Montgomery County Council Approves Three Game High School Football Season
Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a new limited amendment to the health order that will allow the three game spring football season to move forward.
You can view a copy of the staff report here: tinyurl.com/42cccnbt
The amendments to the plan includes contact tracing, face coverings, social distancing, and a Covid-19 athlete monitoring form.
The amendment includes exceptions for any organized sports league that have already been approved and not classified as a high-risk sport.
Student athletes from Walter Johnson, Bethesda Chevy Chase, Montgomery Blair, and Quince Orchard spoke at the hearing. They told the council what football meant to them personally, as well as how the lack of a season will affect things like the College recruiting process.
Regarding masks, council member Gabe Albornoz said he understand the economic impact regarding soccer, but they are not lowering the counties standards based on other jurisdictions.
There was also testimony from several local soccer organizations, all of which were asking for the removal of the mask requirement. Speakers included Matt Libber (MD Soccerplex), Greg Smith (MD State Youth Soccer Association), Lori Lane (Potomac Soccer Association), and Dan Griffen.
They all argued that Montgomery County is the only county with a mask mandate and it is putting them at a disadvantage, mentioning how it makes it difficult for players to breath and perform. Matt Libber said that because teams and tournaments have moved games out of the county, he estimates that there will be $17,000,000 in economic impact lost.
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