NCAA releases guidelines on restarting college sports

Whether college football starts on time is a lingering question that has yet to be answered, but the NCAA has issued some guidance on the situation.

In a recent statement from the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute, the organization laid out guidance for the “resocialization” of college sports. They come in three phases, and take their cues from guidance issued by the White House on the same topic for the general population. Notably, the NCAA states that there must be a decline in coronavirus infection rates for at least two weeks before the prospect of resuming college athletics can even be considered.

Notably, the NCAA also said that the resumption of pro sports does not necessarily mean college athletics will immediately follow.

“Collegiate sports differ from professional sports because all collegiate athletes are first and foremost students,” the statement reads. “Thus, resocialization of collegiate sport must be grounded in resocialization of college campuses. As with society at large, such resocialization must be measured, nimble and based on sound science. In all instances, college athletics must operate with approval of school leadership, and the school must be operating in accordance with local and state public officials regarding a return to campus, return to practice and return to competition. In the end, school and governmental leadership determine who can participate in, assist with, and watch student-athlete practices and competition.”

This doesn’t clear much up, but it does make it obvious we’re not particularly close to resuming college sports. For college football teams who rely on summer practices, that’s bad news. It lends some credence to the fact that we may have to explore some alternative scenarios if we want to play out the 2020 college football season.