Pac-12 Conference to Allow Voluntary In-Person Athletic Workouts Beginning June 15

Members of the Pac-12 Conference were permitted to return to training on campus voluntarily starting June 15. Photo Courtesy: McKenna Ehrmantraut

The Pac-12 Conference announced Tuesday that it will allow for voluntary in-person athletic workouts for all sports to commence on June 15, per a release. Each individual campus will need to allow such activities to take place where permissible by relevant government entities.

The decision was made on Tuesday at a meeting of the Pac-12 Conference CEO Group and follows the decision that the NCAA made last week in regards to allowing its Division I member institutions to hold voluntary athletic activity starting June 1. The Pac-12 decision was informed by a comprehensive set of best practice guidelines and protocols established by the Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee.

Swimmers of the Pac-12 Conference. Photo Courtesy: McKenna Ehrmantraut

“As educational institutions, our highest obligation is to the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff,” said Pac-12 CEO Group Chair and University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “As we considered the pros and cons of taking steps that can pave a path to returning to play, those considerations were foremost, guided by the advice of our own medical experts along with public health officials.”

“The Pac-12 is committed to the well-being of our student-athletes, and the decision to allow for voluntary workouts, subject to a determination by each school, is guided by the advice of our medical experts and will be supported by the detailed protocols established by our medical advisory committee in concert with our campus’ own safety guidelines,” said Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott. “As states have either already opened or begin to open up access to parks, gyms and other training facilities, student-athletes should have the option at this time to be in, what for many, will be a much safer environment on campus, where they can have access to the best available health, well-being and training support.”

The Pac-12 Conference COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee guidelines and protocols, which are being continuously updated based on the best available medical data, cover the following areas in detail:

(i) return to campus
(ii) return to athletic facility
(iii) facility specific considerations
(iv) return to exercise
(v) response to infection or presumed infection.

This includes best practice recommendations in connection with testing, contact tracing, monitoring, social distancing, hygiene measures, food service, quarantine and education among others. Each university will develop its own health and safety plan consistent with the committee’s recommendations along with relevant state and local public health guidance. A summary of the Medical Advisory Committee’s detailed recommended protocols that have been shared with the Pac-12 Conference schools can be found here.

— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with the Pac-12 Conference. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.

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