App Family,
It has been three months since the college athletics world came to a pause in March. While it has been a very challenging season for many of us, we have spent considerable time and effort developing our plans for the safe return of student-athletes, coaches and staff to our campus.
Working with university leadership, campus and public health officials, and with guidance from the NCAA and Sun Belt Conference, we are beginning the process of welcoming student-athletes back to campus in phases. The health and safety of our student-athletes remains our top priority.
Following the NCAA's decision to allow voluntary workouts beginning June 1, we instituted phase one with the reintroduction of members of the football and athletic training staff on June 2. Included in this phase were a small group of student-athletes who are recovering from injuries.
The next group of 20 football student-athletes will begin voluntary workouts on Monday, June 15, under the supervision of strength and conditioning staff while following specific health and safety guidelines. Two more groups of football student-athletes will be allowed to return on June 22 and July 6. Each student-athlete will be tested for COVID-19 before participating in any activity.
Men's and women's basketball team members will return in phases beginning July 6. Other fall sport student-athletes and staff will be phased back to campus ahead of the Aug. 17 first day of classes.
We will make training spaces available at the Ricks Athletics Center, Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility and Holmes Convocation Center. Each sport will have student-athletes broken into pods consisting of small groups to ensure physical distancing and safety.
All student-athletes (and staff who work directly with student-athletes) will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival to campus. A student-athlete who tests positive will self-isolate for at least 14 days in accordance with CDC guidelines and receive daily checkups from App State medical staff.
Among the protocols for student-athletes and staff on campus are a daily health questionnaire, daily temperature and pulse oximeter checks, social distancing of at least six feet, face coverings and proper hand washing. We will perform enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of all equipment and facilities before and after every workout, rehab and treatment session.
This plan is subject to change and will be updated with the latest best practices as we chart the safest and most responsible path forward. Each phase of the plan is dependent upon the success of the previous phase.
We look forward to seeing our student-athletes return to campus in the weeks to come.
Go App,
Doug Gillin
Director of Athletics
