingly with social distancing opportunities,” the release stated.

In an effort to thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces, custodial staff will be increased for each event, and additional sanitizing stations will be put in place.

For those unable to attend Jay County athletic events, the corporation will attempt to livestream as many contests as possible.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

The athletic department wishes for questions regarding its new policy to be submitted by visiting the following link: bit.ly/JSCathleticquestions.