Penn State's return to campus begins Monday with 75 football players

The first phase of Penn State athletes returning to campus after a nearly three-month shutdown will begin Monday with 75 football players.

Penn State officials released a series of protocols Thursday night that includes quarantine and testing. Those athletes who are medically cleared may participate in voluntary on-campus workouts beginning June 15.

Workouts will be limited to groups of less than 20 and will be supervised by Penn State’s performance enhancement and sports medicine staffs.

The return will include several protocols, including:

• Education for players, coaches and staff on the university’s covid-19 safety measures

• Daily health screening quetionnaire and temperature checks

• Use of personal protective equipment (masks)

• Social distancing for meetings and workouts and smaller groups for weightlifting and other performance enhancing activities

• Enhanced sanitization of facilities

• Limited access to facilities

“We hope this is the first step to a full return for the fall,” Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour said. “Our outstanding sports performance group worked with medical experts at the University, conference (Big Ten) and national levels, as well as University leadership, to develop an extensive return-to-campus plan for our student-athletes, staff and facilities.”

Penn State will employ a phased return to campus for its 31 programs. Return times for other athletes will be released at a later date.

The return plan includes following CDC and local government guidelines, plus recommendations from the NCAA Sport Science Institute and the Big Ten’s task force on Emerging Infectious Disease.