PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — There will be a mask mandate at the Dakota Dome in Vermilion next month for the South Dakota High School Football Championships.

John Krogstrand, Assistant Executive Director of the State High School Activities Association, talked about the new policy.

Masks are required on the University of South Dakota campus anyway, but Krogstrand says the Association fully concurs with the safety measure.

He also says social distancing will be used to help determine seating inside the Dome for the big games.

The SDHSAA is also considering mask mandates for volleyball and for winter sports championships.

There have already been three forfeits in the football playoffs so far, two in the first one and one in the quarterfinals.

The football championships, one of South Dakota’s most anticipated and popular sporting events, are set for Nov. 12- 14.