Six Wyoming Valley Conference schools have released spectator guidelines.
As was the case with the fall sports season, it will continue to be a fluid situation and plans could change based on guidance from the state. For now, however, these are the guidelines set forth by the six school districts that announced their decision. The other districts did not respond to inquiries seeking their policies.
Hanover Area
Will not permit fans to attend home sporting events for the time being. If indoor restrictions are changed, the school district will revisit its decision. All home games will be live streamed via the school’s YouTube channel.
Hazleton Area
Will follow the state Department of Health guidelines for spectators (10% capacity). There will be no public ticket sales and passes will not be accepted. Each Hazleton Area player/cheerleader will be allotted four tickets. Visiting spectators will not be permitted. Home basketball games will be broadcast on WYLN Television and/or livestreamed on the hasd.org Facebook page. No home or away spectators will be permitted in the natatorium.
Nanticoke Area
Will admit a limited number of players’ families to games. Passes will be issued to those fans. Tickets will not be sold and nobody else will be admitted, including the visitors’ fans. Nanticoke Area will have a livestream available on the NFHS Network, which people can watch for a fee.
Wilkes-Barre Area
Will not permit fans for home sporting events in January. A review will be completed to determine availability for February.
Wyoming Area
Will not permit fans. If state guidelines move from 10% to 20%, the school district will permit home fans first then figure out who is next. With 10% guidelines the capacity of the Wyoming Area gymnasium is 75, which includes both teams, officials, coaches, home cheerleaders, scoreboard operators, trainer and other essential personnel. Passes will not be accepted.
Wyoming Valley West
Valley West will allow home fans for basketball, swimming and diving. Each athlete will receive two tickets. There will be no fans for seventh and eighth grade basketball due to the size of the gym at the Middle School. The school district will continue to update its policy as new information becomes available.
Steve Bennett is a sports writer at The Citizens’ Voice. He began his career as a full-time writer in 1997. He has received a first-place award for three consecutive years from the Keystone Press Awards for his coverage of high school football. Bennett is a graduate of Bishop O’Reilly High School and received his college degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Contact him at sbennett@citizensvoice.com, 570 821-2062 and @CVSteveBennett on Twitter.
