Christopher Newport University

Updated: March 15, 2021

In an effort to provide our families and at least some of our students an opportunity to attend intercollegiate athletic competition during the spring 2021 season, the following policies and procedures exist to ensure an environment that reduces the risk of virus transmission for all students, staff, and guests in attendance. 

Effective Monday, March 8, 2021, the rules under which we will welcome our families and students to sporting events this spring are as follows: 

1. All participating students and coaches will be permitted two (2) family members for events where we are able to welcome guests.
2. Based on the capacity and maximum attendance limitations established by the Governor’s Executive Order No. 72. for outdoor sporting events, a limited number of students, faculty and staff may be admitted. All students, faculty and staff must present a valid CNU ID to be admitted.
3. Guests must wear face coverings and maintain distance of at least six feet from other guest groups upon their arrival to campus and maintain at least six feet of distance from other guest groups once seated, or at the venue. 
4. All guests must check-in during the designated time and at the designated entrance prior to the start of the game and present a valid ID at check-in.
5. Guests will not be permitted to interact with student-athletes or staff at the site of competition. 
6. Pre-game or post-game gatherings in parking lots, grassy areas, or other campus locations are prohibited.
7. Coaches are required to submit a guest list to their administrator by 5 p.m. the day before the game and utilize the designated guest list form. 
8. Designated seating areas will be established inside each facility for guests.
9. Only essential gameday staff are permitted access to press box facilities.
10. Pets are not permitted within athletic venues.
11. Concessions will not be available at any home sporting event. Guests are permitted to bring their food and beverage for personal consumption into the venue, but coolers will not be allowed. 
12. Visiting teams will not be permitted to have any spectators in attendance. 
13. Christopher Newport University will continue to monitor public health information and may adjust this policy, if conditions require.
14. Non-compliant guests will be asked to leave the site of competition.

Due to the unique nature of each venue on our campus, specific information to guide our guests and students can be found below:

Captains Baseball Park:

1. Guests will check-in and enter through gate located at the right-field foul pole
2. Check-in will begin 45 minutes prior to the start of the first game of the day
3. All participants, staff and umpires will enter through the gates located down the left-field line
4. All guests will be seated in the chairback seating area, or will be allowed to sit on the grassy areas behind each dugout
5. Physical barriers will be utilized to designate the bleacher areas where student-athletes not currently playing in the game will be able to sit, as required by the NCAA
6. Portable toilets will be provided for each team's participating students and staff to utilize
7. Guests will have access to the restrooms located behind the press box

Captains Softball Park:

1. Guests will check-in at the Moores Lane entrance adjacent to Captains Softball Park
2. Check-in will begin 45 minutes prior to the start of the first game of the day
3. Each participating team will utilize a designated area of the bleachers for student-athletes not currently playing in the game, as required by the NCAA
4. Guests will be able to occupy standing-room only areas of the facility, including: 
   • Behind the nets above both team dugouts
   • Along the outfield fence
   • The top of TowneBank Stadium grandstands, if there is no event in the stadium
5. Guests will not be permitted to stand or sit in the vicinity of either team's bulpen, batting cages, or seating areas
6. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, as access to the seating behind home plate will be restricted for use by the participating students

Jennings Family Stadium:

1. Guests will check-in at the entrance closest to Ratcliffe Hall
2. Check-in will begin one hour prior to the start of the game
3. Access through this gate will be restricted during times when teams are entering and exiting the field
4. In the event of a doubleheader, all spectators from the first game will be cleared from the stadium and bleachers before guests for the second will be permitted to enter
5. Guests will have access to restrooms located in TowneBank Stadium

TowneBank Stadium (Track & Field):

1. Guests will check-in at the stadium entrance adjacent to the soccer operations building
2. Guests will be permitted to sit in Sections E, F, and G -- the "chairback" sections
3. Teams will enter and exit at the main stadium entrance located near Ratcliffe Hall and Lot I
4. Teams will set up "Camps" in designated locations to ensure a safe and distanced environment
5. A designated viewing area will be established for guests to watch all throws competitions
6. Guests will have access to the restrooms located in TowneBank Stadium

TowneBank Stadium (Football): 

1. Guests will check-in at the main entrance closest to Lot I/Ratcliffe Hall
2. Check-in will begin one hour prior to the start of the game
3. Guests will be permitted to sit anywhere in the grandstands but are required to leave at least six feet between themselves and members of any other group
4. CNU student-athletes will enter and exit the stadium through their normal access point on James River Field
5. Visiting teams will be provided tents and portable toilets in the practice area located adjacent to the north end zone area off of Prince Drew Road
6. CNU will utilize James River Field for pre-game and halftime while the visiting team will return to their tented area

James T. & Sarah C. Eyre Tennis Courts:

1. If only one match is occurring, competition will happen on courts 4 through 9
2. Guests must maintain six feet of distance from members of any other group at all times
3. All participating students will have a designated area located between the tennis courts where they will remain if not on a court warming up or competing
4. Guests will be allowed to view matches from either side of the courts but seating will not be available
5. Guests will have access to the public restrooms located in the soccer operations building