There will be sports at River Falls High School this year, but voting to allow them comes with a caveat—or two or three to boot.

The board voted 5-2 to allow fall sports to go ahead.

“We’re not buying it by the bottle, we’re buying it by the gallon,” River Falls Athletic Director Rollie Hall said of the virus-destroying hand sanitizer situation. In addition, students are being counted on to change some habits that might otherwise contribute to disease spread. In short, there will be no spitting, no face touching, and no handshakes, note even a high-five or a fist bump. With the La Crosse and Eau Claire school districts deciding to put off sports until spring, River Falls School Board President Stacy Johnson-Myers had a message for the student body.

“The School Board is taking a risk, and we need you to help us mitigate that risk,” Johnson-Myers said to students. Prior to the August 24 vote, the WIAA as the organization overseeing high school sports had voted to allow districts to delay fall sports if they chose to over COVID-19 fears. In line with this, a varsity swim dive meet formerly scheduled for September 3 between River Falls and Eau Claire at Eau Claire North High School has been cancelled with the decision by Eau Claire school board to put off sports until spring. Meanwhile, tennis is still on at River Falls, with a girls varsity match versus Chippewa Falls at Chippewa Falls High School on Thursday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Speaking to athletics more generally, competition in fall sports for the 2020-21 school year has been restricted in Wisconsin to smaller groups (such as four team, two-game postseason tournaments) and an alternative fall season in spring if so desired. Each school district makes its own decision. With flu season fast approaching, and winter due to drive people indoors and into close company, the cooperation of all will be needed to see the sports season through to a safe conclusion.