Doane will limit fan attendance to family only at fall sports events

CRETE, NE — Doane University is restricting fan attendance for fall sports to only family members of athletes.

The athletic department announced its protocol on Friday. No more than four immediate family members per student-athlete suited up for competition will be admitted. The rules go for both Doane and the visiting team.  The school says tailgating will not be allowed on campus.

"Our first goal is to keep our students on campus for the fall semester and to have our athletic seasons," Doane Director of Athletics Matt Franzen said. "We have chosen to follow our campus protocols and provide a safe atmosphere for our student-athletes and their immediate families by providing the opportunity to physically distance at our athletic events. As the season progresses, we will continue to make decisions with the best interest of the health of our students and fans in mind."

The following protocol will be put in place to start the fall season:

• Student-athletes suiting up for the game will complete a form with up to four (4) family members listed (name and relationship to student-athlete need to be provided)... the visiting team's athletic department will be responsible for providing the fan list to Doane
• Game admission cost for family members registered by student-athletes are $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for students (football, volleyball)
• Family members will check-in and pay at the designated entrance
• Family members will receive ID bands upon entering for the game
• Wearing a mask while at the competition facility will be required at all times per GPAC protocols for spectators and in areas on campus where social distancing is not available
• Family members should plan accordingly when arriving at the athletic venue in the event lines become long with one available entrance open during games

The protocol comes one day after Doane announced that it suspended all extracurricular activities, including practices, for the rest of the month due to an increased threat of the spread of COVD-19.  The athletic departments says it plans to still start fall sports on schedule.