Big 12 Released New Guidelines Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
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On Sunday, the Big 12 Conference announced new guidelines that go into effect Monday for the conference’s athletics programs.
The guidelines include policies that make the conference more in line with what other Power 5 Conferences are currently doing. This is exactly what Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley complained about on a radio show last week.
The Big 12 Conference‘s new policies include:
- No organized, in-person team activities of any type, in any location
- No in-person voluntary workouts, film study sessions, meetings, technique drills or captains’ practices/OTA sessions of any type, in any location until a permissible date is established by the NCAA.
- No virtual or online supervised physical workouts and skill instruction, regardless of location.
- Virtual group activities, including film study, are limited to two hours per week in all sports. Only countable coaches may conduct virtual film study, technical discussions, tactical sessions and other non-physical activies. These policies will be revisited and adjusted at regular intervals and as circumstances dictate.
- Coaches can recommend written, self-directed workout plans provided they are approved in accordance with proper procedures as outlined by each institution’s appropriate sport performance, medical and/or athletic training personnel and in accordance with NCAA recommendations on preventing catastrophic injury and death. Taped demonstration videos on respective workout plans are allowed in order to demonstrate proper form and technique. School personnel may not supervise, conduct or monitor workouts on or off campus.
- In-person, on-campus meals and nutritional supplements may be provided in situations where student-athletes are unable to leave campus. Off-campus nutritional supplements are limited to the permissible items as outlined in NCAA bylaw 16.5.2.8.
- Programs are allowed to provide non-athletic related support including sports medicine treatments, physical therapy and rehabilitation; academic support; and mental health and wellness support.
- Programs may provide off-campus student-athletes with apparel and personal equipment that is regularly available to student-athletes when they are on campus for conditioning workouts. Programs cannot rent, purchase or otherwise arrange for conditioning or strength training equipment or machines but can provide supplies such as stretching bands, foam rollers and similar equipment.
- Prospective student-athletes may not be involved in any countable activities, including virtual activities.
These guidelines will remain in effect until May 31st, but could be lifted earlier, if the circumstances allow.
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