’Canes begin the 1st phase of returning to campus for workouts
The Miami Hurricanes began their first phase of a return to campus for voluntary workouts with a trainer present on Monday, welcoming back 65 football players that live in South Florida, UM announced.
“We are excited to start bringing our student-athletes and staff back to campus,” UM athletic director Athletics Blake James said in a statement. “We have worked diligently with our colleagues on campus and at UHealth to ensure that we have a plan in place to bring them back safely and securely and that is consistent with the broader University plan.
“It has been inspiring to witness the commitment and dedication of our U Family to stay connected to each other throughout this pandemic. But there’s no place like the University of Miami and I know everyone is looking forward to getting back to our campus.”
Under Phase 1 of the plan, student-athletes will be broken into small groups of eight, plus an athletic trainer and strength coach, for workouts as permitted under NCAA rules. Workouts are being conducted in the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, Greentree Practice Fields and Squillante Strength and Conditioning Center.
Prior to the arrival of athletes and staff on campus, operational guidelines were put in place, including:
■ Ability to train and work out while still using current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
■ Baseline COVID-19 testing prior to engaging in organized activity, as permissible under NCAA legislation, for student-athletes and staff engaged in direct contact with student-athletes.
■ Ability to test for COVID-19 when symptomatic.
■ Quarantine and isolation protocols.
■ Contact tracing.
■ Proper education and accommodations for student-athletes and staff.
■ Daily screening and temperature checks.
■ Return-to-activity protocols COVID-19 positive cases.
The plan also includes a phased return for the remainder of the football team, as well as the soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball teams. Once those teams have successfully completed their return to campus, all of Miami’s remaining teams will be added.
According to UM, all athletic facilities have been outfitted with university-approved sanitation protocols, including expanded hand sanitizer stations and surface disinfection in frequently used common areas, shared spaces and touch points. Coaches, staff and studentathletes will be expected to maintain six feet of separation when possible in accordance with physical distancing guidelines, and masks or face coverings are required to be worn in public areas or when six feet of separation between individuals is not possible.
For athletic department staffers who do not work directly with student-athletes on a regular basis, telecommuting continues to be the primary option to minimize the number of employees who will return or work in areas simultaneously.
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