The NCAA has reportedly voted to end its moratorium on athletic activity, which is set to expire on May 31, rather than extend it further in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel, the association voted Wednesday to approve voluntary athletic activities in football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball to start June 1 and go through June 30. Thamel added that the NCAA will address other sports “within the next week.”
Voluntary workouts entail that teams have no on-field coaches, but strength staff members could supervise.
The waiver issued last month that allows up to eight hours per week of virtual activities will also be extended through June, The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach reported.
Sources: The NCAA Division I Council is expected to address the sports other than football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball within the next week. https://t.co/KY1rBDlUVz
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 20, 2020
The vote doesn’t mean that athletes can suddenly head back to campus, however. They’ll still have to act in accordance with state government, local government and university rules.
On a symbolic level, the decision indicates that college sports could theoretically be in play this fall. While some schools around the country have already canceled or altered their fall semesters, others are holding out hope students will be able to return to campus and that athletics (particularly, football) will happen in some form.
According to Thamel’s report, the NCAA will not make rules regarding the frequency of COVID-19 testing, instead leaving that up to institutions and governments.
“No one wants to get into that,” Thamel’s NCAA source said. “They want to leave it to your own campus and state.”
Pools better open at places where kids are allowed back on june first
how about now instead?
I’d be fine with that too but it has to be at least equal
They are voting on other Fall sports within the week. We can be bitter about these sports getting the nod first, but if it weren’t for football and basketball, I’m not sure there would be a discussion for swimming.
All about the Benjamins.