COVERAGE. REPORTER: MIKE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT SINCE SPECTATORS ARE NOW ALLOWED TO ATTEND SPORTING EVENTS, THEY SHOULD NOT JUST SIMPLY SHOW UP, BECAUSE CAPACITY LIMITS MEAN THERE STILL MAY NOT BE ROOM FOR FANS. >> I AM HAPPY THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO COME. REPORTER: FOR THE PARENTS, THE NEWS THEY CAN WATCH THEIR KIDS PLAY SPORTS BRINGS RELIEF. >> I CAN WATCH HER PLAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO HER, I WANT TO BE HERE. REPORTER: HIS DAUGHTER PLAYS SOCCER. HE SAYS NOW THAT SPECTATORS CAN ATTEND, HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO COME WATCH, SINCE THEY ARE NOT AT RISK OF REACHING THE MAX ALLOWED TO GATHER AT THIS LEVEL. BUT FOR SOME SPORTS, SIMPLY ALLOWING SPECTATORS DOESN’T CHANGE MUCH. THE CAPACITY GUIDELINES COULD STILL KEEP FANS OUT. IN MOST COUNTIES, 250 IS THE LIMIT OUTSIDE. IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, THAT NUMBER IS JUST 100. STATEWIDE, THE TOTAL ALLOWED INSIDE IS 25. SOUTH BUTLER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT LOOKED AT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM. IN BUTLER COUNTY, WITH 250 ALLOWED OUTSIDE, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SAYS THEIR FOOTBALL TEAM AND COACHES ALONE TOTAL 62. ADD IN THEIR CHEERLEADERS, BAND, TRAINERS, OFFICIALS, CHAIN CREW, ANNOUNCER, CLOCK OPERATOR AND RADIO CREW, THAT’S 178 OF THE 250. AND THEIR OPPONENTS HAVENT YET -- HAVE NOT YET BEEN COUNTED. USING THE INSIDE LIMIT OF 25 FOR VOLLEYBALL, SOUTH BUTLER’S AD SAYS THEY HIT THAT LIMIT WITH 2 TEAMS, 2 COACHES, SCORE TABLE AND OFFICIAL WHILE FOR SOME, LIKE WERNER, ALLLOWING SPECTORS MEANS THEY CAN LIKELY ATTEND A GAME. >> I WOULD EVEN SIT IN MY CAR TO SEE THE FIELD. REPORTER: EACH SPORT IN EACH COUNTY WILL BE DIFFERNT AND FANS WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT EARLY THEY IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO. WE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL DISTRICTS TO SEE HOW THEY WILL HANDLE IT. PHSD OFFICIALS TELL ME BECAUSE OF CAPACITY LIMITS, THEY CAN’T ALLOW ANY SPECTATORS AT VARSITY FOOTBALL GAMES. THE SPORTING EVENTS WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SPECTATORS WILL BE A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. THEY, AS WELL AS SHALER AND PPS EACH TELL ME, THEY ARE WORKING TO LIVE STREAM SPORTING EVENTS TO ACCOMODATE. AS SCHOOLS SEND US THEIR P
State guidance says spectators may attend sporting events, will count toward statewide gathering limits
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Updated: 6:17 PM EDT Sep 3, 2020
In updated guidance from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, spectators can now attend sporting events in Pennsylvania, but they will count toward the statewide gathering limitations. The revised guidance says that “spectators may attend sporting events,” but they count toward the statewide gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors. However, in Allegheny County, the limit on outdoor events and gatherings is 100 people. The state’s updated guidance said spectators must follow the universal face-covering order and social distancing guidance when arriving, attending and departing the event. Wolf has urged schools to cancel all youth sports until January to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports, voted last month to move forward with the fall season, rejecting the governor’s recommendation.Executive Director of the WPIAL Amy Scheuneman said they will follow the new guidance and allow schools to determine which individuals to admit to facilities up to the maximum gathering sizes. The PIAA will also follow the new guidance. "PIAA is very pleased to see the ban on spectators was lifted and we will certainly permit. We do still have concerns with the limitation on indoor sports being limited to just 25 persons. This negatively impacts girls volleyball," a spokesperson from the PIAA said. Click here for more information about the state’s sports guidance. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 has reached out to several local school districts to see how they will handle this new guidance. "We are still working through the details regarding spectators and athletic events. We understand that football will be the greatest challenge. We are also planning on live streaming events," Shaler Area School District Superintendent Sean Aiken said. A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson said the district is reviewing its current recommendations related to spectators and is also exploring live streaming options with NFHS network.Guidance for Caregivers and Spectators: Seating areas, including bleachers, must adhere to social distancing requirements of at least 6 feet of spacing for anyone not in the same household. To assist with proper social distancing, areas should be clearly marked. Everyone age 2 or older must wear face coverings (masks or face shields) at all times, unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, or fall under an exception listed in Section 3 of the Secretary of Health’s Order on Universal Face Coverings. Caregivers or spectators should not enter the field of play or bench areas. Non-essential visitors, spectators, and volunteers should be limited when possible, including activities with external groups or organizations. Parents should refrain from attending practices, or volunteering to assist with coaching. Caregivers and coaches should assess levels of risk based on individual athletes on the team who may be at a higher risk for severe illness. Caregivers should monitor their children for symptoms prior to any sporting event. Children and athletes who are sick or showing symptoms must stay home.
In updated guidance from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office, spectators can now attend sporting events in Pennsylvania, but they will count toward the statewide gathering limitations.
The revised guidance says that “spectators may attend sporting events,” but they count toward the statewide gathering limits of 25 people indoors and 250 people outdoors.
However, in Allegheny County, the limit on outdoor events and gatherings is 100 people.
The state’s updated guidance said spectators must follow the universal face-covering order and social distancing guidance when arriving, attending and departing the event.
Wolf has urged schools to cancel all youth sports until January to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports, voted last month to move forward with the fall season, rejecting the governor’s recommendation.
Executive Director of the WPIAL Amy Scheuneman said they will follow the new guidance and allow schools to determine which individuals to admit to facilities up to the maximum gathering sizes.
The PIAA will also follow the new guidance.
"PIAA is very pleased to see the ban on spectators was lifted and we will certainly permit. We do still have concerns with the limitation on indoor sports being limited to just 25 persons. This negatively impacts girls volleyball," a spokesperson from the PIAA said.
Click here for more information about the state’s sports guidance.
Pittsburgh's Action News 4 has reached out to several local school districts to see how they will handle this new guidance.
"We are still working through the details regarding spectators and athletic events. We understand that football will be the greatest challenge. We are also planning on live streaming events," Shaler Area School District Superintendent Sean Aiken said.
A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson said the district is reviewing its current recommendations related to spectators and is also exploring live streaming options with NFHS network.
Guidance for Caregivers and Spectators:
- Seating areas, including bleachers, must adhere to social distancing requirements of at least 6 feet of spacing for anyone not in the same household. To assist with proper social distancing, areas should be clearly marked.
- Everyone age 2 or older must wear face coverings (masks or face shields) at all times, unless they are outdoors and can consistently maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, or fall under an exception listed in Section 3 of the Secretary of Health’s Order on Universal Face Coverings.
- Caregivers or spectators should not enter the field of play or bench areas.
- Non-essential visitors, spectators, and volunteers should be limited when possible, including activities with external groups or organizations. Parents should refrain from attending practices, or volunteering to assist with coaching.
- Caregivers and coaches should assess levels of risk based on individual athletes on the team who may be at a higher risk for severe illness.
- Caregivers should monitor their children for symptoms prior to any sporting event. Children and athletes who are sick or showing symptoms must stay home.
