Gov. Murphy Allows Limits on Fans Attending High School Events

by Marc Narducci | Feb 16, 2021

Beginning on Friday, high school and youth sporting events literally began being viewed differently in the state of New Jersey.

Gov. Murphy tweeted on Friday that he would be signing an Executive Order to allow a limited number of parents and guardians to attend indoor and outdoor high school and other youth sporting events – effective immediately.

The tweet continued:

“A limited number of parents and guardians will be allowed for all indoor and outdoor high school and other youth sporting events.

“School districts and other operations may choose to allow up to two parents/guardians per participating athlete under the age of 21to attend practices and competitions, as long as attendance does not cause indoor events to exceed 35% of the room’s capacity or 150 people total.

“Public health guidance must be adhered to.”

Before this, the games were only able to be viewed by family members via live streaming. The schools in South Jersey and statewide have done a great job with livestreaming, giving parents at least a chance to see their children compete.

Yet there is nothing like seeing an event live and now for the rest of the season, that can happen.

For an indoor sport like basketball, there is still roughly two-thirds of the season remaining. Under this year’s rules, the NJSIAA said the season could begin Jan. 26 and must end by March 16.

Teams are able to compete in as many as 15 games.

The NJSIAA has announced that there will be no playoffs this season.

While the NJSIAA has done a great job in getting the fall and now winter season underway, the one decision that has been called to question is not having a state tournament.

Soccer, for example had teams play only a sectional tournament, which meant up to four games that took a little more than a week to play.

Basketball could do the same thing and at least crown a South Jersey champion.

We get the fact that basketball is indoors and soccer was played outdoors, but if they are playing a season, adding a week, with a championship at stake, would be (in this writer’s opinion) a much better way to conclude things.

Either way, the fact that some family members can watch games, is a welcome addition.

Here was the Colonial Conference’s statement about the situation:

“In acknowledgment of Executive Order 194 set forth by the Governor’s Office, the Colonial Conference will allow two caregivers per participating athlete of the home school to attend home events. This allowance will not apply to spectators from visiting teams. Spectators from visiting teams will not be permitted to attend the event.”

The Colonial also noted: “Each school district has the discretion to be more restrictive with their own facilities and flexibility to implement a spectator policy that they deem appropriate.”

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Author: Marc Narducci

Gov. Murphy Allows Limits on Fans Attending High School Events

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