Alba-Golden, Mineola and Quitman high school football teams take to the field for the first time Friday night.

But the stands will not be packed.

COVID-19 restrictions have limited stadium capacities to 50%, causing districts to come up with creative ways to parcel out the limited tickets.

Under guidance from the University Interscholastic League, schools have also implemented health and safety procedures, which include self-screening for all attendees, numerous hand-sanitizing stations, mask requirements for entering stadiums, and limited ticket sales.

The new requirements are also impacting gyms for volleyball, which also have a 50% limit, which can be quickly reached in smaller gyms.

And the face-mask requirement is more strict for gyms. Those entering stadiums can remove them once in their seats but are generally required throughout the games in gyms.

Detailed ticket purchase policies should be reviewed for each district.

Some general guidelines include the following:

For Mineola varsity games, reserved seating is canceled. All tickets will be sold prior to games; no walk-up tickets and no passes accepted. Capacity is 1,000 for the home side and 500 for visitors.

Each student athlete participating in the game, band member and cheerleader will be allotted two tickets for parent/guardian purchase, available Monday and Tuesday of game week.

Tickets will be sold to individual students at Mineola High School. Mondays will be ticket sales for seniors and juniors. Tuesdays will be ticket sales for sophomores and freshmen. Each student will be allowed to purchase one individual game ticket.

On Wednesday of each week, the remaining tickets will be posted to social media and the website for sale to the general public at the administration office and high school campus. Tickets may be purchased at these two locations in person only from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.

Alba-Golden sold season passes for football games. The Panthers open on the road with a limit of 400 seats, which are to be posted online when they become available.

Quitman football tickets will first be made available to parents of student participants of athletics, band and cheer on Mondays. General admission football tickets will be made available to the general public on Wednesday and can be purchased at the QISD Administration Building.

Passes will not be accepted, which includes senior passes, UIL passes and district passes.