On Friday, the SEC announced the new protocols regarding COVID testing and face masks for Fall Sports.
This has been an area of focus that the task force has been meeting regularly about to try and come up with a solution that not only kept players safe, but also tried to keep Fall sports from having to be cancelled.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey shared in a news release that,
“Our Medical Task Force is producing an effective strategy for testing and monitoring, which complements the vigilant day-to-day efforts of our campuses to establish and maintain healthy environments in which our student-athletes can train and compete. Our health experts have guided us though each stage of preparation for the safe return of activity and, together with the medical staffs embedded within our athletics programs, we will continue to monitor developments around the virus and evolve our plan to meet the health needs of our student-athletes.”
Here are a list of new protocols and rules regarding testing and face masks that the SEC will enforce this fall:
TESTING
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The SEC will coordinate centralized testing through a third-party provider to ensure consistency in surveillance and pre-competition testing. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the current standard testing method for the COVID-19 virus. Alternative testing methods may be considered if sufficient data develops to support those methods.
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In the sport of football, student-athletes and others in direct contact with the program will receive a PCR surveillance test at least twice weekly during competition, typically six days and three days prior to competition. The Task Force recommends exploring alternative testing methods that will accommodate a third test, in addition to the two required PCR tests, that will provide for the reliability and rapid response necessary for diagnostic testing in a timeframe closer to competition.
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In the sports of volleyball and soccer, student-athletes and others in direct contact with the program will receive a PCR surveillance test at least twice weekly during competition, with one to occur three days prior to the first competition of the week. The Task Force recommends exploring alternative testing methods that will accommodate a third test, in addition to the two required PCR tests, that will provide for the reliability and rapid response necessary for diagnostic testing in a timeframe closer to the first competition of the week.
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In the sport of cross country, student-athletes and others in direct contact with the program will receive a PCR surveillance test at least once per week during competition, with that test to occur three days prior to each competition.
MASKING
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In football, volleyball and soccer, all coaches, staff and non-competing personnel will be required to wear face coverings on the sideline and physical distancing will be employed to the extent possible.
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In cross country, competing student-athletes are required to wear a face covering at the starting line, which may be removed when proper distancing has been achieved. Coaches and staff associated with cross country competition are expected to utilize social distancing to the extent possible and will be required to wear a face covering during pre- and post-competition.
GAME BALLS
- Other than the game officials and participants, any individuals who will or may touch the
game balls (i.e., footballs, soccer balls or volleyballs) during competition shall be PCR tested
weekly, adhere to appropriate hand washing/hand sanitizing protocols and wear a face
covering. Game balls that leave the competition area must be disinfected according to the
ball manufacturer’s guidelines, prior to re-entering play.
The 12 page document from the SEC also goes over how individual Fall sports will conduct each game/competition.
The SEC also announced that each University will have a COVID-19 Protocol Oversight Officer who is in charge of education and compliance regarding the new protocols.
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