White County football and girls’ soccer to begin seasons on time

Gov. Bill Lee has issued Executive Order No. 55 that will allow contact sports to resume, which means both football and girls’ soccer can presumably complete their full game schedules.

According to  Terry Crain, White County athletic director, White County Middle School and White County High School Warriors and Warriorettes are ready to get back in action.

The condition for beginning contact training and games is that teams are following the newest guidelines issued by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

“At contests, all coaches, players, team personnel, officials, administrators, and fans must have their temperatures checked before entering the facility,” Crain said, explaining one of the major changes for this year’s sports seasons to begin. “No one whose temperature measures 100.4 or greater may be admitted.  For spectator screening areas, if a line forms or is anticipated to form, ensure six or more feet of separation between persons or household groups.”

 In addition, at each contest, a symptom checklist will be posted at the spectator entrance(s) instructing that anyone who is experiencing any of these symptoms during the preceding seven days must not be admitted: Fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, shaking chills, chest pain, pressure, or tightness with exercise, fatigue or difficulty with exercise, racing heart rate, unusual dizziness, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, or unusual rash or painful discoloration of fingers or toes.

All TSSAA member schools, of which White County is one, will require that all fans wear facial coverings at all times while onsite (except children under age 2) and maintain social distancing, which is described as six feet, or the equivalent of two empty seats between themselves and other fans, from anyone other than those living in the same household.

“We ask fans to practice social distancing while inside our facilities,” Crain said.

Crain believes the stadium at Dee Harris Field, as well as the soccer stadium at the sports complex located at White County Middle School, provide ample room for all fans to attend games and still maintain the required social distancing.

“With everyone’s cooperation, hopefully we won’t need to limit the number of fans at games,” he said.

Crain did warn that if fans didn’t follow the guidelines, White County athletics could be forced to limit the number of spectators allowed inside the gated fields in order to comply with the TSSAA guidelines.

“We ask fans to please be patient with our ticket gate and concession stand workers,” he said. “We are all working very hard to make sure our students have a safe season.”

Other changes that will be in effect this year include no pre-game and post-game handshakes between teams and a limited number of coaches and officials in pre-game meetings to discuss rules and game specifics.

Additionally, according to Crain, White County Marching Band members as well as cheerleaders will need to remain in their designated areas. When they leave these areas, they will be required to wear a mask or face covering just as spectators will be doing.

While things won’t be the same as in previous seasons, all White County sports seasons are set to begin as they had regularly been scheduled, and all teams are expected to complete their full schedules. Football and girls’ soccer both kick off their seasons in the middle of August, and Crain expects a smooth transition with fans as they comply with the new guidelines.

“Warrior fans are the greatest,” he said. “I know they will do whatever it takes to make our events the best in the state.