Protocols for the first football game

Football's first game will involve protocols and guidelines that are in place in order to keep players, coaches, referees and fans safe while in attendance.

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Aaron Howard takes the snap in the shotgun | Mike Ritter for The Criterion

In order to have the first football game run safely and smoothly for both players and fans, there will have to be protocols in place.

 As per the state mandate, most of the safety produces entail wearing masks and staying six feet apart when possible. They will also stay pretty much the same as protocols for the scrimmages.

“Our kids are going to have masks with their helmets on, coaches will always wear masks, so I think what you’ve been seeing at the scrimmage is about what it is. I think that’s what’s been protecting us the most,”  Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Head Football Coach, Tremaine Jackson, said.

There is also the problem of dealing with the other team. There are procedures in place to keep all players and coaching staff safe.

“For the teams, we are doing symptom checks as they arrive at the facility and for any of our essential personnel that are working the event. We are temperature checking the teams and anybody who is going to be on the sideline,” Co-Athletic Director, Bryan Rooks, said.

Fans are going to have new considerations as well; they will be asked to wear masks at all times.

“We’re going to try to social distance. We’ve got signage in the facility for social distancing and spacing. And we’re going to have ushers in the bleachers to social distance people as they get seated,” Rooks said.

In order to control the number of people in the stadium, tickets have only been available online and will not be available at the gate.

“Everybody should have a virtual ticket on their iPhone or email, so it’s just going to be a quick scan,” Rooks said.

To prevent any possible spread of the virus between players and the community, “there will be no fan interaction with the teams at all,” Rooks concluded.

Tailgating, as enjoyable and traditional as it is, will not be allowed. 

CMU has asked any fans who are experiencing any symptoms listed in this article on the CMU Athletics website please not attend the game.