Barring a catastrophic spike in COVID-19 cases, we will have high school football in most West Virginia counties this fall. With public schools set to kick off classes Sept. 8, scholastic sports will not be far behind.

Specifics on how each sport will be handled are being discussed now. One big question is spectators.

Friday nights and Saturday afternoons during the fall are special to thousands of Eastern Panhandle residents who have children and grandchildren involved in extra-curricular activities — or just enjoy watching the young people compete. Football stadiums in particular often are packed.

One way or another, that will not be the case this fall. Social distancing and other precautions necessitated by the coronavirus epidemic mean allowing the stands to be packed with spectators would be an invitation to viral disaster.

How, then, will West Virginia schools deal with the situation?

Ohio could serve as a good model in some respects. There, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that high school sports will be permitted.

But attendance at games by those other than competitors and those supporting them, such as cheerleaders and bands, will be restricted. DeWine explained that only family members and others close to athletes, band members and cheerleaders will be allow to attend games.

Obviously, there is some latitude in that formula. Final decisions will be left up to individual schools, DeWine said.

At one point, Ohio officials were discussing a high school football season with no spectators permitted. That would have been a mistake. The new formula is both compassionate and, if not abused, safe.

Something like it could be adopted in West Virginia. We encourage athletics officials to consider it.

No doubt the safest system would be the no-spectator approach — but family members and, as DeWine put it, others close to players, cheerleaders and band members ought to get to see them perform. That can be accomplished without risking an outbreak of COVID-19 — if everyone involved takes limitations seriously. If they do not, rest assured officials will close the games to spectators.