Hoping we can end security theatrics

On Sunday, I went to Lubbock and visited seven businesses. I felt safe at all of them, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, but I got my share of security theater.

For those unfamiliar, that’s performing a clear gesture so people feel secure while doing nothing to accomplish meaningful security. Example: Two different stores put me in a 50-yard line with 6-foot markings to separate me from other customers, then made me walk by them when the next register opened.

I thought about that Monday, when I photographed the Artesia at Clovis volleyball match — my first such activity in about 15 months. Two things were evident: We’re doing a lot of things so prep sports can happen, and coaches and administrators will jump through every hoop so kids can play.

Most requirements are easy. Volleyball teams don’t change sides between sets, and the lack of crowd noise means coaches who can talk to their players after every point rarely call timeout.

And we all hate masks, but I’ve gone to the gym more than 200 times in one and did just fine. Kids half my age will be OK.

But to be honest, officials are being forced into security theater. Artesia’s volleyball players sat on their bench seats 6 feet apart — between the three-hour bus trip from Artesia, the three-hour bus trip back to Artesia and the dozens of times they huddled up to celebrate a point.

Here’s a little more security theater in New Mexico Activities Association protocols:

• Basketball will have no jump ball. The visiting team gets the first possession, and it rotates from there.

Two kids will spend the next two hours guarding each other and fighting for rebounds, but we kept them safe for three seconds. Huzzah.

• In football, coin tosses will be limited to one team captain per side. Handshakes are eliminated before and after the game. In between, they play tackle football.

• Cheer is unchanged ... except no cradles, twist ups, twist downs, spins, basket tosses, inversions, transitional stunts, pyramids or tumbles.

• Soccer player uniform guidance says, “Undergarments are permissible.” No real issue here. I’m just amused we need policy specifically permitting the use of underwear.

I asked state officials about these measures during a Wednesday webinar and if they could be relaxed.

Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase told me the protocols were developed with various athletic associations and the goal is to keep kids safe.

“We can’t speak to individual recommendations for individual sports,” Scrase said. “We’ve worked very closely with the education community, the athletic community ... and co-developed these recommendations. We’re walking a tightrope between keeping kids physically active ... and keeping them and their parents safe.”

That may be true, but we need to be honest. They’re contact sports and the risk is playing them in the first place.

I suspect the state is realizing some things went too far, as evidenced by its Thursday decision to allow spectators at limited levels. Now that we’re a week into sports, I hope we can end the theatrics and toss things that look good on paper but don’t work on the field.

Kevin Wilson is editor of the Eastern New Mexico News. He can be reached at 575-763-3431, ext. 320, or by email:

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