Athletics

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It is always the desire and goal to make sure our entire athletics department is provided with the highest level of care, which includes following all national, state and local healthcare guidelines and medical practices. It is important to be aware that during the COVID-19 pandemic we will follow these same guidelines and will continue to evolve as medical advances, procedures and treatment plans are developed. Plans and contingencies will be created to help provide flexibility as guidelines from these supervising entities develop.

 

Restart Timeline for Sport Programs

  

Arrival Date	Number of Returners	Approx. Physical Date	Start of Workouts
June 8	65 (Football - Partial)	June 8	June 8
July 6	40 (Football -Remaining)	July 6-7	July 7-8
July 6	14 (Volleyball)	July 6-7	July 7-8
July 6	26 (Soccer)	July 6-7	July 7-8
July 9	17 (Women’s Basketball)	July 10	July 13
July 9	15 (Men’s Basketball)	July 10	July 13
July 20	65 (Cheerleading)	Physicals on own	July 20-25 (1 Week)
Aug. 14	12 (Men’s Golf)*	Aug. 14	Aug. 15 (Course)
Aug. 17	9 (Women’s Golf)*	Aug. 19	Aug. 22
Aug. 18	24 (Cross Country)*	Aug. 18	Aug. 20
Aug. 22	31 (Track and Field)*	Aug. 23	Aug. 24
Aug. 22	19 (Softball)*	Aug. 23	Aug. 24
Aug. 22	51 (Baseball)*	Aug. 23	Aug. 24
Aug. 22	8 (Tennis)*	Aug. 23	Aug. 24

 

* Based on health/government guidelines at the time, there is the potential that some of these programs could have limited returners in July. (Dates and numbers are subject to change.)

 

Athletes Return to Bowling Green and WKU

A full team roster and the state from which the student-athlete and staff are returning to campus have been requested to evaluate, prepare and identify potential various levels of risk that each person presents. This advanced review will help better prepare for individuals returning to campus. It is recommended that teams plan accordingly based on date of return, within the approved WKU and Athletic guidelines.

 

Initial and Continuous Screening Procedures 

Testing-Initial Screening Upon Arrival

• Accepted temperature range: Below 100.3 F normal, above 100.4 F abnormal
• Assessment of ALL Athletic Department personnel required prior to return to approved level of activity
• Approved level of authorization could be, but not limited to, medical, WKU, WKU Athletics, state and local
• Screening to be conducted in an appropriate room – athletic training, locker room or other large designated room.

Forms will be reviewed and approved by WKU Medical staff and Athletic Training department prior to release of activity or additional requirements/suggestions to be made before clearance is given. Consultation with WKU Human Resources needs to be considered prior to asking all athletic staff to complete forms and if any special consideration for other WKU employees who will be interacting with Athletics. This will include identifying any high-risk populations as well.

All contacts received by the university that indicate a potential exposure to COVID-19 will be immediately referred to the applicable public health agencies for direction or assumption of case management.

Immediate actions to isolate individuals will be implemented either through the university for persons residing in Housing and Residence Life (HRL) residence halls or apartments, or by public health for all persons residing off campus. Quarantine spaces have been designated and approved by public health on campus and will remain at the ready in the event that active cases develop. Inquiries regarding contact tracing, case management, reporting, and quarantine protocols should be directed to the appropriate Healthy at Work Officers.

Testing-Ongoing Screening After Arrival

• Prior to entering the designated facilities, entrance will be determined based on appropriate flow. Each person will be verbally screened by staff members and the information recorded with appropriate action taken as necessary. Their temperature will be taken each time.
• The screening will continue or be revised as new processes are recommended or when WKU returns to normal operations.
• All student-athletes, and staff in direct contact with student-athletes, making their first arrival to campus between July 4 and the beginning of the fall semester will receive a COVID-19 antibody test. If the antibody test returns positive, it will be immediately followed up with an acute COVID-19 test (swab). This will be a requirement for return to athletic activity.
• The results of the first round of antibody and PCR swab testing can be found here.
• Additional COVID-19 testing will be performed, ordered or required when an individual has the signs or symptoms or other circumstances that suggest acute testing be performed. The guidelines will be evaluated and followed by WKU Team Physicians and/or others they designate.

 Testing-Departmental Screening

• Staff and student-athletes will be required to have their temperatures and symptoms monitored daily by the athletic training staff, department supervisors or designated individuals prior to entering athletic facilities.
• People who are not on athletic department rosters will be asked to enter the designated entrance and have their temperature checked prior to being allowed to enter. These individuals will arrange for entrance to their destination when available. They will also be asked to not linger or enter any areas they do have direct business with. All entrances and exits will be locked where and when appropriate. It will be important to monitor anyone who enters any athletic facilities to help mitigate exposures of the COVID-19 virus.
•  Each athletic department supervisor, head coach or department-designated individual will be responsible to perform the daily check of staff and others within their departments.

 

Athletic Facility and Equipment Cleaning Procedures

WKU Athletics has multiple facilities that undergo routine cleaning and sanitation before, during and following their use. It is important to continue the vigilant process of making our facilities – and most importantly, the health and safety of the users – in the best possible condition through cleaning. Each facility has its specific processes, such as utilizing approved and appropriate chemicals that limit exposures to medical concerns. The staff use towels, gloves and other protective equipment based on the situation. They also practice safe disposal of used items. This is done in conjunction with WKU Facilities Management’s routine and plan for servicing the areas they are assigned.

 

Athlete Housing & Dining

WKU Athletics currently projects to have 74 student-athletes living in Hilltopper Hall during the summer, as well as 102 living in Kentucky Street or off-campus housing. Per WKU’s Summer/Intersession Housing Agreement, residence hall guidelines will have several continued changes in policy due to COVID-19, including social distancing restrictions. All visitation in residence halls remains suspended until further notice.

Summer meals will be served out of Hilltopper Hub through the end of June. Beginning July 6, summer meals will be served out of the Fresh Food Company. Operations and capacity will evolve depending on the phase system and recommended guidelines from Governor Beshear. Fewer than 20 non-athlete students will be living on campus along with student-athletes in the summer. Food will be made to order in Hilltopper Hub without buffet options through the end of June. The menu will have some leniency for items available, and will feature breakfast, lunch and dinner as needed. Each sport varies in how it handles dining during the summer term. 

Some will utilize meals through the WKU Restaurant Group, while others will provide meal money directly to the student-athletes.

 

Academics

Recently, the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee approved a blanket waiver for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball to be able to participate in standard summer activities without being enrolled in summer school courses. Some from those sports will still require summer school courses to meet eligibility requirements, maintain a track toward graduation or to meet external mandates, such as international enrollment. At this time, student-athletes from volleyball and soccer will still be required to be enrolled in summer courses to participate in standard summer activities, although that also remains fluid with the NCAA.

Following the approval of this blanket waiver, WKU Athletics projects to have student-athletes enrolled in roughly 125 courses paid for by the athletic department during this summer term, as per normal procedure. Any sort of academic tutoring, study hall or other activities would fall under the medical and facility guidelines previously mentioned in this document. The Student-Athlete Success Center opened in June with all support services (tutoring, mentoring, study hall) conducted via Zoom. 

The WKU Athletics Restart Committee has developed a subcommittee that will work through gameday operations/fan experience for fall sports, particularly in regard to the potential for high-volume crowds at football games beginning Sept. 5.

 

View the complete Athletics Committee report here.

Addendum to the Athletics Committee report is available here.

 

Frequently Asked Questions