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| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional
Fewer spectators allowed for sports return By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor MECHANICSVILLE – Official practices for winter sports are set to begin Monday at Virginia High School League member schools, but they begin in an atmosphere of great uncertainty amid a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic and everevolving guidelines on how to resume a life that is nowhere near returning to routine. In light of the surge in COVID cases both within Virginia and nationwide, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Nov. 6 ordered a cap on both indoor and outdoor in-person gatherings to a maximum of 25 people. Northam spokesperson Alena Yarmosky clarified what exactly the cap applied to. “It’s important to note that the 25 person gathering ban, as always, applies to gatherings,” Yarmosky tweeted. “That means parties, celebrations, or group hangouts -- it *does not* apply to religious services, employment settings, retail stores, or school classrooms.” Nevertheless, there was likewise some confusion as to how Northam’s Nov. 6 order would affect the resumption of high school sports. The VHSL clarified that the 25-person limit applied to spectators only. “We want to make it very clear that the Governor’s order
Basketball regionals limited to eight teams By Tim Pearrell Richmond Times-Dispatch
Rachel Witham for The Local
Spectators, including cheerleaders and pep bands, will be limited to 25 people according to revised VHSL participation guidelines.
for reduction in public and private gatherings to 25 individuals applies to ‘spectators’ and not participants at those events,” VHSL executive director Billy Haun said in a Nov. 13 press release. “Nothing in the order prevents VHSL member schools from holding contests.” The VHSL release clarified the definition of both spectators and participants in a subse-
quent press release on Nov. 20. “The governor’s order defines ‘participants’ as players, coaches, officials, school event staff and school administration critical to the operations of the contests, media, law enforcement, and medical services,” the release said. “Cheerleaders, pep bands, etc., and other student support groups, are counted as spectators in the limit of 25
25 spectators per field. Races allowed at events.” or marathons may have up But the 25-person limit on to 250 participants, provided spectators is actually an upper staggered starts separate runbound. The governor’s modiners into groups of 25 or less. fied guidelines as listed in his Amended Executive Order 67 b. Conduct screening of coaches, officials, staff, and players for mandate: COVID-19 symptoms prior a. The total number of spectato admission to the venue/ tors cannot exceed the lesser facility. of 30% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or see SPECTATORS, pg. 26
The Mechanicsville Local
If area public schools get to play boys and girls basketball this season, most of the various regions they play in will have eightteam playoffs. All regions have one week to complete their playoffs this year under the Virginia High School League’s condensed schedule due to the pandemic, which essentially caps the number of qualifiers in basketball at eight. “Otherwise you’d have to play four games in five days,” J.R. Tucker activities director Chris Brown said. “That time of year, you always have the weather issue kind of hanging out there. You’ve got to get this see REGIONALS, pg. 26
December 2, 2020
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