Football is among the many sports looking to get back on the field as the COVID-19 and sports debate rages on.

Despite being played outside, other complications are cause for concern when allowing the sport to begin games again.

"In football, you may have your five offensive linemen lined up directly across from several defensive linemen and they inherently are going to be less than 6 feet apart lined up nose to nose and they will likely be in close contact for 15 minutes or longer, potentially. And that would be considered a close contact and again pose some risk of spreading," says Dr. David Soma, a pediatric sports medicine doctor.

Even with those risks, practices are allowed to begin on Sept. 21 under strict protocols, including the exclusion of pads and other equipment, as well as the requirement to work in small pods.

That's not where the safety measures will end.

"There will be temperature checks. COVID questionnaires will be asked at all times and certain things like each student athlete having their own personal water bottle, making sure they bring extra clothing to change after they're done sweating at the end of the practice," says Iona Prep football coach Joe Spagnolo.

While everyone is itching to get back on the field and competing again, Coach Spagnolo and many others understand that there is only so much they can control.

"We are going to control what we can control. Every day we are going to go out to practice that we have with the boys and we are going to make sure that we're providing a safe environment and getting better each day. And when we get the OK to go forward and put pads on, I know our coaching staff and our team will be ready and we'll just go from there," says Spagnolo.

All eyes will be on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the superintendents in the coming weeks as many await the final say on whether high risk sports will be competing in the fall or if they will be postponed until the spring.