Charlotte, NC - As the 2020-21 academic and athletic year approaches, the NJCAA has released recommendations and changes for safety and well-being protocols during regular season competition and championship events. The NJCAA has also released a plan of action for the fall and winter sports season in response to COVID-19.
Safety Protocol Recommendations for 2020-21 Regular Season Competition
The NJCAA has provided the below safety protocol recommendations for member colleges for the 2020-21 academic year.
- Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding corvid-19 and re-opening.
- Temperature checks are encouraged for all student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel prior to each competition.
- Visiting teams are encouraged to check temperatures before departing from their home location.
- Provide sport medicine staff with necessary personal protective equipment.
- Limit contact between teams when possible, including the elimination of the pre-game and post-game handshake.
- Limit student-athlete fan engagement before and after competition.
Safety Protocol Recommendations for Athletic Facilities and Equipment
The NJCAA has provided the below safety protocol recommendations for member college athletic facilities and equipment.
- Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding corvid-19 and re-opening facilities.
- Member colleges should clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the field, court, or playing surface.
- Develop a schedule for increased, routine cleaning, and disinfecting.
- Limit the use of shared objects and equipment when possible.
- Eliminate the sharing of water bottles and towels amongst teammates.
- Limit facility access for student-athletes as deemed appropriate.
- Implement social distancing for team benches when possible.
- Encourage fans, staff, and other event attendees to wear face masks.
- Encourage social distancing for fans during the event.
Safety Protocol Recommendations for Fall Championship Hosts
The NJCAA has provided the below safety protocol recommendations for fall 2020 championship hosts.
- Championship hosts should follow all safety protocol recommendations provided to NJCAAmember colleges for regular-season competition.
- Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding food service for concessions and hospitality rooms.
- Eliminating championship banquets.
- Eliminating team community service activities.
- Request a social distancing plan from the host prior to the start of the event, including fan ingress, fan egress, fan seating.
- Encourage social distancing and directional signage in venue.
- Extra sanitization of team areas including benches, locker rooms, athletic training rooms, warm-up areas, hospitality spaces.
- Required temperature checks for student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel prior to each entry into the venue.
For the 2020-21 NJCAA plan of action, visit: The Path for 2020-21 Sports
For all NJCAA COVID-19 updates, visit: NJCAA COVID-19 Homepage