Will there be fans?

L
ast week, the Wyoming High School Activities Association released information on the fast approaching fall sports seasons.
In their announcement, the WHSAA has made the decision to move forward with the fall seasons of football, volleyball, cross country and girl’s swimming, and I have to be honest and say that I am very happy to hear this news.
After losing out on the end of basketball last spring, and having soccer and track cancelled altogether, I’ve been so hoping that the kids would be able to get back on the field/court this fall, but after watching professional and college sports also shut down, I have to admit that I was nervous.
Now that those nervous thoughts have been put to rest, I’m getting excited for what this 2020 season will bring, and as I look forward to sports getting underway in a few short weeks, I have turned to wondering what their competitions are going to look like.
Will other schools in the conference also decide to get their seasons underway? Will fans be able to attend the games? 
The WHSAA has apparently made comprehensive plans for several possible scenarios given the very different situations the fall sports present, and for sure there is a lot for them to consider. With practices beginning in less than two weeks, it was vital that they line out the regulations and expectations for each sport, but they have yet to make an official announcement regarding whether or not there can be fans in the stands to support the teams.
As Dogie football head coach Matt Conzelman said in an interview on Sunday, if it comes down to not being able to play if there are fans, but they can without, they will play without. However, he also admitted that the Dogie Nation in the stands are also the team’s 12th man, and they will miss them if they are not there to support them.
With the first competitions a little over four weeks away, the WHSAA has a bit of time to map out regulations regarding attendance at competitions, and I hope that there will be a way to at least allow parents/families the ability to watch their kids compete. 
I remember hating every time I had a kid who was participating in an event that I could not attend, so to have to miss an entire season would be excruciating. 
However, I also know that I would rather them have the ability to play without me than have to sit out without me there.
And in Newcastle, we are blessed with the technology to allow fans to watch the games on their computers via the awesome cameras installed in both the Dogie Dome and the middle school gyms, as well as the football field (which is a new camera expected to be installed prior to the first contest).
I expect that the WHSAA will allow spectators into contests, but that there will be requirements and regulations for those who attend, including social distancing and mask wearing. 
My hope is that fans can be present and will comply with whatever requirements they meet at each contest. Though we may not like the idea of wearing masks, I guess I’d rather mask up and be able to cheer on our Dogies than be turned away because I don’t want to wear one.
The Coronavirus is here to stay and I fervently hope that we can avoid having to cancel sports again, so I know that I will do whatever is asked of me to make sure that the kids can play.