Preparations for Cleburne’s fall sports season are far different than years gone by, but the outcome will be the same--the Jackets are going to play.

                High on the list of operational changes is the sale of season football tickets going on hiatus in 2020, due to new capacity standards relating to health and safety in the wake of COVID-19. Current holders will retain their seats until sales resume in 2021.

                “Some people told us that while they didn’t feel comfortable coming to games this season, they didn’t want to lose their seats,” CISD Athletic Director Jeri Larrison-Hall said. “We understand that and have put a plan in place that puts a freeze on season tickets and stadium parking pass sales until next year.”

Football tickets for both home and away games will be sold online. The same will hold true for volleyball and basketball.

                The number of tickets for both home and away games will be based on seating accommodations determined by new social distancing and attendance guidelines. Hall has been engaged in the math problem to develop capacity standards for Jacket Stadium. Cleburne’s first home football game is October 23 against Joshua. It is also Homecoming for the Jackets.

                “Because of capacity limits, every person attending football, volleyball and basketball games will have to purchase a ticket in advance. Under UIL guidelines no tickets will be sold at game time,” Hall said. “There will also be no student passes this year because we have to track and control access into facilities.”

                Parents and guardians of football players and student trainers, cheerleaders and members of the Showstoppers Dance Team and Golden Pride will have the first chance to purchase online tickets for home and away games. Sales for parents will run Monday and Tuesday of each week, with sales opening to the public Wednesday-Friday. When the seating limit is reached, sales will close.

                “The availability of tickets for away games will vary, based on the opponent’s facility,” Hall said. “We will push that information out each week, with a link to their website to purchase online tickets. Information on ticket purchases, our stadium procedures and related details will be placed on the CISD website.”

Following the same plan as many churches, every other row of seats at the stadium will be blocked off to meet the six-foot social distancing standards. Under UIL requirements, attendees will wear face coverings or masks upon entry into the stadium, removing them only while eating or drinking. Fans will also be expected to social distance from the person sitting next to them.

                “For a while, we didn’t even know if we would have a playing season or be able to have fans at games,” Hall said. “Then UIL released the fifty percent attendance rule. Our first priority is the safety of our players and students on the field, as well as the coaches, staff and officials. We know everybody is ready for sports, whether it be high school, college or pro. Everybody is ready to do something fun. We all just need to be smart, mindful and take into consideration the health and safety of everyone around us, so we can continue to play and have fans present. No one wants to get shut down due to COVID.”

                That includes players who have been preparing for and anxiously awaiting the possibility of Friday night lights for months.

                “At first I was kind of worried, but as time went on I knew I had to be prepared, no matter what,” senior middle linebacker Nico Keramidis said. “Now that I actually know we are going to get to play, I’m happy. What I’ve learned over the course of all this is you’ve got to be prepared.”

                “It’s been tough to follow all the safety precautions in place as we’ve gone through summer conditioning,” he said. “But you’ve got to do whatever it takes to play football. That’s the main goal.”

                Junior Jace Lowe, center on the offensive line, returned to conditioning long before the start date. He’s happy to see his senior teammates have a season.

                “When everything started closing down in the spring, I didn’t think that much about it because there was a lot of time before football season started,” Lowe said. “But then sports started being canceled—basketball, baseball. I began to wonder if we were going to get to play. I started working out in my garage and going to Wheat and flipping the tires they have outside.”

                “Once we started summer workouts I realized every day could be our last, due to COVID. I knew I had to go 100 percent on everything,” he said. “This makes me want to work even harder, knowing we’re going to have a season. I also want to do my best for the seniors we have. I want them to have the best season they can get.”

Having the best season possible is something shared by many, including Hall, who says it’s going to take everyone concerned to make that happen. Those attending games will be expected to self-screen, taking their temperatures before they arrive. Players, coaches, officials and stadium workers will have to fill out the required UIL COVID screening form before the start of every game.

“My biggest worry has been we wouldn’t have sports, and that is such a big thing for our kids, and our coaches,” she said. “Our seniors have worked so hard for so long. Even if we have had to adjust and do things differently, our kids are getting to play. If the decision had been made that we couldn’t have a crowd in attendance, we would have made it work. But we want our kids to have that fan support—from a community that is known for having supportive fans.”

While it is taking extra work—and worry—to get this year’s sports season started, Hall says it’s all worth it, from developing new locker room procedures to counting each seat in Yellow Jacket Stadium—home and visitors side.

“Yes, this is causing us to make new plans, rules and standards,” Hall said. “But I know there is not one person on our staff, and I don’t believe anyone in the community, who will be complaining about all the ‘new’ we are having to implement, because kids are getting to play.”

“Things change every week, but if our kids see we can be flexible, they will be flexible, too,” she said. “COVID has impacted nearly every fall sport. It’s just how you react to change and adversity and make something positive from it. There are lots of hurdles to come and lots of things will look different. But at least we’re playing.”

For those who have grown used to the virtual way of doing things, for the first time, the UIL is allowing live streaming of high school varsity football games—Cleburne included. Live streaming subscriptions can be purchased through the NFHS network. At this time, the online viewing option also includes varsity volleyball, basketball and soccer games.