Officials go to great lengths to meet protocols for opening night

Athletic administrators have plenty of schooling to do and courses to take before being thrust into the role of athletic director.

The challenges presented by the novel coronavirus weren’t on anyone’s college syllabus, though.

This fall season - this calendar year in general - has been a lesson in “learning on the go.”

As schools prepare for Week 1 of the high school football season, combined with the protocols and mandates sent forth by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio High School Athletic Association, ADs and school administrators alike are cautiously optimistic that the work they’ve done to this point will make for as smooth of a fall season as possible under the circumstances.

“We are hopeful and cautiously optimistic,” said Mentor AD Jeff Cassella. “We hope that our fans will help us give our athletes a season and count on our athletes to do their part. It is been difficult, but is worth it to allow our student athletes to compete.”

Cassella, along with assistant athletic directors Greg Lohrey and Chad Russo, spent portions of three days taping off seats of all Mentor’s indoor and outdoor sporting venues so as to adhere to the social distancing guidelines mandated by DeWine’s office.

Six feet apart, checkerboard-style, every-other row, six feet apart.

A meticulous chore, indeed.

But necessary, per DeWine’s orders.

DeWine, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Health, mandates that schools can only admit 1,500 spectators or 15 percent of their seating capacity for games. And those fans must be spread out, socially-distanced, accordingly.

High schools may also submit plans to exceed spectator limits this fall, if it allows more family members to see their studentathletes.

But in general, schools will be limited to 1,500 total spectators or 15 percent of their seating capacity. “The main purpose of permitting spectators at school sports events is for officials and loved ones of players, coaches, team staff members, other event participants to attend,” DeWine said earlier this week. “Ideally, the spectator limit would enable at least two, and perhaps up to four, family members to attend a sports event, provided that the venue is large enough to allow at least six feet of social distancing between groups.”

For Mentor, that’s a big financial hit, considering the stadium capacity at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium is 10,000 - so that limits the stadium to 1,500 fans on game night.

“A major impact,” Cassella said of the financial ramifications to limited seating. “We also will not have a student section this year which I am most disappointed about.”

Berkshire AD Brian Hiscox said bleacher seating at William A. Reed Field isn’t plentiful. Many fans stand around the ropes that surround the field.

“Now, with fixed seating at 15 percent, our attendance will be way down,” he said.

Another wrinkle schools are dealing with, in regard to attendance, is ticketing. Lake Catholic AD Sam Colacarro said his school is doing presale tickets only.

“We have set aside tickets for our team, band, and cheerleaders and then will sell tickets to the general population,” Colacarro said. “We will stop selling when and if we reach that number (of 15 percent capacity at home games at the JTO).”

Cassella said Mentor is only permitting tickets for athletes, cheerleaders, and marching band members. Tickets are all online for football games, and there are no gate sales. “Only family members can get tickets,” Cassella said. “No general public sales.”

Berkshire is very much the same.

“We have not had any gate sales,” said Hiscox, who noted his school has hosted four contests aside from football this fall season. “Everything so far has been presale passes, where kids are given tickets to give to family/loved ones and they must present that ticket to earn entry into the stadium.”

Fans, family members and participants should contact their school or the host school for the game in question for ticket information or availability.

The rules will be strictly enforced, local ADs say. “We will use PA announcements to remind the fans that we MUST adhere to the proper protocol if they desire to continue attending games in the future,” Colacarro said. “We will also use the local police officers on duty to assist with these procedures.”

Hiscox indicated that as much as he and his staff like watching the games, a lot of attention will be given to protocols and mandates.

“Probably instead of watching what is going on on the field, we will be watching what is going on in the stands,” he said. “We are hoping that everyone understands and accepts their responsibility in making our facility a safe and compliant one.”

Berkshire opens its football season Friday night at home against Cardinal. While Mentor opens on the road at Medina, the Cardinals’ home field will be in use Aug. 28 as Lake Catholic hosts Kirtland.

For the past handful of weeks, the governor’s office, the OHSAA and schools have been putting plans in place for opening night.

Come this weekend, it’s go-time. Every sport will be in full swing - football, volleyball, cross country, soccer, etc.

Again, the most-used description going forward is cautiously optimistic.

“This has been a year like no other, obviously,” Colacarro said. “Difficult is not the word! Constant changes, etc. Don’t forget there are eight fall sports, and juggling all the changes has been taxing on everyone concerned.”