FACES COVID Protocols and First Female Ref: Super Bowl LV Set to be Historic by Elizabeth DiPietro February 6, 2021 Nothing about the past 12 months has been typical, and Super Bowl LV is no exception. Except, of course, for the fact that Tom Brady is a key player. Brady in a Super Bowl is pretty much the epitome of typical. Photo by Brock Wegner on Unsplash COVID Protocols During Super Bowl LV There will, of course, be COVID protocols. For starters, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will only be filled to about a third of its capacity. The crowd of 25,000 will include about 7,500 vaccinated health care workers. The NFL is also planning to distribute kits with KN95 masks and hand sanitizer. The league is insistent that the championship game will not become a super-spreader event if protocols are followed. Fans will be required to wear masks at all times, and entrances have been enlarged in order to mitigate the possibility of transmission while waiting in line to enter the stadium. Tickets were sold in groups of two to eight, and fans will be required to sit in appropriately spaced-out pods during the game. Approximately 30,000 cardboard cutouts of fans will occupy unsold seats. NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills reports that tracing plans have been shared with President Joe Biden’s COVID task force. Sills claims that over 1 million fans have attended NFL games this season, and zero outbreaks or clusters of COVID have been traced back to an NFL game. This gives the league confidence that they can pull off the big game without incident. A Reason to Celebrate in Tumultuous Times There is another thing that makes this year’s Super Bowl unique, and it’s actually a reason to celebrate: Super Bowl LV will be the first to feature a female referee. Sarah Thomas will occupy the down judge position. The down judge is responsible for overseeing the line of scrimmage, directing the chain crew, and watching for offside and encroachment, among other things. Thomas is no stranger to the league; she began her NFL career in 2015 as the line judge in a Chiefs-Texans game. In 2019 she became the first female to officiate an NFL playoff game as part of the line crew for Patriots-Chargers. In a video posted by the NFL Officiating Twitter account, Thomas says, “My advice to other females that are pursuing a career in officiating football…I would simply look at you and say, ‘Do it.’ …Get involved in high schools, and your junior highs or middle schools, and just go do it.” Post Views: 563 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Elizabeth DiPietro Liz DiPietro has been a staff writer for In The Zone since 2011. She is a New York City public school teacher working at a middle school in Brooklyn, NY. Liz has a Master's of Creative Writing from Queens College and a Master's of Special Education from the College of Staten Island. She is a diehard Yankees, Knicks, and Jets fan and exercise enthusiast. Liz lives in Staten Island, NY with her husband Dave and 2-year-old son Christopher. Latest posts by Elizabeth DiPietro (see all) How Does Aaron Rodgers Measure Up Against Other “Jeopardy” Guest Hosts? - April 12, 2021 New York Baseball Parks Welcome Back Fans, But Is It Too Much Too Soon? - March 22, 2021 MadFit Dance Workout Videos — Fitness Fun for All - March 15, 2021 2021 MLB Season Brings Excitement and Uncertainty - February 28, 2021 Related Topics#chiefs#superbowllvbucsFootballNFlPatrick MahomesSuper Bowl LVTom Brady Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 XFL Co-Owner Dany Garcia Talks Business, Serving Others at espnW Women + Sports Summit by Candace Cordelia | posted on October 23, 2020 Women in Sports Interview Series: It’s a sure bet with Philadelphia native, Erin Kate Dolan (VIDEO) by Denise Gonzalez | posted on March 17, 2020 From Paramus High School to CBS Sports, Spero Dedes is making waves in sports broadcasting by Sunil Sunder Raj | posted on October 27, 2020 No Shame in Their Game – Female Mixed Martial Artists Use Onlyfans to Make Money by Brandon Berrios | posted on December 4, 2020 More in FACES You Know I’m Right, Episode 113: New York Post Columnist Phil Mushnick (Audio/Video) On the 113th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) On the 112th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... Exclusive Interview w/ Kyle J. Andrews, High School Sports Reporter from The Baltimore Sun (VIDEO) The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Sunil Sunder Raj Since July of... You Know I’m Right, Episode 108: WFAN’s Sweeny Murti (Audio/Video) On the 108th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... The Weekly Taste: Super Bowl Edition Reggiano’s: Treating Every Day Like The Super Bowl