Add Stanford to the burgeoning list of Power Five football programs returning.
Last month, the NCAA announced that it would allow schools to bring its student-athletes back to campus for voluntary workouts starting June 1. The SEC subsequently confirmed its players would be permitted to start returning June 8. Ohio State, Indiana, Illinois and Penn State from the Big Ten did the same on the same date. And, as far as that goes, so did Clemson, Louisville and Pitt. Another ACC school, Miami, kicked its off June 15; a Big Ten school, Michigan, began that same day. Nebraska, meanwhile, started June 1.
This past Monday, Pac-12 schools began their respective returns to campus. Except for those Power Fives in California. UCLA, though, confirmed Wednesday that it will begin its phased return June 22.
A day later, another Cali program, Stanford, confirmed that it will allow all student-athletes, football players included, to return to the campus for voluntary activities. There are, though, stipulations. From the university’s release:The return to play plan for voluntary activities is open to student-athletes of any sport, provided they have been authorized to engage, properly screened by the sports medicine team and experienced no known COVID-19 contact for 7-14 days prior to their return to campus. There will be a re-entry protocol customized to each student-athlete. Housing and meals during this period are the responsibility of the student-athletes participating in voluntary activity, as campus residences remain closed to undergraduate students.
Student-athletes returning for voluntary activities will be required to complete a daily online screening assessment and an in-person screening prior to entering the Stanford Athletics campus. Student-athletes will have access to outdoor and aquatic facilities and be permitted to enter the athletic training room and sports medicine clinic by appointment only.
Additional health and safety measures required of all student-athletes returning for voluntary activities include: practicing sufficient physical distancing, wearing face coverings, washing hands with soap and water frequently, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer and thoroughly cleaning equipment between each use.