Indiana University Athletics
2020-21 Student-Athlete COVID-19 Information
The information below is provided to serve as a resource for both students and parents about Indiana University Athletics' safety protocols and procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But if you have questions that are not answered, or additional questions arise, do not hesitate to contact Deputy Director of Athletics/COO Stephen Harper at shmarper@iu.edu.Important Points for All Students and Families to Know:
Returning to campus for these activities is strictly voluntary. Students voluntarily returning to campus for these activities receive pre-participation training on all recent protocols required by the Restart Plan and are required to complete a reintegration phase before participating in voluntary activities. Once this is completed, you will be required to adhere to a variety of guidelines to promote your health and safety and the health and safety of others.We emphasize to you the following four points that are particularly important for students to know:
1. If you choose to return for voluntary activities, you will be required to sign and follow the “COVID-19 Participant Expectations and Commitment Pledge.” The Pledge sets forth expectations for all students (and coaches, trainers, and others who will be engaging with students) to promote the health and safety of not only our students but the entire IU Athletics community, as well as the general IU student body, the entire IU community, and the city of Bloomington. The Pledge is made up of what at this point should be common sense expectations such as: reporting exposure to and symptoms of COVID-19; agreeing to self-isolate and participate in contact tracing if you are determined to be positive for COVID-19; and wearing a mask in public spaces, practicing social distancing, washing your hands, and taking other safety precautions. If you don’t participate in voluntary activities, you will be required to sign and follow the Pledge before you participate in practices or competitions.
2. The Pledge is not a release or waiver of liability. The Pledge was written by doctors, not lawyers. There is no language in the Pledge that in any way waives any of your rights or releases any liability by IU Athletics. It is not, and will never be utilized as, a release or waiver of liability.
3. If notwithstanding the protocols of the Restart Plan you are unwilling to participate in intercollegiate athletics because of concerns about COVID-19, we will continue to honor your scholarship. This is your decision based on medical considerations. If after discussing your concerns with the Chief Medical Officer you do not want to participate in intercollegiate athletics, we will still honor your scholarship.
4. The resumption of athletics will be a medical decision based on your health and safety and the health and safety of others. We would like to have athletics this season. We are preparing to have athletics this season. But that decision, like all of the decisions relating to COVID-19, will be a medical one made by doctors, not a sports one made by coaches or administrators. If the Medical Advisory Group advises that we suspend athletics this season in whole or in part we will immediately do so.
IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group Restart Plan
- IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group Phase II Restart Plan - released June 29, 2020.
- IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group Phase I Restart Plan - released June 3, 2020.
- IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group Resumption of Athletic Activities Phase I Plan - released August 24, 2020.