NCAA clears way for June 1 voluntary workouts

Pac-12 says it will decide this month whether to end its own ban on activities.

The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts by football and basketball players effective June 1 as a growing number of college leaders expressed confidence that fall sports will be possible in some form despite concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

This decision clears the way for individual workouts by athletes, mostly on their own, subject to safety and health protocols decided by their schools or local health officials. NCAA officials noted that the workouts could go on as long as all local, state and federal regulations are followed. The status of voluntary workouts for other sports will be determined later.

“We encourage each school to use its discretion to make the best decisions possible for football and basketball student-athletes within the appropriate resocialization framework,” Pennsyvania athletic director and council chair M. Grace Calhoun said in a statement. “Allowing for voluntary athletics activity acknowledges that reopening our campuses will be an individual decision but should be based on advice from medical experts.”

The Pac-12 will decide before the end of May whether to extend its ban on team activities that is currently scheduled to expire at that time, said Dave Hirsch, the vice president of communications for the conference.

From Notre Dame to Louisiana State and more, a number of schools have announced plans to reopen campuses for the fall semester, and conferences have begun setting up plans for how to play football amid the pandemic. The latest came this week with the Florida State system announcing plans for its 12 schools and more than 420,000 students.

UCLA and USC have been almost completely shut down since early March. UCLA has said online classes will continue until Sept. 11, with no determination having been made on classes in the fall, which begin Oct. 1.

USC’s summer classes, which run through Aug. 11, also will be online. The fall semester begins Aug. 24.

On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom indicated that the Dodgers and Angels could play games at home if there is a baseball season.

Speaking at a news conference in Sacramento, Newsom said “pro sports, in that first week or so of June, without spectators, and modifications … can begin to move forward.”

No mention was made of college teams in California. UCLA’s first game at the Rose Bowl is scheduled for Aug. 29 against New Mexico State. USC’s Coliseum opener is set for Sept. 12 against New Mexico.

Many questions remain, including specific safety protocols and whether fans would be allowed if games proceed.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said during a conference call Wednesday that he believes the Buckeyes could safely play home games with 20,000 to 30,000 fans in its 105,000seat stadium. “I think we can get there,” Smith said.

Smith said he hadn’t figured out yet how those 20,000 to 30,000 spectators would be chosen. He said masks and other precautions would be required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Smith added that Ohio State is ready to open the 15,000-square-foot Woody Hayes Athletic Center to athletes starting June 8 if the NCAA allows it.

About 10 players at a time would be allowed to work out on a staggered schedule with social-distancing and other hygiene precautions in place. Some coaches returned to the complex on a limited basis this week.

Other schools also are looking into ways they can hold workouts as safely as possible.

Middle Tennessee athletic director Chris Massaro said his school plans to take the temperature of players daily and make sure they are wearing masks.

Massaro has even discussed moving some equipment from the weight room to the Red Floyd Stadium concourse to make sure workouts allow social distancing.

“We’re a little bit kind of almost like guinea pigs,” Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said. “We’re the ones that are coming back first, football’s coming back first all across the country. So we’ve got to make sure we’re doing our part so there’s not a setback, and it’s going to take all of us buying in and doing whatever we can to keep everybody else healthy.”

The presidents of Miami and Notre Dame said in separate interviews they expect the football season to be played.

Notre Dame President Fr. John Jenkins told MSNBC he expects to have clarity on how — or if — the football season can happen in the next few weeks.

Miami President Julio Frenk told CNN he hopes the Hurricanes can play this fall and that safety would be the top priority.

“They will probably play in empty stadiums, like so many other sports,” Frenk said.

‘We encourage each school to use its discretion to make the best decisions possible for ... student-athletes.’ — M. Grace Calhoun, NCAA council chair