BELMONT, N.C. -- The Belmont Abbey College Department of Athletics has revised its spectator policy for its home athletic events beginning March 1, 2021, the department announced today.

"In light of yesterday afternoon's Executive Order, Belmont Abbey College Athletics is pleased to announce our revised Spectator Policy, which goes into effect Monday, March 1," Vice President and Director of Athletics Stephen Miss said. "I wish to thank the extremely dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to meet the challenge of simultaneously maintaining the safety and welfare of our entire community and providing our students with as many opportunities to compete as possible in what has been an unprecedentedly challenging environment. On behalf of Abbey Athletics, Welcome Back - FINALLY!!! - to those of you who will Raise the Red! with us in person in the coming days, and here's to even brighter days ahead when our circumstances allow us once again to welcome everyone, without Covid-related restrictions, to cheer on our students in their pursuit of competitive greatness."

Updated Spectator Policies (effective March 1, 2021)

All spectators at Belmont Abbey contests are required to wear masks and to maintain proper physical distance (six-foot minimum separation) at all times following current North Carolina guidance. Only current Belmont Abbey College students, faculty, staff, monastic community members, and those with guest passes are permitted to attend events. This policy is in place for the safety and well-being of our campus community as well as to preserve as many opportunities as possible for our students to compete.

As a department, we have added additional computers and equipment to broadcast multiple events at the same time. We encourage everyone who is not able to attend our events in-person to view them on the Belmont Abbey Sports Network (BASN), which can be found HERE.

Please understand that while we look forward to the future where we can permit the general public to attend our events without Covid-19 related restriction(s), we are limited due to the guidelines published by the North Carolina Office of the Governor. For more information on what restrictions are currently in place for North Carolina, please use the following link: https://governor.nc.gov/

Outdoor Events

In instances where proper physical distancing is possible, bleachers will be sectioned off; areas of the grounds will be marked with an "X" to show proper distancing. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.

• Alumni Field (Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Field Hockey)
  1. Guests will be required to check-in before the start of the games and receive a wristband. Check-in is located where "26" and "31" meet on the map [under the tent]. Parking is located between "25" and "31" and in front of "24" on the map (along the gravel road).
  2. Guests are expected to stand on the designated spots within the sectioned-off area. Members of the same household are welcome to stand/sit near each other while individuals must maintain proper physical distance at all times.
  3. Spectators may congregate behind the fence but must maintain proper physical distance at all times
  4. As physical distancing is not possible, bleachers will not be utilized
  5. Masks are required for everyone in attendance. Individuals who do not comply, and do not have a mask or wristband will be asked to leave the facility.
  6. No general public or fans of visiting teams will be permitted
  7. Each Tier 1 participant in an event is permitted 2 guest passes per competition. This pass list will be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of the competition. Only those living in the primary residence of the coaches and the students' parents are eligible for admission (these passes may be redistributed but only to family members of those participating in the event/competition).*
  8. Those who are in attendance will be restricted from close contact with all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators/personnel and are not permitted on the playing surfaces at any time.
  9. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.
• Abbey Yard (Baseball)
  1. Guests will be required to check-in before the start of the games and receive a wristband. Check-in is located "29" on the map [under the tent]. Parking is located between "25" and "31" and in front of "24" on the map (along the gravel road - no vehicles are not permitted to park along the fence in the right field).
  2. Guests will need to stand on the markings along the fence line and are expected to sit in designated spots within the bleachers. Members of the same household are welcome to stand/sit near each other while individuals must maintain proper physical distance at all times.
  3. Masks are required for everyone in attendance. Individuals who do not comply, and do not have a mask or wristband will be asked to leave the facility.
  4. No general public or fans of visiting teams will be permitted.
  5. Each Tier 1 participant in an event is permitted 2 guest passes per competition. This pass list will be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of the competition. Only those living in the primary residence of the coaches and the students' parents are eligible for admission (these passes may be redistributed but only to family members of those participating in the event/competition).*
  6. Those who are in attendance will be restricted from close contact with all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators/personnel and are not permitted on the playing surfaces at any time.
  7. Immediately concluding the competition, guests will depart from the facility.
  8. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.
• Crusader Field (Softball)
  1. Guests will be required to check-in before the start of the games and receive a wristband. Check-in is located "29" on the map [under the tent]. Parking is located between "25" and "31" and in front of "24" on the map (along the gravel road).
  2. Guests will need to stand on the markings along the fence line and are expected to sit in designated spots within the bleachers. Members of the same household are welcome to stand/sit near each other while individuals must maintain proper physical distance at all times.
  3. Masks are required for everyone in attendance. Individuals who do not comply, and do not have a mask or wristband will be asked to leave the facility.
  4. No general public or fans of visiting teams will be permitted.
  5. Each Tier 1 participant in an event is permitted 2 guest passes per competition. This pass list will be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of the competition. Only those living in the primary residence of the coaches and the students' parents are eligible for admission (these passes may be redistributed but only to family members of those participating in the event/competition).*
  6. Those who are in attendance will be restricted from close contact with all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators/personnel and are not permitted on the playing surfaces at any time.
  7. Immediately concluding the competition, guests will depart from the facility.
  8. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.
• Reidy Tennis Center
  1. Guests will be required to check-in before the start of the games and receive a wristband. Check-in is located "24" on the map [under the tent]. Parking is located between "25" and "31" and in front of "24" on the map (along the gravel road).
  2. All spectators are expected to stay above the courts on top of the hill closest to the gravel road.
  3. Spectators are not permitted near the courts.
  4. As physical distancing is not possible, bleachers will not be utilized.
  5. Masks are required for everyone in attendance. Individuals who do not comply, and do not have a mask or wristband will be asked to leave the facility.
  6. No general public or fans of visiting teams will be permitted.
  7. Each player and coach participating in an event is permitted 2 guest passes per competition. This pass list will be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of the competition. Only those living in the primary residence of the coaches and the students' parents are eligible for admission (these passes may be redistributed but only to family members of those participating in the event/competition).*
  8. Those who are in attendance will be restricted from close contact with all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators/personnel and are not permitted on the playing surfaces at any time.
  9. Immediately concluding the final competition of the event, guests will depart from the facility.
  10. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.
• Field Hockey (For home game played off campus)
  1. The Belmont Abbey College Field Hockey program will host two of its home games at Bessant Field in conjunction with Queens University. Queens' current spectator policy is no spectators and will be revisited on March 1, 2021.
  2. We are grateful to Queens University for generously providing the Field Hockey program access to their facility on multiple occasions this Spring. All affiliated with our program are expected to comply fully with Queens' spectator policy as stipulated above.

Indoor Events

• Wheeler Center (Women's and Men's Volleyball, Women's and Men's Basketball, Acrobatics and Tumbling, Wrestling, and Competitive Cheer)
  1. Guests will be required to check-in before the start of the games by entering through the front doors of the Wheeler Center, confirm inclusion on the pass list, attest to being symptom-free, submit to a temperature check, and then will receive a wristband, which is valid only for the single contest. Parking is located between "25" and "31" and in front of "24" on the map (along the gravel road) for all guests.
  2. Guests will be required to sit in their designated spot in the bleachers (members of the same household are welcome to sit next to each other).
  3. Masks are required for everyone in attendance. Individuals who do not comply, and do not have a mask or wristband will be asked to leave the facility.
  4. No general public or fans of visiting teams will be permitted.
  5. Each Tier 1 participant in an event is permitted 2 guest passes per competition. This pass list will be submitted 48 hours prior to the start of the competition. Only those living in the primary residence of the coaches and the students' parents are eligible for admission (these passes may be redistributed but only to family members of those participating in the event/competition).*
  6. Those who are in attendance will be restricted from close contact with all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and administrators/personnel and are not permitted on the playing surfaces at any time.
  7. Immediately concluding the final competition of the event, guests will depart from the facility.
  8. Gatherings or tailgating, either pre-or post-game, are not permitted.