School Protocols

 By: Rhianna Dozier 

With the fall semester vastly closing, many sports teams are starting to have practice again in an effort to prepare for their season in the spring. Practices are outside were social distancing allows the athletes to still follow COVID-19 protocol. Teams have set schedules to ensure that the field or core is not being shared by more than one team at a time. Masks are still being worn and players are being tested weekly. 

Schools are limiting the number of fans being allowed in arenas in stadiums. Players will have to be tested before traveling to the other schools and upon arrival to the school. Masks must be worn at all times unless during physical activity. Universities have their work cut out for them in the spring with fall and spring sports happening at the same time. 

In addition, with the holiday season coming up, many foreign athletes will not be able to travel for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cities are starting to see a spike in COVID-19 cases as some aspects of life were just hinting at getting back to normal. New protocols are being put in place that are not allowing people from other countries to enter back into the US once having left. Some states are even trying to ban family gatherings at Thanksgiving to try and stop the spread of COVID-19. 

So, what does this mean for the foreign athletes? 

Well, many of them are being forced to stay behind and spend the holidays at school in fear that if they leave to go home to their country, they will not be allowed to return for the spring semester. Because of this, universities across the nation are hosting Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas dinners and celebrations for the students who have to spend it alone.