Utah Athletics Will Reopen Facilities For Voluntary Workouts Beginning June 15 With Strict Guidelines

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah athletic department announced that they will reopen their facilities for voluntary workouts beginning June 15 with multiple phases put in place along with strict guidelines.

This will not include team practices, organized team activities and they will not workout with their coaches. Each student-athlete will workout on their own and is voluntary but will have coaches observing virtually.

The University of Utah athletic department released their plan and phases that they will follow on a Zoom call with the media. Tom Hackett and I reacted to the news on the KSL Sports Facebook page and the Crimson Corner podcast. Listen to the full press conference and the reaction, below.

Prior To Voluntary Workouts

Part of the plan that Utah has put in place is that all student-athletes will workout while practicing the six-feet social distancing. Each sports team will be in small groups as far as housing and will remain away from other.

If a student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, they will be removed but the rest of the group can work. Each individual will be tested when they return to campus including for antibodies and will have their temperatures checked daily and will have symptoms evaluated everyday.

.@utahathletics released their plans in phases which will allow student-athletes to begin working out voluntarily beginning June 15.

Read More: https://t.co/ewOvWXkyt9#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/0w6ngmaLA1

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 28, 2020

Staff will be tested based on their contact with student-athletes and tier of return. The symptom check-point longevity will be color-dependent. Regardless of state color (Salt Lake City is still in orange), all student-athletes and staff will be required to complete check-in review and temperature checks during phase-in periods which will be the first 14 days of individual return.

An electronic survey will help streamline the process and maintain a record. Anyone entering the facility must have appropriate daily wristband and face covering. Student-athletes will be escorted to and from training facilities. All student-athletes that wish to workout will need to make an appointment with the athletic department. Athletes that show up outside of their appointed time will not be granted access to the facility.

When athletes arrive back to campus, they will be required to answer a questionnaire and pass a temperature check. If they pass, they will be given a wrist-band to state that they have been cleared to workout.

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 28, 2020

All student-athletes, coaches and staff will be subject to COVID-19 protocols and standards.

Student-Athlete Phased Return

Phase 1 will begin June 15 with all in-state student-athletes for football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and soccer will be allowed to workout on campus voluntarily.

Phase 2 will start June 22 with out of state student-athletes for football, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and soccer will be allowed to workout on campus.

Phase 3 will get underway on June 28 with all new athletes that are housing dependent for football, men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and soccer being allowed to workout.

On June 29th, the athletic department will re-evaluate the first three phases to determine further phases.

If they get the all clear, phase 4 will potentially begin July 13 with in-state student-athletes of all sports. Phase 5 would potentially start on July 20 with out of state student-athletes for all sports.

Phase 6 will potentially begin July 27 with all new local athletes for all sports. Finally, phase 7 will begin on August 24 with all Utah student-athletes returning to campus.

The first six phases are all for student-athletes who would like to workout voluntarily.

Illness Policy

If someone reports that they are sick, evaluations will be done over the phone with physician referral. If symptoms exist for COVID-19, student-athletes will be sent for testing and ordered to self-isolate.

If their are high risk exposures, student-athletes will quarantine at home for 14 days or quarantine at home with tests on day 3 and day 5. If both tests are negative, the student-athlete can return to activity.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.