Fans will be allowed at Churchill County High School and Oasis Academy home competitions for fall sports this season.
But there's a catch.
CCHS Athletics Director Brad Daum released a statement on Friday that the school will provide two tickets for each student-athlete per home contest for tennis, volleyball, soccer, girls golf and football. Tickets will not be available for the public, including visitors, at this time.
“The Greenwave student-athletes and coaches are extremely excited about the opportunity to participate and compete in high school sports once again,” Daum said in the release. “We look forward to the opportunity that we have in playing high school sports again. We will keep families and the public updated about the changes in guidelines for events—as spectator limits increase, updates will be provided on the changes in amounts of those who can attend our events. All updates will be posted on the CCHS Athletics Webpage.”
Fallon’s boys tennis, soccer and volleyball teams begin the season this weekend at home, while the girls tennis and football teams host their first contest in two weeks.
Oasis Academy, which competes in the 1A, is also providing two tickets for each student-athlete. The Bighorns host only volleyball matches this season; their first home game is in two weeks. The cross country team does not have any home meets.
In the statement, Daum said the spectator guidelines apply to both indoor and outdoor sporting events. The school will issue two seat-reservation vouchers to each Greenwave student-athlete in an NIAA-sanctioned sport. Cheerleaders will be at the home football games, but seat-reservation vouchers will be determined based on availability.
Fans and student-athletes will be required to leave the school site once their game or contest has completed. Spectators who have a voucher for a following game that same day will be required to exit and re-enter after disinfecting has been completed. Fans will go through a screening prior to entering, and masks and social distancing will be enforced.
Under the current state directive until March 15, only 100 spectators are allowed before the limit increases to 250 if the state's COVID-19 numbers continue improving. In addition to the 100-person limit, CCHS venues must allow for social distancing of 6 feet between spectators and 25 feet between spectators and players. Spectators will also need to be screened, including a temperature check.
The Greenwave's spectator plan aligns with the rest of the 3A East, which includes Lowry, Fernley, Elko and Spring Creek. It's unknown which 1A schools are allowing fans.
“Many protocols and procedures have been developed by the NIAA in order for each sport to successfully begin during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Daum said. “The Northern 3A athletic administrators and directors have had to make some very difficult decisions in regards to admission tickets and who gets into games/contests. These districts have aligned their guidelines to ensure that our student athletes have equitable experiences this year and to make this experience the best it can be during these challenging times.”
All but Fernley will allow two tickets per student-athlete per home game. Lyon County is allowing three fans per student-athlete. No visiting fans will be allowed at any venue in the 3A. Fernley's football team, however, will not have any home games due to field conditions, which means Fernley spectators may miss out completely on the football season unless schools decide to allow visitors.
Not all is lost, though, for those who cannot attend games.
Greenwave and Bighorns games will be streamed online on the National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS) Network at www.nfhsnetwork.com. Fallon had cameras installed inside the Elmo Dericco Gymnasium and football field of the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex. Oasis Academy had one installed in the city-county gym.
“This system is set to be in place and even grow over the next several years,” Daum said.
