CORAL GABLES – It has been a challenging few months for the University of Miami as a whole.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, all students and employees of the collegiate institution were forced to vacate the premises as a safety measure. And until now at the very least, all Miami personnel had to conduct activities from their homes.

Effective today (June 15), student-athletes are allowed to return to University of Miami’s campus, provided they consistently follow all safety guidelines as set forth by the Centers of Disease Control (CDC). This includes the Hurricanes college football players, who are more than eager to get some workouts in together.

According to a release today by Hurricanesports.com, the UM Athletic Department will welcome back student-athletes for voluntary activities as part of its return-to-campus (RTC) plan.

The UM RTC plan was developed in conjunction with University officials, UHealth physicians and administrators, UHealth Sports Medicine, and local and state officials, according to the Hurricanesports.com report. The plan incorporates an extensive, phased-in approach for select student-athletes and staff to return to UM’s facilities, as per the Hurricanesports.com report.

“We are excited to start bringing our student-athletes and staff back to campus,” UM Director of Athletics Blake James told Hurricanesports.com.

“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,” James continued. “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.”

Prior to the arrival of student-athletes and staff to the University, facility and operational guidelines have been put in place, including the following, according to the Hurricanesports.com report:

• Ability to train and work out while still using current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines
• Baseline COVID-19 testing (including both PCR and serology 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 for COVID-19 positive cases
Phase 1 of the plan commences today with the return of about 65 football student-athletes who are currently living in South Florida, according to Hurricanesports.com. It will also include the return of athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, and select academic services staff, as per Hurricanesports.com.

Student-athletes will be broken into small groups of eight (plus an athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach) for workouts as permitted under NCAA rules, per a release by Hurricanesports.com. Voluntary workouts will be conducted with appropriate physical distancing in the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, Greentree Practice Fields, and Squillante Strength and Conditioning Center, according to Hurricanesports.com.

The plan also includes a phased return for the remainder of the football team, as well as soccer, volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s basketball, as per the Hurricanesports.com release. Once those five teams have successfully completed their return to campus, all remaining teams will be added, according to Hurricanesports.com.

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, per Hurricanesports.com. Coaches, staff, and student-athletes 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, as per the Hurricanesports.com release.

For more information, please visit the following website to get the rest:
Hurricanesports.com.

SOURCE AND PHOTO CREDITS: Hurricanesports.com, University of Miami, and Keith Forde