Stamford High has installed a new rule in light of the pandemic that has prohibited family members, friends and students from watching soccer games from the bleachers. This rule was obviously installed to prevent spectators of the games from sitting too close to one another, speaking without masks, and essentially breaking social distancing policies while also endangering the health of the players. 

Spectators have found a loophole in this guideline: watching the games anyway from beyond school property, not socially distanced. Friends and family can be seen stationed all along the fences surrounding the turf, enjoying the games from not-so-far-away. This is being either ignored or allowed by the staff and soccer coaches, who have not yet prevented the onlookers from attending these games. Even though they are not following social distancing protocols, fans are technically allowed to be there as long as they are not on the sidelines of the field.

So one might have to ask themselves, why not just let them watch from the bleachers? 

The concept of sports being allowed is confusing to say the least, and is hypocrisy at its finest. Players are not constantly six feet apart, perpetually sweating near each other, and not to mention shoving one another. While people who simply watch the game from afar could, with the right enforcements, sit apart from one another and wear masks.

Students and those who are standing along the fences are moreover being put at risk due to this overlooked issue. The result of this regulation being the very thing they were trying to prevent people from doing: putting themselves at risk. 

If the prospect of having people watch the game from the bleachers is too scary and unsafe for the teams, what is the difference in them watching from the fenced sidelines? Isn’t that just as hazardous- if not more? If students aren’t granted permission to watch the games, then don’t let them watch them at all. However, if people are allowed to watch, then let them do so from the bleachers in which space and mask regulations can be supervised. Perhaps markers could be put on the seats to indicate where potential soccer fans could observe? Or maybe each player could have a supervised amount of guests that are allowed to watch each game? People could sit in the stands six feet apart in a safe manner, in which no one is vulnerable. 

The idea that people are allowed to watch the girls and boys soccer matches outside of Stamford High coaches’ eyesight is borderline comedic and extremely confusing. It also does not accomplish the intended goal of keeping students and players healthy and secure.