Milton makes sports happen

Sports at Milton High School have changed due to COVID-19. 

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sets the rules for sports and has had to adapt to COVID-19. 

“It’s been a rough ride,” said Milton Athletic Director Rod Harris, talking about the new rules. Players must always have a mask on unless they are playing or while socially distanced on the sideline, he added. 

 Mr. Harris said fans have been a topic of debate when talking about letting teams return to play. 

“Fans that do come into the stadium for football games for the most part followed the guidelines, but the ones not allowed in haven’t been very receptive to the governor’s mandate,” added Mr. Harris. 

On Oct. 6, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a new mandate to limit spectators to 20 percent indoor capacity and 25 percent outdoor capacity. 

According to Mr. Harris, the gymnasium can hold around 300 people and the stadium can hold around 700 people for games by those rules. 

So far only players and families have been allowed into the football games. Mr. Harris said he doesn’t know when fans will be allowed in, if at all, this season. 

Mr. Harris added that he feels football is the hardest sport to follow the COVID-19 guidelines since it is a heavy contact-based sport with players close to each other.  

Football Coach Philip Davis discussed his role this year. “Coaching itself during COVID-19 is not really any different than in normal years. We are still coaching the game of football and trying to teach them the game and life lessons just as we would any other season,” he said. 

Coach Davis said the team is adapting to playing during COVID-19. “I think initially it was a change and something everyone has had to get used to, including coaches and players,” he added.  

He said that he feels that the team has done a tremendous job adapting and adjusting to all the changes and restrictions and that have become the “normal” for this year.