NORFOLK, Va. — There’s a new rule in place for basketball games at Norfolk Public Schools: all middle and high school students must be accompanied by a parent if they want to go to the game.
Parents also cannot instead have a neighbor or family friend stay with their child.
The new policy is posted on Norfolk Public Schools Athletics' official website under the headline “Ticketing Alert.”
The message on the NPS website reads: "High School / Middle school students or children will only be admitted to BASKETBALL games with a parent/guardian."
The statement says a maximum of two students are allowed per parent or guardian.
"High School /Middle School students or children will not be admitted alone or with a non-parent/guardian adult," the website said. "All parents/ guardians must remain with their students/children at the game."
Parents have mixed reactions to the new rule. Leetreona Matthews has a daughter in middle school at Norfolk Public Schools.
“My hesitation is for those children whose parents work evenings and they’re unable to accompany them," Matthews said. "Or for parents who have multiple children. Whereas if I have a 15-year-old, I can drop him or her off at the game, take the 10-year-old to Girl Scouts, and then maybe circle back. With this new policy, that means my high schooler or middle schooler is going to miss out.”
She said she understands safety is important, but this policy could create a headache for some parents.
“Nothing’s going to be perfect for everyone," she said. "I understand how they came up with this. I think we’re going to have to tweak it some, get some type of exceptions in there... a neighbor can accompany them, something like that. It’s going to affect a lot of good children, negatively.”
The statement doesn’t say if a specific incident prompted the policy change, only that “the safety of our student-athletes, staff, and fans is a top priority at all athletic events.”
Another Norfolk parent, Yolanda Muhammad, said she often watches her friends’ children at games so this new rule could be inconvenient.
“Especially with it being so immediate, it’s mandatory beginning right now, we don’t have time to prepare," Muhammad said. “It’s just unfortunate that the maybe not well-behaved children are making it bad for the well-behaved children... it’s almost like a bad apple makes it bad for the whole bunch.”
That’s not the only change. From now on, all ticket purchases for basketball games must be done online. You cannot pay with cash at the gate.
13News Now contacted Norfolk Public Schools to ask why this policy is in place. We have not heard back yet.