WDMCS Athletics & Activities Update
March 24, 2021
Spring Sports COVID-19 Guidance
The West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is excited to get the spring sports season underway! Sports played in the spring include:
- Golf (girls)
- Soccer (boys and girls)
- Tennis (boys and girls)
- Track & Field (boys and girls)
As we prepare for practices and games, the following COVID-19 guidelines—intended for all athletics programs at the high school and junior high level—were released by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
As a reminder:
- WDMCS students who are in either the online or in-person learning environment are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities.
- WDMCS students, coaches, and staff must wear a face mask at all times when not in competition. This includes before and after games, in locker rooms, on sidelines, etc. Spectators must also wear a face mask at all times.
- WDMCS will continue to follow proper mitigation strategies during practices and games, and will conduct daily cleaning cycles of equipment and facilities after each use.
Thank you for your continued understanding and flexibility to support all of our athletics and activities programs. Go Tigers!
Girls' Golf
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IGHSAU >
For girls' golf meets this season:
- Spectator limitations will vary depending on the facility. For meets held at Willow Creek Golf Course, where Valley plays its home meets, attendance will be limited to immediate family only.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to be with their households.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Boys' Soccer
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IHSAA >
For boys' soccer matches this season:
- There will be no limitations on spectator attendance.
- When facilities are able to split sides: Visiting spectators will sit in the visitors' section, and home spectators will sit in the home section. This will be the model Valley follows for any matches played at Valley Stadium.
- When facilities are unable to split sides: Visiting spectators will sit behind their team's bench, and home fans will sit behind their team's bench. This will be the model Valley follows for any matches played at Tiger Field.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households.
- Players and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by players, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Players may only remove their face masks when in competition.
- There are no set roster limits for teams.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Girls' Soccer
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IGHSAU >
For girls' soccer matches this season:
- There will be no limitations on spectator attendance.
- When facilities are able to split sides: Visiting spectators will sit in the visitors' section, and home spectators will sit in the home section. This will be the model Valley follows for any matches played at Valley Stadium.
- When facilities are unable to split sides: Visiting spectators will sit behind their team's bench, and home fans will sit behind their team's bench. This will be the model Valley follows for any matches played at Tiger Field.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households.
- Players and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by players, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Players may only remove their face masks when in competition.
- There are no set roster limits for teams.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Girls' Tennis
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IGHSAU >
For girls' tennis matches this season:
- Spectator attendance will be limited to immediate family only for home and away events.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs in order to socially distance themselves from others.
- Players and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by players, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Players may only remove their face masks when in competition.
- When possible, tennis balls will not be shared between competing teams.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Boys' Tennis
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IHSAA >
For boys' tennis matches this season:
- Spectator attendance will be limited to immediate family only for home and away events.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households. Spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs in order to socially distance themselves from others.
- Players and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by players, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Players may only remove their face masks when in competition.
- When possible, tennis balls will not be shared between competing teams.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Girls' Track & Field
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IGHSAU >
Valley Track Meet Mitigation Strategies >
For girls' track and field meets this season:
- Spectator limitations will vary depending on the facility. For meets held at Valley's Tiger Field, spectators are limited to two per participant.
- Due to the number of participating teams at the Saturday, April 3, varsity meet at Tiger Field, we will allow 2 spectators for senior student-athletes only. Spectators will check in under their student-athlete's name at the ticket table.
- For the Monday, April 5, and Monday, April 19, junior varsity meets, spectators are limited to two per participant.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households.
- Competitors and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by competitors, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Competitors may only remove their face masks when in competition.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Boys' Track & Field
View COVID-19 Guidelines from IHSAA >
Valley Track Meet Mitigation Strategies >
For boys'' track and field meets this season:
- Spectator limitations will vary depending on the facility. For meets held at Valley's Tiger Field, spectators are limited to two per participant.
- Due to the number of participating teams at the Saturday, April 3, varsity meet at Tiger Field, we will allow 2 spectators for senior student-athletes only. Spectators will check in under their student-athlete's name at the ticket table.
- For the Monday, April 5, and Monday, April 19, junior varsity meets, spectators are limited to two per participant.
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households.
- Competitors and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by competitors, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Competitors may only remove their face masks when in competition.
For more specific information related to this sport, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Baseball & Softball
These two summer sports, which are sanctioned by the IHSAA and IGHSAU, play varsity exhibition games in the spring.
During this period:
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households. Besides bleacher seating, spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs in order to socially distance themselves from others.
- Competitors and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- When possible, baseballs and softballs will not be shared between competing teams.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by players, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Players may only remove their face masks when in competition.
For more specific information, please contact your coach or the Valley Athletics & Activities Office.
Club Sports
All other sports, like lacrosse and rugby, that play during the spring season are not currently sanctioned by the IHSAA or IGHSAU. Thus, these sports are considered club sports.
When using any WDMCS facility:
- Social distancing is a priority. Spectators are expected to maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others and to sit with their households. If outdoors, spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs in order to socially distance themselves from others.
- Players and teams will socially distance themselves as much as possible when not in competition.
- Face masks must be worn at all times by competitors, coaches, event personnel, and spectators. Competitors may only remove their face masks when in competition.
Spectator Guidelines: WDMCS Athletics Events
Seating/Ticket Policies
General public tickets will not be available for purchase.
Ticket gates at Valley facilities will open at least 60 minutes prior to the start of each contest. Spectators are expected to sit in marked sections at facilities. After events, facilities and equipment used will be sanitized.
Student Activity Tickets & Booster Club Passes
As previously mentioned, WDMCS temporarily suspended the sale of Student Activity Tickets (SATs). The 18-member schools of our league, the Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML), voted that SATs will not be honored at home or away athletic events.
Students who already have an SAT or families who have purchased a pass from the Valley Tiger Booster Club AND are associated to a student-athlete or coach of that sport's roster can use their SAT/Booster Club pass for admission into the event. This is for home events ONLY.
Families who purchased a SAT for their student can request a refund. Please contact your school in order to do so.
Concessions & Restrooms
Concessions will be open at athletics events, with sealed and pre-packaged items available for purchase.
Restrooms at each facility will also be available. Please maintain social distance from others when using the facilities.
Livestreams
Due to limited spectator attendance, WDMCS will continue to partner with Central Iowa Sports Network for livestream viewing. Only HOME VARSITY events are being considered through CISN, but coaches at other levels may provide a different resource for their student-athletes and families.
Links to all home varsity livestreams will be made available on ValleyTigers.com and CISN.tv. Livestreams will also be available on the WDMCS YouTube channel.
FamilyID Reminder
Please click on the appropriate school to access the respective FamilyID page if your student attends:
All forms must be submitted and completed prior to when practices start.
Public Use of Tiger Field, Other Outdoor WDMCS Facilities
As a reminder, please follow these steps to keep yourself and others safe when using Tiger Field, tennis courts, or other outdoor district facilities for public use:
- If a district-sponsored group is using a space for practices, games, etc., it is not available for public use until the event concludes.
- Please maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from others.
- If social distancing is not possible, all individuals are required to wear a face mask.
- Do not enter any WDMCS facility if you or a family member are sick or have a fever over 100.4.
- Hand sanitizer will be available at all facilities, but individuals are encouraged to bring their own.
- Please follow all rules and guidelines posted at facilities.
If you have any questions are would like specific information, please contact the Valley Athletics & Activities Office. For more details about turf field use at WDMCS, please visit WDMCS Community Education's website.
Valley Athletics & Activities
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:
515-633-4259
Nate Lingren
lingrenn@wdmcs.org
515-633-4249
Toni Wiemers
515-633-4264
Website: www.valleytigersathletics.com
Location: Valley High School, Woodland Avenue, West Des Moines, IA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valley.wdmcs/
Twitter: @vhstigers
Indian Hills, Stilwell Athletics & Activities
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact:
Zac Sinram
515-633-4703
STILWELL JUNIOR HIGH
David Perrigo
515-633-6005