Playmakers 2024: Get familiar with VWSD's new clear bag policy – The Vicksburg Post

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Chloe Bailess, an employee at 601 Sports, shows off some of the clear bags the retailer has for sale. (Terri Cowart Frazier/The Vicksburg Post)

Editor's note: This story appears in “Playmakers,” the Vicksburg Post's annual football preview magazine. The 48-page special edition is included in the Post's weekend edition, Aug. 24-25, and includes previews, features and more on all of Warren County's high school teams.

Fans attending Vicksburg Warren School District sporting events need a new fashion accessory this year.

The VWSD Board of Trustees has approved a guideline for transparent bags at sporting events starting in August.
According to the policy, all bags brought into the stadium must be made of clear plastic and cannot be larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. The guidelines are similar to those in place at all college and professional stadiums across the country.

“This is the trend we're seeing in other school districts across the state and some near us that we play against,” said VWSD athletic director James Lewis. “We're trying to be proactive and provide a safe game experience for all of our fans and spectators. We're trying to stay ahead of the curve. Their safety is our top priority.”

Lewis said the new policy has been in the works for a year. Several other school districts in Mississippi, including Meridian and Natchez, have already implemented clear school bag policies. He spoke with officials in those districts and studied what worked and what didn't, then made his recommendations to the VWSD board.

“They said it has worked well for them and they have had no issues. And as a result of implementing the clear bag policy, they have seen a significant reduction in game day incidents that might have disrupted the game experience,” Lewis said.

The clear bag policy was implemented at Warren Central and Vicksburg High volleyball games in early August and will also be in effect for football games starting with the Red Carpet Bowl on August 30. In the doubleheader, Vicksburg will face Holmes County Central and Warren Central will face Clinton – both

Lewis said he and school district security officials have developed customized procedures for each venue to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. At the same time, the district has launched a public relations campaign to inform fans about what they can and cannot bring to games so there is no confusion.

The guidelines were published on the VWSD Facebook page and other social media.

“We're trying to be as transparent as possible and post or share as many graphics as possible. We'll have a pretty good way to share information and people will know what's allowed and what's not,” Lewis said. “It'll be tailored to each sport to keep everyone safe. We want everyone to be safe whether they're going to a soccer game, a tennis match or a swim meet.”

Lewis said the campaign was intended not only to inform fans on site, but also to help visitors who were unfamiliar with the new policy.

“Every time we have a game of any sport, I send an email to the visiting team's athletic directors and also to their school principals and let them know (about the new policy). And I send them our clear bag policy, graphics and the explanation page to let them know what to do and what not to do,” Lewis said. “So they know before they come to our front gates and our campuses.”

The only bags allowed at events are clear plastic zipper bags with a capacity of 1 gallon, a clear plastic bag with a handle no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″, a clear backpack, fanny packs, and a clutch or purse no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″. Spectators are only allowed to bring one bag per person.

Exceptions are made for medically necessary items, but these bags will be subject to physical inspection. Diaper bags are also allowed if accompanied by a child.

Other items are also prohibited, including bags that do not comply with the guidelines, food and drinks brought from outside, projectiles, weapons and artificial noisemakers.

Binoculars, cameras and blankets may be taken into the venue without a case.

All bags are subject to physical and visual inspection.

“It's very similar to any other school district. Once they get to the gate, all bags and purses are thoroughly searched,” Lewis said. “But because there is a clear bag policy, they already know what's in them. It's checked at the checkpoint and once it's determined that they're safe to proceed, they're free to go to the game as freely as possible. Everyone is checked if they bring a bag.”

Lewis asked spectators to arrive early and allow more time for security checks, especially early in the season as the policy is currently being implemented and procedures are being refined.

“We're getting better as we go from game to game. The gates always open an hour earlier. We would always ask people to get there a little early. We don't expect extremely long lines, but it will be a process, so I would ask them to be patient with us,” Lewis said. “Ultimately, you have to understand that this process has been put in place to keep them safe, and I think that's more important than anything else.”

With the policy in place, local retailers have found a new line of products to sell. Lewis said he has contacted 601 Sports and other stores in Vicksburg to stock up on the right bags.
Cindy Martin-Nez, owner of 601 Sports, said she hopes to get clear bags with shoulder straps in Vicksburg green and Warren Central red so fans can show their school spirit.

Lewis said any clear bag of the right size will do and there are also inexpensive bags available to buy. He hopes viewers will take advantage of the opportunity to personalise their bags.

“Today on media day, I happened to run into a parent who was bragging about how she found a clear Michael Kors bag and she's excited to bring it out,” Lewis said. “We want it to be appealing but also safe. But at the same time, we want to have a little fun. It can be a fashion statement.”

Vicksburg Post reporter Terri Cowart Frazier contributed to this report

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is the sports editor of the Vicksburg Post. He has been a member of the Vicksburg Post's sports desk since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the newspaper's 140-year history. A native of New Jersey and a graduate of LSU, Bowker has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and the Associated Press over the course of his career for his coverage of local Vicksburg sports.

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