UTSA Athletics announced that a group of football student-athletes will be able to return to campus under a phased plan beginning today.
The phased plan will allow for a group of student-athletes from the football program to begin the process of being cleared for voluntary physical activities.
“We have worked very closely with campus leadership, medical experts, state and local government officials, Conference USA and the NCAA to develop a plan for a safe return of our student-athletes to campus,” UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos said. “I’d like to thank Dan Bellamy, our sports medicine staff and campus partners for putting together this phased approach. We will implement this plan with the health and wellbeing of our community and student-athletes as our top priority.”
The student-athletes will undergo a series of steps as part of the plan, beginning with individual prescreening, followed by a seven-day self-isolation and observation period.
After the seven-day self-isolation and observation period is complete, each student-athlete will undergo a thorough medical examination with a physician. All student-athletes who clear the medical examination period will be given limited and monitored access to the weight room, athletic training rooms and other defined athletics spaces.
Student-athletes then would be able to enter the first of three 14-day phases for voluntary workouts, which will focus on strength & conditioning and physical preparation. A maximum of 10 student-athletes per group will be allowed and six feet of social distancing and face coverings will be required. Daily symptom checks will be logged and collected by the UTSA Sports Medicine staff.
If there is a suspected or confirmed case during any phase, UTSA Athletics will follow university guidance on closing and disinfecting facilities and collaborate with San Antonio Metro Health and University Health System for contact tracing.
Photo: UTSA