Lawton Public Schools announced it will allow fans to attend fall athletic competitions under strict guidelines, according to district athletic director Gary Dees.
Dees recently released the LPS Sports Attendance Plan and it sets forth guidelines that all schools competing in fall athletics will have to enforce.
The plan lays out specific protocols for fans, band and cheer, staff, concessions, and security. They include that facial covering must be worn unless a person is eating food. That includes outdoor events such as football, cross country and softball.
According to Dees, there is no exception. The same rules apply to fans of opposing teams who compete at any LPS facility or district-sponsored event.
“They won’t be allowed to enter the stadium if they do not have a mask,” Dees said. “They’ll have to have a mask and they’ll have to socially distance. I’m not going to arrest anybody, but we would ask them to follow our guidance just to make sure that we keep ev- erybody safe.”
Anyone who does not follow the LPS protocols will have to leave, according to Dees.
“Our officers are being tasked with making sure that the mask mandate is followed,” Dees said. “So, what will happen is the officer would go up and nicely ask the person to put on their mask. And we understand that you’re going to have to be able to eat and drink and stuff like that. But if they’re just sitting there, we’d ask them to put on a mask.”
LPS sent out an earlier version original Sports Attendance Plan to district teachers and parents Aug. 9. But Dees recalled it later in the week saying they had to make some revisions to plan.
“This is changing so much, the guidance we’re getting, the plan that’s coming out, it was outdated before you could really get it out there,” Dees said.
The original version contained specific protocols for athletes and coaches as well. It stated when players were not on the field competing, they must also wear facial coverings.
That has been removed from the current LPS plan. Now it’s up to the coaches to determine what to do about facial coverings for athletes not in games and for themselves.
“We just pulled some stuff because what we were wanting to do is; it had some stuff, information about coaches and players,” Dees said. “And we pulled that just because I’m going to work with those players and coaches just between us and the coordinators.”
The original version also stated that opposing athletes, coaches, band members and cheer had to follow the same protocols. But that was also taken out.
According to Dees it once again will be up to opposing coaches, band directors and cheer sponsors to let students know what is expected.
“The football coaches will get with the other football coaches and tell them what our expectations are when they come to Lawton,” Dees said. “I expect that’s what’s going to happen everywhere.”
Other steps include having the entrance to facility taped off in six-foot intervals, hand sanitizer being made available, social distancing by families and reduced capacity if necessary. Officials haven’t announced what percentage of fans they will allow into facilities.
LPS said all facilities must be disinfected before games can start and be sanitized and fogged after each contest. Those working the concession stands are not only required to wear masks and gloves, but those who take money are not allowed to handle the food.
Even though LPS schools have already started fall competition in which fans were in attendance, the new guidelines and protocols are expected to be in use this week going forward.
The LPS announcement comes on the heels of the Putnam City School District announcing that no fans, including parents, would be allowed to attend sporting events in 2020.
However, Dees believes Lawton schools are in a different situation.
“The thing we’re facing is changing every day. But as of right now, we’ve worked really hard on getting our plan in place and we’re doing everything we can to make, and make sure we’re doing all (we) can to keep everybody safe,” Dees said.
“The fans, the staff, the coaches and players, we’ll be wearing (masks), the players will be wearing masks on the sidelines. They’ve been wearing masks outside of any activity on the practice field, in the locker rooms and stuff.
“So, yeah, I think we’re ready as we can be. And we expect there could be some changes, but we’ll just have to adapt when those come up.”