Last Updated: Dec. 2, 2020
Conditions around the COVID-19 pandemic and college athletics are rapidly evolving. Answers to these questions could change at any time.
CONTACTS
Eligibility and NCAA compliance:
Dixie Cirillo dcirillo@mines.edu
Athletic training, health, and safety:
Jennifer McIntosh jdwyer@mines.edu
General questions:
David Hansburg hansburg@mines.edu
Media inquiries:
Tim Flynn flynn@mines.edu
CURRENT FACILITY STATUS
Student Recreation Center: Open to students and members
with safety guidelines in place.
Volk Gym/Steinhauer Fieldhouse: Closed except to Athletics Staff. Student-athlete access by appointment with coaches/athletic training/strength & conditioning only. Raquetball courts, indoor track, and Volk Gym are closed for recreational use.
Korell Athletic Center: Closed except to Athletics Staff. Student-athlete access by appointment with coaches/athletic training/strength & conditioning only.
Volk/Korell Weight Rooms: Open to student-athletes only by assigned times.
Outdoor fields/track: Closed to the public. Open to student-athletes.
COMPETITION STATUS
What is the current status of fall sports playing in the spring?
On Aug. 5, the
NCAA announced the cancellation of all fall championships, and that they would not take place during the spring.
On Aug. 6, the RMAC announced that football, soccer, and volleyball will move to the spring. Cross country and golf will continue to compete as normal in the fall. At this time, specific dates and schedules for all of those sports have not been determined; the RMAC will work through those issues during August.
For football only, the RMAC has stated that there will be no championship awarded, and schools may schedule non-conference or conference games. Mines' fall sports completed practice in the fall and are currently formulating game schedules for the spring.
What about winter/spring sports? (UPDATED 12/2)
RMAC basketball is underway with guidelines issues by the NCAA, RMAC, and state. The RMAC continues to work on guidelines for the safe return of wrestling, indoor track & field, and swimming, but all of those sports are expected to compete after Jan. 1.
What about NCAA championships?
The NCAA has canceled fall championships. They have not taken action on winter or spring championships and those remain as scheduled at this time.
What if competition takes place but I choose not to play?
Mines Athletics' #1 commitment is to the health and well-being of our student-athletes. If any student-athlete chooses to not play in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 concerns, they will not lose their scholarship, there will be no retribution or punishment, and per the NCAA they would not lose a season of eligibility. We ask that any student-athlete considering this talk with
David Hansburg and
Dixie Cirillo about their options and eligibility issues.
If there is competition, would fans be allowed? (UPDATED 12/2)
As of early December, no fans are allowed at Mines home contests. This is consistent with state and local health regulations. Mines Athletics will constantly re-evaluate this policy as conditions change.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
What is the testing plan around athletics?
All student-athletes will be tested once every week on campus, regardless of their playing season.
In-season, the RMAC has agreed to follow the NCAA's recommendations for student-athlete COVID-19 testing. What that means for student-athletes in high-risk sports (defined by the NCAA as football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling) is testing 72 hours prior to each competition (or weekend of competition); for example, a student-athlete competing on Friday and Sunday would test on Tuesday and Thursday, and must test negative each time to compete. Testing will be coordinated by the athletic training staff and be done on campus or as a self-test at home. The exact process for testing and types of testing are still being finalized and details are forthcoming. Mines is committed to providing testing at no cost to student-athletes.
What happens if there is a positive test?
Under the NCAA guidelines, if any member of a team tests positive, the upcoming competition(s) are canceled. Anyone testing positive would then need to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days, be asymptomatic, and test negative to return to competition. Mines will also follow the CDC guideline for exposure, which means that anyone who spent 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone who tested positive will also have to self-isolate for 14 days.
What steps are being taken to ensure student-athlete safety?
Mines Athletics and the campus as a whole have implemented a number of procedures to enhance hygiene in and around our facilities:
- Cleaning products and sanitizer stations have been placed around athletic facilities
- Locker rooms will be socially distanced and/or used in waves to limit the number of people in the room
- Within buildings, traffic flow and social distancing signage have been implemented
- Activities like team meetings and film review will be done virtually when possible
What are the rules around masks?
Masks are required on the Mines campus, and by law in Colorado, Jefferson County, and the city of Golden. The exception is during outdoor physical activity (i.e. practice or competition), masks do not need to be worn. At this time, by law, indoor physical activities (practice, competition, lifting, etc.) require a mask, with two exceptions: swimming, and the 10 active on-court competitors in a basketball game.
What do student-athletes need to provide?
Although Mines is providing two masks to each person on campus and has sanitizer stations around campus, it's a good idea for student-athletes to bring these items when they return to campus:
- A thermometer
- Personal hand sanitizer
- Masks
- Their own water bottle labeled with their name
How will the training room procedures change?
For rehab, each training room (Korell, Volk, and Lockridge) will be on an appointment-only basis with one-hour windows. The space will be sanitized after each appointment. All student-athletes coming to the training room will need to complete a temperature check and online symptoms checklist one hour before coming to the training room. Specific instructions will be communicated to each team by their assigned AT.
What can we do if someone, either a student-athlete or staff member, is not following health and safety procedures, or if we observe something that is unsafe or could be safer?
Please let
David Hansburg, Dixie Cirillo, or any athletic trainer know immediately.
FACILITIES
Will facilities be open?
Facilities are open as normal to student-athletes, however, all facilities will be locked and will require BlasterCard access at all times. Student-athletes will have card access to all facilities. Non-Mines visitors are restricted from entering the SRC, Korell and Volk. There are no in-person PA classes in Volk/Steinhauer. It is crucial that student-athletes have their BlasterCard with them at all times.
ELIGIBILITY
What happens if my sport doesn't play at all, or we start competition but can't finish a season? (UPDATED 8/5)
The NCAA has said that if any season fails to reach the 50% completed mark of its maximum competitions due to COVID-19-related action, a student-athlete would not be charged with a season of eligibility used. Division II student-athletes who qualify for that eligibility waiver would also get an extension of their 10 semesters of eligibility, if needed.
What about scholarships?
Scholarships will remain unaffected by any action taken. Your scholarship for 2020-21 is secure. Looking ahead into 2021-22 and beyond, if there is not competition in 2020-21 and student-athletes regain a season of eligibility, the NCAA would need to take additional action to allow us to extend scholarships into future years, however, Mines Athletics is committed to doing so if allowed by the NCAA.
What about recruiting?
On-campus recruiting is ongoing. Visiting groups can not exceed five people. Visitors must abide by all campus health and safety guidelines.
Recruits should contact a coach for more information.
Would incoming freshmen be able to "double redshirt" in 2020-21 and 2021-22?
As of today, a student-athlete would have to have used a season of eligibility in 2020-21 and have their team cancel the season prior to the 50% mark of contests played, or have the season be canceled entirely, to be eligible for the extension of eligibility and receive an 11th and 12th semester. Meaning a student who redshirts in 2020-21 and does not compete, will not receive an extension of eligibility.
What if my fall sport gets moved to the spring, and I'm scheduled to graduate in December?
If a sport gets moved to the spring, a student-athlete must still be enrolled full-time (either 12 hours for undergraduate or 9 hours for graduate classes) to be eligible to play. However, anyone who has graduated would no longer have to worry about Progress Toward Degree requirements. Student-athletes with specific eligibility questions should contact
Dixie Cirillo.
Are there any changes to undergraduate Progress Toward Degree requirements if sports shift seasons?
No. All PTD requirements must be met as normal, regardless of what happens with sport seasons.
