Detailing Florida’s plan bringing student-athletes back to campus

The University of Florida began bringing student-athletes back to campus during the last week of March in preparation for voluntary workouts that began this week, June 8.

Below is a step-by-step plan that the University Athletic Association put in place in order to safely bring student-athletes back to campus, including new initiatives and protocols that have been put in place in order to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. This presentation was given to media on Tuesday and Gator Country is sharing it with you now.

RESOURCES FOR PLANNING

  • UF Health
    • Infectious Disease
    • UF Screen, Test, and Protect Program
  • NCAA Sport Science Institute
  • SEC Task Force
  • Team Physicians
  • Strength and Conditioning Coaches
  • Head Football Athletic Trainer
  • Guidance of State, Local and Campus Authorities

Prior to Return

  • Athletic Trainers: Periodic Check-Ins
    • Physical Health
    • Mental/Emotional Health
    • Nutritional Health
    • Referral to Appropriate Resources
  • Mental Health
    • Four Licensed Mental Helth Providers
      • Provided Telehealth Consults

Overview of Return Plan

  • Football
    • Physicals May 26-June 12
    • Voluntary workouts  being June 8
  • Soccer and Volleyball
    • Physicals  June 15-19
    • Voluntary workouts June 22
  • Men’s and Women’s Basketball
    • Physicals June 29-July 3
    • Voluntary workouts July 6

Physical Exam process

  • Returning Athletes
    • COVID testing through UF Screen, Test, and Protect program
    • Results take about 36 hours to report
    • Physical exam completed
      • Vitals, medical history, COVID screening
    • The process is taking 3-4 days
    • Processing 10-15 athletes a day
    • No facility access until completion

Daily Procedure for student-athletes

  • Arrive dressed for workouts
    • No locker room access
  • Hand washing stations
  • Individual towels/water bottles
  • Daily screenings
    • Temperature check and questionnaire
  • Appointment only weight room time
    • Smaller groups (Ex: football would normally workout in groups of 40-45, will now be limited to 20-25).

Risk Mitigation

  • Staff are screened and/or tested for COVID-19
  • Student-athletes are tested for COVID-19
  • Staff are in masks
  • Student-athletes wear masks for all appointments and meetings
  • Moving weight room to the Indoor Practice Facility
  • Replicate outdoors, decreases risk
  • Slow return, 10-15 athletes a day
  • Increased cleaning and sanitation standards
  • Education
    • COVID-19 Virus
      • How it spreads
      • Side effects
    • Handwashing/Sanitizing
    • Physical distancing
    • Face covering
    • What to do if ill

 

 

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC