With health safeguards in place, Pitt football players returning June 8 for voluntary workouts

Pitt football is returning to the South Side next month in the form of voluntary workouts.

For the first time since March, when spring drills were canceled after three days in the wake of covid-19 concerns, Pitt’s football players will be welcomed back to campus June 8, athletic director Heather Lyke announced Friday.

The plan for offseason activities, which are expected to include training camp in August, was formulated utilizing guidance from Pitt health experts plus local, national and international health agencies, officials said in a statement.

Each student-athlete will undergo an initial period of quarantine. If medically cleared, they may participate in the next phase of workout sessions supervised by Pitt’s strength and training staff. That will be limited to no more than 10 student-athletes at a time.

Among the protocols Pitt officials said will be strictly observed are:

• Substantial education for all coaches and student-athletes on Pitt’s safety protocols and their responsibility for maintaining them.

• A testing protocol developed with input from infectious disease experts and other medical professionals.

• Significantly enhanced cleaning of all athletic facilities.

• Mandatory daily screening questionnaire and temperature check for student-athletes and staff.

• Utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure and potential virus spread.

• Social distancing guidelines for meetings and workouts, plus a strategic use of smaller groups for strength and conditioning sessions.

• Contact tracing course completion by all athletics training staff members.

“Our athletic department has worked diligently with University leadership and medical experts using one guiding principle: the health and well-being of our student-athletes and staff,” Lyke said in a statement. “Our current climate dictates that we stay vigilant and flexible in response to fluid circumstances.

“However, thanks to the efforts of many outstanding medical professionals, we are confident in our campus return plan.”

Coach Pat Narduzzi added, “Our football program is incredibly fortunate to have world-class medical experts and resources at our immediate disposal. We are taking their guidance and advice every step of the way for every activity we’ll engage in this offseason and beyond.”

Additionally, the Pitt Athletic Department will employ a staggered and phased return to offseason participation for each of its 19 intercollegiate programs.

Like football, the other teams will progress through various phases of advancing exposure to training, teammate interaction and sport participation. Return time for those student-athletes will be announced at a later date.

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