After a long year without any athletic contests, the Monmouth College community is welcoming back Spring Sports for the first time since Spring Break. The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the spring and fall of 2020 and the winter season for athletics. Naturally, there is a buzz of excitement, particularly for spring athletes who will get the opportunity to have their season.
In order for the season to be competed and go successfully, all the COVID-19 safety protocols must be followed by spectators and players alike according to an email sent out by Monmouth College Director of Athletics, Roger Haynes.
The email sent out was directly targeted at Baseball spectators who are required to observe the “Monmouth College Athletics Home Host Rules”. This is a list of ten rules designed to provide safety to the players, coaches, and officials during the game. Most notably, visiting spectators are not allowed into any Monmouth College facility and each Monmouth player will receive a family pass for two spectators. Outside of that, there is only 50 tickets available for other College faculty, staff and students to see the game. Moreover, seating boxes will be marked around the outfield fence at Glasgow field so that everyone can easily social-distance.
According to Coach Haynes, these are “the same basic rules [that] will apply to all sports on campus…as of the AD planning meeting last week we were one of two schools that were allowing fans/parents”. For Haynes and all involved in the planning process “the number one goal has always been the safety of our students and professors on campus”.
In comparison to other colleges in the Midwest conference, Monmouth is one of the few colleges allowing spectators. Baseball player Jordan Ball is happy to be able to have his family there and is “indifferent” to the spectator rules, just so long as he can play.
Ultimately, Haynes notes “We want to have fans be able to see games on campus but can’t let the numbers get too high and increase the risk of COVID transmission. Our primary goal for our spring athletes is to stay healthy and play as many Midwest Conference contests as possible”.
Kieren Marshall - Staff Writer