It seems like every article we start about NCAA sports these days has some doom and gloom beginning about how everything was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s true. We’ve been without sports, including the professional variety of any kind in this country since mid-March.
Since then, we’ve been watching so many classic games, that we’ll probably be able to be a walking encyclopedia to our grandkids.
But maybe there’s a glimmer of hope. This week the NCAA released a plan for the return to college sports, and that, of course, pertains to Ohio State football this fall as well.
In a press release, the NCAA outlined three phases of socialization, with each phase addressing aspects of daily life that are appropriate due to COVID-19.
These core principles offer a baseline for resuming practice and competition at the collegiate level while attempting to come in line with federal guidelines.
Next … Core principles of resocialization of collegiate sport
Core principles of resocialization of collegiate sport:
Before any of this can happen, there must not be directives at the national level that preclude socialization. State and local authorities must have in place a plan for socialization as a framework.
However, in accordance with the federal guidelines, such a plan assumes the following state/local GATING CRITERIA have been satisfied:
- A downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses reported within a 14-day period and a downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period.
- A downward trajectory of documented cases of COVID-19 within a 14-day period or a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percentage of total tests within a 14-day period.
- Hospitals can treat all patients without crisis care and there is a robust testing program in place for at-risk health care workers, including emerging antibody testing.
- There should be a plan in place at the university/college level for the resocialization of students. In keeping with the federal guidelines, universities should consider the guidance provided to employers to develop and implement appropriate policies regarding the following:
- The use of social distancing and protective equipment.
- Administering temperature checks.
- The ability to Test and isolate.
- Sanitation.
- The use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas.
- School business travel.
- Monitoring of the workforce for indicative symptoms and preventing symptomatic people from physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
- Workforce contact tracing after an employee’s positive test for COVID-19.
Additionally, there must be a plan in place at the university/college level for the resocialization of student-athletes within athletics. In keeping with the federal guidelines, athletics should practice the following:
- All student-athletes, athletics health care providers, coaches, and athletics personnel should practice good hygiene.
- All student-athletes, athletics health care providers, coaches, and athletics personnel should stay home if they feel sick.
- The guidance noted above for university employees should be in place within athletics.
- Adequate personal protective equipment for athletics health care providers, and there must be sanitizers to manage infection control in all shared athletics space.
- The ability to assess immunity to COVID-19 at a regional and local level. This could include immunity at the college campus, plus a more focused assessment of herd immunity for athletics teams.
- Access to reliable, rapid diagnostic testing on any individual who is suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms.
- A local surveillance system must also be in place so that newly identified cases can be identified promptly and isolated, and their close contacts must be managed appropriately.
- Clearly identified and transparent risk analyses in place. Such risk analyses consider issues such as economics, education, restoration of society, and medical risk of sport participation, including COVID-19 infection and possible death.
Next … Resocialization of sport for Phase One
Phase One:
In accordance with the federal guidelines, resocialization of sport for Phase One assumes the following:
- Gating criteria have been satisfied for a minimum of 14 days.
- Vulnerable student-athletes, athletics health care providers, coaches, and athletics personnel should continue to shelter in place. Vulnerable populations include individuals with serious underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity and asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised, such as by chemotherapy.
- Those living in dorms and other residences where vulnerable individuals reside should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home, and appropriate isolating precautions should be taken.
- Physical distancing should continue.
- Gatherings of more than 10 people should be avoided unless precautionary measures of physical distancing and sanitization are in place.
- Gyms and common areas where student-athletes and staff are likely to congregate and interact should remain closed unless strict distancing and sanitation protocols can be implemented.
- Virtual meetings should be encouraged whenever possible and feasible.
- Nonessential travel should be minimized, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines regarding isolation after travel should be implemented.
NEXT: Resocialization of sport for Phase Two
Phase Two:
In accordance with the federal guidelines, if Phase One has been implemented successfully, with no evidence of a rebound, and gating criteria have been satisfied for a minimum of 14 days since the implementation of Phase One then the following will continue for Phase Two:
- Vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place.
- Awareness and proper isolating practices related to vulnerable individuals in residences should continue.
- Physical distancing should continue.
- Gatherings of more than 50 people should be avoided unless precautionary measures of physical distancing and sanitization are in place.
- Gyms and common areas where student-athletes and staff are likely to congregate and interact should remain closed, or appropriate distancing and sanitation protocols should be implemented.
- Virtual meetings should continue to be encouraged whenever possible and feasible.
- Nonessential travel may resume.
NEXT: Resocialization of sport for Phase Three
Phase Three:
In accordance with the federal guidelines, if Phase One and Phase Two have both been implemented successfully, with no evidence of a rebound, and gating criteria have been satisfied for a minimum of 14 days since the implementation of Phase Two, then the following will occur into Phase Three:
- Vulnerable student-athletes, athletics health care providers, coaches, and athletics personnel can resume in-person interactions but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to settings where such distancing is not practical.
- Gyms and common areas where student-athletes and staff are likely to congregate and interact can reopen if appropriate sanitation protocols are implemented, but even low-risk populations should consider minimizing time spent in crowded environments.
- Unrestricted staffing may resume.
That’s a lot, but very important — especially if we want college sports back (and we know you do).
In closing, the transition from the above core principles to a relaxation of these principles can occur when COVID-19 can be managed in a manner like less virulent influenza strains. COVID-19 has essentially shut down society because it is highly contagious and has an unacceptably high death rate.
More common strains of influenza do not close society because society has learned to adapt to and develop acceptable management strategies for influenza. For COVID-19, future phases are dependent on the successful development of widely available treatment, including prophylactic immunotherapy, coupled with widespread, effective vaccination.
And now we wait to see what happens …
