North Iowa sets guidelines for fall sports spectators

After a shortened summer sports season, North Iowa Community School is looking forward to getting the fall sports season started on schedule at the end of August. The risk of COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, however, and the school has released guidelines to help keep fans and players safe as they attend games.

North Iowa is strongly encouraging spectators to wear masks this fall, and people will be expected to follow the six-foot social distancing guidelines recommended by the CDC. If social distancing can’t be maintained, then people will be expected to wear masks.

Bleachers at the athletic facilities will be marked to indicate where fans should not sit for social distancing. The school does not plan to limit the number of fans at this time.

Students are asked to sit in groups of no more than 10 people and to space out six feet away from other groups. Masks are recommended within student groups.

To accommodate larger crowds of people during home volleyball tournaments, the school will only allow fans of the teams that are currently playing inside the gym. Others will be able to wait in the commons area, the wellness center gym, or outdoors.

Anyone who feels ill, is experiencing symptoms of illness, or who has been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case is asked not to attend.

Hand sanitizer will be available at the ticket taker table, and barriers will be in place at that table as well as the concession stand. Workers at those stations will be wearing masks and gloves for everyone’s safety.

North Iowa Activities Director Meggon Jacobs notes that each school district is forming their own guidelines, and she plans to share guidelines from other schools where North Iowa will be playing as those become available.

The football team will start the season with away games at Northwood on Aug. 28 and at Riceville on Sept. 4. The first home game is against Janesville on Sept. 11.

The first two events on the volleyball schedule are also on the road, with a match at Garner on Aug. 27 and a tournament, also in Garner, on Aug. 29. The first home volleyball game is Sept. 1 against North Union.

The cross country team’s first meet will be in Mason City on Sept. 1 at the MercyOne West campus.