IU Prepares for Return of Student-Athletes
Memorial Stadium (photo courtesy of Indiana University)
Indiana University Athletics says it will start welcoming student-athletes to campus for voluntary workouts starting June 15. IU says the decision to resume athletic activities is based on its Phase One Restart Plan prepared by the Athletics Medical Advisory Group.
The university says the advisory group worked with IU Environmental Health and Safety and IU Emergency Management to develop requirements for athletics to resume on a limited basis.
“We cannot totally eliminate the risk. At least until there is a vaccine, there will be risk. What we can do is have the best doctors give us the best protocols and make sure they are strictly followed. That’s what we’ve done and what we are going to do,” said Fred Glass, IU’s vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics.
IU says phase one of its restart plan addresses protocols that will be in place while teams pursue voluntary athletic activities. The university says the plan will be updated as the department prepares for team practices and competitions.
IU says it will stagger the return of students and is creating a reintegration phase before each student is able to participate in voluntary workouts at its athletic facilities.
The university says the first group to start voluntary workouts will be members of the football team beginning June 15. The second group will include men’s and women’s basketball players, beginning June 18.
IU says additional groups will return later this summer and will follow the same protocols. The subsequent groups will include students who participate in fall sports:
Women’s Soccer – July 6
Volleyball – July 8
Men’s Soccer – July 13
Field Hockey – July 15
Cross Country – August 18
IU says once an individual is reintegrated, they will be required to adhere to a series of guidelines, including daily medical checks, abiding by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidelines regarding social distancing, and COVID-19 testing when necessary.