HS Basketball Season Nears But Guidelines Unknown

With Upper Cumberland high school basketball will be here, but schools are waiting to answer questions about this season.

Van Buren Athletic Director Dustin Sullivan said with the state and TSSAA constantly changing guidelines, you can not predict how the basketball season will look.

“Right now, I am just kind of of the mindset let’s wait until we are about a week out of having to host, and then roll with the information that we have at that point,” Sullivan said. “When that happens, a lot of things could have changed by then.”

Sullivan said Van Buren’s volleyball season has given the school system ideas on how to handle an indoor crowd. Sullivan said he expects tickets to be limited and seats near the floor to be roped off for player safety.

“We will see if we are going have to limit a little bit to give more space for social distancing,” Sullivan said. “Almost every school I think depending on the amount of people you have, its normal bench personnel may have to rope off a few bleachers back behind the bench to give room for all your personnel. The TSSAA, the last thing they have sent down said they did not want anybody beside coaches and players.”

At this point, Van Buren’s basketball team starts practicing early November with its first game later that month. Sullivan said football seasons going smoothly across Tennessee is a good sign that the season will start on time.

“Even though we do not have football, root for football to play,” Sullivan said. “Root for volleyball to be able to play even if you do not go watch the girls go play volleyball. The more things that are happening and the more sports that are able to play is a better sign for you to that you will be able to have your own season.”