Preparation key for safe environment

From school reports

 – Kemper County School District is getting ready to play its first high school football jamboree game against Leake Central this Friday night at East Mississippi Community College Football Stadium.

The preparation for the game has been mostly focused on making sure that all players, coaching staff, officials and fans remain safe. 

Stadium officials are taking extra precautions and following strict guidelines, which include mandatory face masks and social distancing for all attendees.\

“We are promoting the message of ‘no mask no entry’ to everyone,” said Jackie Jackson, Athletic Director for Kemper County School District.  “We are going to allow families to sit together if they live in the same household. They will be six feet apart from the next fan on the same row and we will skip a row between everyone.”

Transportation for the team also must follow safety guidelines.  “We are not taking any chances,” said Jackson.  “Temperature checks will be done prior to boarding the bus and we are assigning seats for social distancing with a maximum of 22 people on a bus.”

There have been a lot of challenges this year with COVID-19 for school athletic programs, but one positive change for Kemper County High School football team is being able to play all home games at EMCC Sullivan-Windham Field.

“Our players and community are excited about playing on a state and nationally recognized championship field,” said Ray Westerfield, Kemper County High School Head Football  coach.  “This cultivates a desire to win and to be successful both athletically and academically so that they can move forward to the collegiate level of play.  It also strengthens the relationship between Kemper County School District, our community, and East Mississippi Community College.”