No band, cheerleaders limited as of right now for local high school football games

**This story has been updated on Monday, March 15 from its original version published on Friday, March 12**

The high school football season here in the Coachella Valley is just a week away.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, it's going to look a lot different than we're used to. As we've already reported, spectators will mainly be limited to parents.

A year that saw cheerleaders at a cross country meet, could be without them on the sidelines when local high school football games begin next Friday. 

As of last Friday, cheerleaders and bands were not allowed at football games. School officials say it’s due to county guidelines. 

As of Monday, PSUSD says cheerleaders will be allowed to perform at halftime, but sideline cheering will not be permitted.

“If we’re rushing back to sports, I kind of wonder what the reasoning is for not allowing bands to be socially distanced and to play together because aren’t the students’ experiences equivalent? At least, in my mind, they certainly are,” said Desert Hot Springs High School Band Director Matt Ingelson.

“To be honest, there is no more inherent danger for us rehearsing outside being socially distanced than there is for football players to be playing games… and I love football. I support the team and I support athletics," said Cathedral City High School Band Director Matthew Howe. "If one activity is going to be able to do their thing, then why wouldn’t any of the others?”

For many high school band members, performing under the Friday Night Lights is their favorite part of being in band. 

“I think for them not to be able to participate is a huge letdown,” Howe said.

“This is how they connect to art and this is how they connect to their friends. I still am really good friends with my fellow bandmates from when I was in high school and it’s just part of the experience,” Ingelson said.

A spokesperson from Palm Springs Unified School District says it plans to bring cheerleaders back when Riverside County advances to the red tier. Band however is not included in that plan right now.

“I’ve found that the kids are really being affected by it. Their mental health is being affected, they’re losing interest in music and it’s just, it’s heartbreaking to see and I wish that I could do more," Howe said.