Villanova Univeristy Athletics

Villanova Athletics continues to work closely with campus leadership, public health authorities and its conference partners to identify a course of action that maintains the health and safety of student-athletes, athletics staff and the community. 

The NCAA Sport Science Institute has released the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition to expand on previous guidance and to provide updated recommendations about the protection of student-athletes and prevention of community spread of COVID-19.

The guidelines are designed to inform schools in responding appropriately based on their specific circumstances and in the best interest of returning college student-athletes’ health and well-being. Many sports require close, personal contact and require specially crafted guidelines. Among the recommendations put forth:

• Daily self-health checks
• The appropriate use of face coverings and social distancing during training, competition and outside of athletics
• Testing strategies for all athletics activities, including pre-season, regular season and post-season
• Testing and results within 72 hours of competition in high contact risk sports 
• Member schools must adhere to public health standards set by their local communities

The recommendations were developed in collaboration with the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) COVID-19 Working Group, Autonomy-5 Medical Advisory Group, National Medical Association, and NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports Prevention and Performance Subcommittee. 

It is the latest update to the initial Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport recommendations, providing guidelines and practices that schools should reconsider as they develop their own mitigation plans. The previously released Action Plan Considerations offered recommendations to help schools mitigate risks of COVID-19 spread as staff and student-athletes return.

Villanova Athletics continues to work closely with campus leadership, public health authorities and its conference partners to identify a course of action that maintains the health and safety of student-athletes, athletics staff and the community. 

All students will be subject to University protocols for transitioning to campus living. The initial intake and related onboarding processes, including physicals, have been modified for social distancing and will take longer than normal. Student-athletes must have medical clearance prior to participating in any athletics activity, and in-person or physical athletics activities will not be permitted until a team has been medically cleared. Virtual meetings with coaches are permissible for up to two hours per week once classes begin.

We will utilize the NCAA resocialization of sport guidelines, which call for a three-phased return to sports activity.

Phase I: Conditioning and Virtual Team Meetings

In Phase I, strength and conditioning sessions will include small groups (including coaches), social distancing will be adhered to, masks/face coverings will be worn when distancing cannot be maintained, equipment will not be shared among players, and training sessions will focus on individual skill work and conditioning. 

Phase II: Small Group Activities

In Phase II, workout/practice groups may increase in size, distancing will be adhered to, equipment may be shared among team members, and training sessions will include organized group activities. Masks/face coverings will be worn based upon current state and college guidelines when distancing cannot be maintained. 

Phase III: Midsize Group and Additional Activities

Phase III, which we may not fully enter during the Fall semester, allows for larger groups, shared use of equipment, organized group activities and competition. Our athletic training staff will work with coaches and student-athletes to put enhanced personal hygiene and equipment cleaning practices in place. Small group and individual meetings will take place online or outdoors during Phase I and II. Meetings will comply with campus guidelines when indoor meetings begin during Phase III.

Villanova Athletics is steadfast in its commitment to supporting student-athletes on all fronts. We are driven by the inspiration our student-athletes have shown in their response to an unprecedented and difficult set of circumstances. When students return to campus for Fall 2020, we will still connect and we will keep up our favorite #NovaNation traditions while adjusting them to a new normal. We will provide ongoing education in line with NCAA, conference and institutional priorities. We will collaborate with offices across campus to support our student-athletes academic, leadership, career and professional development. We will conduct virtual community service events this fall and will keep our vibrant community of 650+ student-athletes connected and engaged.