Schools warned to follow UIL guidelines over face masks, social distancing
When the UIL announced it would go ahead with football season, there were no guarantees all games would be played.
The University Interscholastic League takes COVID-19 seriously. It began by limiting stadium capacity to 50%. There are stipulations that fans must wear masks and maintain proper social distancing. Multiple signs at venues throughout the state urge fans to follow these guidelines.
The Canyon Lake-Wimberley game was just one example of fans ignoring the signs and public address announcements on the subject. The same held true in Lampasas, Burnet and many other venues in Texas.
UIL officials took note of videos and photographs of large crowds on social media and responded swiftly. This week they reposted mandatory guidelines on their website.
“As we get fall seasons underway, UIL is reminding schools that it is critical to follow the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Guidelines so we can continue to offer the opportunity for students to compete in UIL activities this year,” a UIL spokesman said Wednesday.
“Any allegations of not following COVID-19 Risk Mitigation guidelines will be handled in the same manner as other UIL violations.”
According to UIL guidelines, penalties for disobeying these guidelines range from simple reprimands to shutting down sports.
Imagine the anxiety from Class 6A and Class 5A coaches and players whose seasons don't start until Sept. 24 and 25. It would be crushing to stop play before the big schools had a chance to start.
Anyone with a pulse should know the seriousness of the global pandemic. There is a reason several college football conferences — including the Big Ten and Pac-12 — are not playing this year. There is a reason that 13 states and the District of Columbia will not have high school football this fall.
Although games last week were played mostly in small communities, the coronavirus does not only hit big cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
Take Hays County, for example. Nearly 230,000 people live in the county that includes Wimberley, Kyle, San Marcos, Buda and Dripping Springs. According to local health officials, there have been 5,410 confirmed cases and 56 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Burnet County, which has a population of roughly 48,000 people, announced it has had 670 confirmed cases and 12 deaths attributed to the virus.
Lampasas County, which has 21,248 people, reports 154 confirmed cases and six deaths related to COVID-19.
Don’t be surprised to see changes to stadium seating this week. Superintendents, principals and coaches have been notified by the UIL. That also goes for Class 6A and 5A teams who can learn from opening-day lapses in judgment from smaller schools.
Give Burnet credit for addressing the issue quickly. District athletic director Kurt Jones said all fans at the school’s volleyball game on Tuesday wore masks and practiced social distancing. When the football team has its next home game on Sept. 11, every other row at Bulldog Stadium will be blocked off, Jones said.
New San Marcos coach John Walsh, who guided Denton Guyer to the Class 6A Division II state championship game against Westlake last fall, said his district is limiting seating capacity to 37.5%. Ushers will be provided to ensure social distancing.
Pflugerville school district athletic director Todd Raymond said stadium staff, the police department and campus administrators will be at games to disperse crowds.
Among the fans who will not attend games this fall is Dr. Newt Hasson, Westlake’s longtime team doctor and a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Hasson, who had heart replacement surgery in February, will skip the season because his transplant cardiologist warned there is a “significant chance” he would die if he contracted COVID-19.
Hasson, who has witnessed high school football in Central Texas since 1983, watched the Canyon Lake-Wimberley game on TV last Friday and applauded both teams for exceptional play that included a late goal-line stand by the Texans to seal a 24-22 victory.
“What the game didn't have, however, was fans in the stands on either side of the field wearing masks or practicing social distancing,” he said. “Very disappointing. Going forward, our school administrators need to strictly enforce those two parameters to help slow the spread of COVID-19."
Fans are encouraged to do their part, too.