SU to Welcome Student-Athletes Back to Campus

New Strategies and Protocols in Place to Protect Community

Syracuse University will welcome back to campus student-athletes who are beginning voluntary training on June 8 to prepare for a competitive fall schedule. This includes members of the football team, some of whom will be among the first student-athletes to return to campus. These training sessions are only voluntary, as football training camp doesn't begin until Aug. 5. Training will look very different this year, guided by an operational plan developed to protect and safeguard the well-being of student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the broader Central New York community.

Recently, the NCAA cleared the way for voluntary workouts and training at athletic facilities and issued its own action plan that follows the recommendations of federal health authorities. Meanwhile, Syracuse University's Department of Athletics will implement its own operational plan, in alignment with guidance provided by public health and government officials, to safely reopen athletic facilities and prepare student-athletes for competition.

"We are committed to partnering with health experts and complying with Onondaga County and New York state public health policies," said Director of Athletics John Wildhack. "We are confident that we can minimize risk of viral transmission among staff and student-athletes while at the same time restoring some sense of normalcy to our training and preparation schedule. We believe that if we are cautious and diligent, and care for each other, we will be able to keep our student-athletes safe during the summer months and prepare them physically and mentally for top performance."

Critical to the department's operational plan is the immediate testing and isolation of all student-athletes upon their return to campus. Student-athletes will be tested and isolation will commence until a negative test result is achieved. This isolation period could last as long as 14 days.

"The health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, our staff and the campus and Central New York communities is my top priority. Period. We will be rigorous in the testing and monitoring of our student-athletes, and my staff and I will be working diligently to educate our team on prevention and detection," said head football coach Dino Babers. "We all have a part to play in keeping our community safe and that's a responsibility I take seriously. My players know what is expected of them, and I will hold them accountable."

The Department of Athletics will institute a phased-in concept of athletic "pods" in which student-athletes are matched up in small pods at first — much like families — based initially on housing assignments. In the first phase, student-athletes are assigned to pods with a maximum of 10 players when they arrive on campus. They are allowed contact only with members of their pod, including staff assigned to the pod. In the second and third phases of the plan, which are likely to be implemented in July, the small-group pods will grow in size, first to include up to 30 student-athletes and then, eventually, entire units and ultimately the full team.

Also key to the success of the operational plan is the appointment of an infection control officer (ICO), who will work closely with the University's Infection Response Team (IRT). Herman Frazier, senior deputy director of athletics, will serve as ICO, the first point of contact for any Department of Athletics staff member or student-athlete who may suspect they've been exposed to COVID-19 or who develops any symptoms suggestive of infection. Frazier will also ensure that all screening protocols are followed, including daily temperature checks and blood oxygen level testing. In his capacity as ICO, he will also oversee the cleaning and disinfection program for all athletic training facilities.

"There is a strict screening protocol in place to protect our teams and all those who work with them," said Frazier. "Employees will be encouraged to take their temperature routinely at home prior to arrival at the training facility. Daily screening for all employees reporting to work — as well as visitors, contractors and service providers who enter the athletic facilities — will include questions related to close contacts and early symptoms of infection."

According to the department's operational plan, and in alliance with the University's public health framework, social distancing measures will be enforced and protective equipment, including face masks, will be used in all athletic facilities. Masks may not be required by student-athletes during training or working out, but they are expected to maintain social distancing of at least six feet while in a facility. All shared equipment will be cleaned and sanitized prior to and after each use by each student-athlete.

The athletic training room (ATR) will be open to student-athletes only for new injury evaluation, rehab and taping. In most cases, appointments will be required in order to uphold social distancing guidelines. Non-essential medical care at the sports medicine facilities — such as routine physical exams, routine strength and conditioning, and football skill development work — will not be offered during the first phase of reopening.

The return of some student-athletes represents an opportunity for the University to apply the processes, protocols, procedures and best practices developed in recent weeks for the restart of residential learning via the Fall 2020 Open Working Group and its subcommittees. Today's news follows yesterday's announcement by Andrew Gordon, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, that Syracuse University will begin welcoming a limited number of faculty and staff back to campus on Wednesday, June 3, as part of a phased reopening. This phase includes primarily all essential personnel, who have been on campus since March, plus additional research faculty and staff identified by their deans in consultation with the vice president of research. Comprehensive guidance has been issued to the campus community on topics like masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing requirements, expectations of students, faculty and staff in monitoring and reporting any COVID-19 symptoms, cleaning and sanitation protocols, and more. To learn more about Syracuse University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Syracuse.edu/coronavirus.

About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with more than 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we're a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what's possible.

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