Tulsa Student-Athletes’ Begin Returning to Campus on June 21
6/17/2020 12:15:00 PM | Tulsa Hurricane
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa announced today that the first phase of Golden Hurricane student-athletes' return to campus will begin on June 21.
The majority of the football team returns June 21-25, followed by all remaining football student-athletes along with men's and women's basketball from June 28-July 2. Men's and women's soccer returns on July 5, volleyball on July 12 and the cross-country team in mid-August. Tulsa's remaining sports teams will report to campus for the beginning of classes on Aug. 24.
All phases include guidelines for physical distancing, mask coverings, enhanced sanitization, limited groups, modified use of space and other safety measures. Tulsa's reopening plan was based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCAA SSI Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport and the NATA ICSM COVID-19 Return-To-Campus Plan.
"Health and safety continue to be our top priorities and has been at the core of all of our discussions and decisions," said Dr. Derrick Gragg, TU's vice president and director of athletics. "As we take these first steps in returning to campus, we are committed to keeping our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the broader campus community as safe as possible."
Upon return to campus, student-athletes will have a five-day isolation period before being tested for COVID-19. Test results will be returned within 48 hours. Once testing has returned negative for COVID-19, the student-athlete will report to the athletic training room and receive the standard preparticipation physical exam and COVID-19 educational material before starting workouts.
In addition, student-athletes have been encouraged to self-quarantine prior to returning to campus. Those student-athletes who arrive In Tulsa from abroad will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
When beginning voluntary workouts, Tulsa's athletic performance staff will follow national guidelines for a safer return to training following the prolonged period of inactivity.
Since the start of the pandemic, athletic department leadership has coordinated with university leadership, health care professionals and state and local agencies to ensure the return of student-athletes aligns with broader plans for reopening campus as well as at the state and local levels.
"Our athletics staff has worked diligently over recent weeks to create a plan to ensure that our student-athletes feel safe in their return to campus," said Gragg. "The best approach is to bring our student-athletes back to campus in phases allowing our staff to focus on each returning team in the best possible way."
Student-athletes, coaches and staff will be screened daily with a temperature check and health questionnaire. Safety protocols will be put in place to help protect and monitor all student-athletes, coaches and staff. Face coverings will be worn when not participating in physical activities. Cleaning schedules will follow recommended CDC guidelines and best practices to include disinfecting weight rooms, locker rooms, meeting rooms and other facilities between all training sessions and meetings.
"As we embark on this initial phase of reintegration to campus and voluntary workouts, we understand that this is just the first step in our return to some type of normalcy and at the same time remaining mindful of the challenges posed by COVID-19," added Gragg.
Repeat COVID-19 tests will follow as determined by medical professionals as well as any directives given by the American Athletic Conference and/or NCAA officials.
If a student-athlete, coach or support staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will enter the quarantine protocol per medical, local/state health department and university guidelines and will receive the appropriate monitoring and treatment from the team physician, athletic training staff and the university health center. A student-athlete testing positive will be moved to separate housing designated by TU for quarantine purposes.
