The NCAA is committed to the health and safety of all student-athletes, staff and fans. To satisfy this commitment, the Association has collaborated with leading members of the medical and scientific community with expertise in public health and COVID-19 management to establish guidelines for a return to championships.

The return-to-championships guidelines include the following provisions:

• All rounds of the winter championships and Division I fall championships will be held at predetermined sites.
• All championships will require a level of testing for Tier 1 and 2 participants before arrival at the championship site.
• All championships will use a COVID-19 controlled environment for Tier 1 participants.
• Aside from athletes who are actively competing or training, all accredited individuals and fans must universally mask and physically distance on-site.  
• COVID-19 testing will be conducted based on travel considerations and each sport’s transmission risk level, as established by resocialization recommendations.
• All individuals are required to adhere to safety protocols from the time they leave their home destination until they depart the championship site. 
• Space management protocols will be developed for each site/sport to help ensure physical distancing.
• Specific venue capacity and local health directives will be key factors in whether fans and family members will be allowed to attend. Site occupancy (inclusive of those in Tiers 1 through 3 and fans) may be up to 25% capacity, as determined by local public health authorities.
• The NCAA’s championship guidelines allow each sport to use the appropriate guidelines for its championship event based on guidance and direction from the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, along with local and state oversight at the site of the preliminary and final rounds of the championship.

Each championship will establish two roles specific to the health and safety of the event: a Team COVID-19 Health Officer selected by every participating team and a Championships Medical Team for every championship event.

• Team COVID-19 Health Officer: This individual is designated by each team to oversee team communication and management of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases. The COVID-19 Health Officer should be a medical provider or school administrator and serves responsibilities similar to the athletics health care administrator. The officer will oversee self-health checks of all Tier 1 participants, assuring that such checks are performed daily. The officer will consult with the team medical personnel regarding any report of symptoms disclosed in a self-health check. The officer will also be the designated recipient of verbal communication from the championship command center of a confirmed positive COVID-19 test. Following such communication, the officer will speak with the affected individual and will coordinate isolation logistics with the command center, while also serving as a liaison with the school, family and other key stakeholders to assure proper medical coordination, lodging and return travel.
• Championships Medical Team: Each championship will have a designated Championships Medical Team, consisting of two to four individuals. There will be every effort to assure that one team is assigned for the entire championship. The Championships Medical Team will be utilized for complex decision-making around COVID-19 issues, including but not limited to decisions regarding re-entry into a controlled environment, impact of positive cases on game play, and requests by teams regarding medical decision-making related to COVID-19.  The championships medical team has no authority for decision-making regarding confirmation of COVID-19 tests, but may offer an opinion, when requested by the governing sport committee, championship administrator, local public health authority, or NCAA Chief Medical Officer, regarding complexities of COVID-19-related issues. This group provides recommendations that will be delivered via the NCAA Chief Medical Officer to the final decision-making authorities, which include the local public health authority and/or the championship sport committee as appropriate.

Tiers for Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships

All individuals who are part of the Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be identified as Tier 1, 2, 3 or 4 personnel.

• Tier 1 individuals are those with the highest exposure (e.g., team travel party and officials). Physical distancing and masking may be compromised, especially during practice and competition. They must remain in the COVID-19 controlled environment.
• Tier 2 individuals may have proximity to courtside, with potential periodic interaction with Tier 1 and potential compromised physical distancing with other Tier 2 participants (e.g., basketball committee members, select NCAA staff, ambassadors, site control officials, national coordinator of officials, contact tracers and game operations personnel). They must be universally masked and make every effort to maintain physical distancing. Interaction with those in Tier 1 is by approval only, with the assurance of physical distancing and masking.
• Tier 3 individuals have proximity to those in Tier 2, and potentially to those in Tier 1 (e.g., select NCAA and venue staff, game and practice operations personnel, travel staff, and security). Tier 3 should remain separate from Tier 2, with only limited, approved interaction. This group should always physically distance and universally mask.
• Tier 4 is the lowest exposure tier, covering individuals not in proximity to Tiers 1-3 (e.g., cleaning staff, media, player guest, conference administrators, hotel runners and the general public). This group should always physically distance and universally mask.

Testing strategies for Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships

Tier 1 participants will be required to undergo and document seven consecutive negative daily COVID-19 tests before arrival into Indianapolis or San Antonio. One of these tests must be PCR. Tier 1 individuals will be administered daily tests upon arrival and during the tournament. All Tier 1 individuals will remain in quarantine until two consecutive tests on separate days are confirmed negative, at which time team practice may begin. A same-day protocol will be in place for potential false positive tests.

Tier 2 individuals must undergo and document a negative PCR test within two days of arrival in Indianapolis or San Antonio (or a negative antigen test within one day of arrival) and will undergo PCR testing daily thereafter. Tier 2 individuals will remain in quarantine and may not begin their work until the first test upon arrival is confirmed negative. Tier 2 individuals will not interact with Tier 1 participants unless absolutely necessary and under conditions in which all parties are masked and physically distanced.

Tier 3 individuals must undergo and document a negative PCR test within three days of arrival in Indianapolis or San Antonio and will undergo PCR testing twice weekly thereafter.

Tier 4 individuals are not subject to testing and must follow the recommendations of local public health officials.

For participants who are at least two weeks post-infection and within 90 days of the first known date of infection, COVID-19 testing and contact tracing will not be required. Masking and physical distancing will still be required for these participants. Refer to the men’s basketball and women’s basketball policies for more details. For participants who are fully vaccinated, testing protocols will remain in place but they will not be subject to quarantine restrictions per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tiers for all other championships

All individuals who are part of the remaining NCAA Championships will be identified as in Tier 1, 2 or 3.

• Tier 1 individuals are those with the highest exposure (e.g., student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials). Physical distancing and masking may be compromised during practice and competition.
• Tier 2 individuals (e.g., administrators, security, event staff and league staff) are considered at moderate risk to exposure. They may be in proximity to those in Tier 1 but can always maintain physical distancing and masking. They may have limited interaction with Tier 1 individuals only upon approval and assurance that all parties will be physically distanced and masked.
• Tier 3 individuals (e.g., housekeeping, catering, sanitation, transportation, media and broadcast workers) make up the lowest tier of risk to exposure. They will have no interaction with people in Tier 1 or Tier 2.

Testing strategies for all other championships

The testing schedule for Tier 1 individuals is outlined in the chart below. Tier 2 individuals must undergo and document a negative PCR test within two days of arrival, or a negative antigen test within one day of arrival, and undergo daily self-health checks. Further testing is based on symptoms. Tier 3 individuals must undergo daily self-health checks, with testing based on symptoms.

Health and Safety Details for all NCAA Championships

Event	Location	Dates	Pre-event Testing	On-site Testing	Fans	Media Access
FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SPRING
DI Men’s and Women’s Cross Country	Oklahoma State University Cross Country Course Stillwater, Oklahoma	March 15	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	Participants will be allowed to invite limited guests to the championship. There will be no public ticket sales for the event.	Some local and national media may be allowed to attend, but all news conferences will be virtual.
DI Field Hockey	Karen Shelton Stadium Chapel Hill, North Carolina	May 7-9	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	Two guests per travel party member. No other fans will be allowed.	Some media seating but not allowed on field or in press box. All news conferences will be conducted virtually.
DI Football Championship Subdivision	Toyota Stadium Frisco, Texas	May 16 (tentative)	PCR: Within three days before scheduled competition for that week.	Antigen/rapid PCR: Same day as each competition.	25% of venue capacity.	TBD
DI Men’s and Women’s Soccer	WakeMed Soccer Park Cary, North Carolina	May 13-17	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Women’s Volleyball	CHI Health Center Omaha Omaha, Nebraska	April 13-24	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo	University of Southern California Los Angeles	March 20-21	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	TBD	TBD
WINTER CHAMPIONSHIPS
DI Men’s Basketball	Indianapolis and surrounding region	March 18-April 5	Tested for seven consecutive days prior to travel, including one PCR test.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	25% of venue capacity for most sites.	Limited on-site credentials issued; postgame interviews conducted virtually.
DI Women’s Basketball	San Antonio and surrounding region	March 21-April 4	Tested for seven consecutive days prior to travel, including one PCR test.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	17% of venue capacity for most sites.	Limited on-site credentials issued; postgame interviews conducted virtually.
DII Men’s Basketball	Regional sites: West Liberty — West Liberty, West Virginia Northern State — Aberdeen, South Dakota Saint Rose — Albany, New York Southern Indiana/Evansville Sports Corp. ­— Evansville, Indiana Valdosta State — Valdosta, Georgia Lubbock Christian —Lubbock, Texas Lincoln Memorial — Harrogate, Tennessee Colorado School of Mines ­—Golden, Colorado Finals site: Evansville, Indiana	Regional dates:March 13-16     Finals site dates: March 24-27	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	TBD	TBD
DII Women’s Basketball	Regional sites: Ohio Dominican/Greater Columbus Sports Commission — Columbus, Ohio Central Missouri — Warrensburg, Missouri Daemen — Buffalo, New York Drury — Springfield, Missouri North Georgia — Dahlonega, Georgia West Texas A&M —Canyon, Texas Carson-Newman —Jefferson City, Tennessee Colorado Mesa ­— Grand Junction, Colorado Finals site: Columbus, Ohio	Regional site dates: March 13-15   Finals site dates: March 23-26	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Bowling	AMF Pro Bowl Lanes North Kansas City, Missouri	April 8-10	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Fencing	Multi-Sport Facility University Park, Pennsylvania	March 25-28	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Men’s Gymnastics	Maturi Pavilion Minneapolis	April 16-17	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics	Dickies Arena Fort Worth, Texas	April 16-17	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Men’s Ice Hockey	PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh	April 8-10	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Women’s Ice Hockey	Erie Insurance Arena Erie, Pennsylvania	March 15-21	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	A limited number of family/friends of the participating teams can attend.	A limited number of media will be credentialed.
National Collegiate Rifle	Converse Hall Columbus, Ohio	March 12-13	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	No spectators.	TBD
National Collegiate Skiing	Cannon Mountain and Jackson Nordic Center Franconia, New Hampshire	March 10-13	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	No fans or guest are allowed.	No in-person media.
DI Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving	Greensboro Aquatic Center Greensboro, North Carolina	Women: March 17-20 Men: March 24-27	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantined until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while on-site.	No spectators.	No in-person media.
DII Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving	Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham, Alabama	March 17-20	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantined until one confirmed negative, then testing every other day while on-site.	No spectators.	TBD
DI Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (indoor)	Randal Tyson Center Fayetteville, Arkansas	March 11-13	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantined until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while on-site.	No spectators.	TBD
DII Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (indoor)	Birmingham CrossPlex Birmingham, Alabama	March 11-13	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantined until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while on-site.	No spectators.	TBD
DI Wrestling	Enterprise Center St. Louis	March 18-20	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	Schools will be allotted a limited number of tickets based on the number of qualifying wrestlers. There will be no public ticket sales for the event.	Some local and national media may be allowed to attend, but all news conferences will be virtual.
DII Wrestling	Super Regional sites: Mercyhurst — Erie, Pennsylvania Emmanuel —Franklin Springs, Georgia Tiffin — Tiffin, Ohio Central Oklahoma —Edmond, Oklahoma Northern State — Aberdeen, South Dakota Colorado Mesa — Grand Junction, Colorado Finals site: St. Louis	Super Regionals: Feb. 27-28 Finals: March 12-13	Three times during the week prior to arrival on nonconsecutive days, inclusive of a negative PCR test within two days of arrival.	Daily testing upon arrival. Quarantine until first two tests (on separate days) are confirmed negative.	Limited spectators which will be based on the number of qualifiers from each team. No public tickets will be sold.	There will be limited media access.
SPRING CHAMPIONSHIPS
DI Baseball	TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, Nebraska	June 19-30	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Baseball	USA Baseball National Training Complex Cary, North Carolina	June 5-12	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Baseball	Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium Cedar Rapids, Iowa	June 3-9	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Beach Volleyball	Gulf Beach Place Gulf Shores, Alabama	May 7-9	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Men’s and Women’s Golf	Grayhawk Golf Club Scottsdale, Arizona	May 21-26 (Women) May 28 - June 2 (Men)	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Men’s Golf	PGA National Resort Palm Beach Gardens, Florida	May 17 - 21	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Women’s Golf	TPC Michigan Dearborn, Michigan	May 11-15	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Men’s Golf	Oglebay Resort & Conference Center Wheeling, West Virginia	May 11-14	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Women’s Golf	Forest Akers Lansing, Michigan	May 11-14	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Men’s Lacrosse	Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field East Hartford, Connecticut	May 29-31	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Women’s Lacrosse	Johnny Unitas Stadium Towson, Maryland	May 28-30	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII and DIII Men’s Lacrosse	Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field East Hartford, Connecticut	May 30	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII and DIII Women’s Lacrosse	Kerr Stadium Salem, Virginia	May 21-23	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI, DII and DIII Rowing	Nathan Benderson Park Bradenton, Florida	May 28-30	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Softball	USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium Oklahoma City	June 3-9	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Softball	The Regency Athletic Complex at MSU Denver Denver	May 27-31	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Softball	Moyer Sports Complex Salem, Virginia	May 27-June 1	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Men’s and Women’s Tennis	USTA National Campus (Collegiate Center) Orlando, Florida	May 20-29	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Men’s and Women’s Tennis	Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex Surprise, Arizona	May 18-22	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Men’s and Women’s Tennis	Biszantz Family Tennis Center Claremont, California	May 24-30	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DI Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (outdoor)	Hayward Field Eugene, Oregon	June 9-12	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DII Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (outdoor)	Grand Valley State South Complex Allendale, Michigan	May 27-29	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Men’s and Women’s Track and Field (outdoor)	Irwin Belk Track Greensboro, North Carolina	May 27-29	Negative antigen within one day of arrival, or negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative, then testing every other day while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball	Covelli Center Columbus, Ohio	May 6-8	Three times weekly on nonconsecutive days (antigen or PCR, confirmed negative), with a negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until two consecutive tests are confirmed negative, then daily testing while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
DIII Men’s Volleyball	The Shults Center at Nazareth College Rochester, New York	April 23-24	Three times weekly on nonconsecutive days (antigen or PCR, confirmed negative), with a negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until two consecutive tests are confirmed negative, then daily testing while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD
National Collegiate Women’s Water Polo	Spieker Aquatics Center Los Angeles	May 14-16	Three times weekly on nonconsecutive days (antigen or PCR, confirmed negative), with a negative PCR within two days of arrival.	Testing upon arrival and quarantine until two consecutive tests are confirmed negative, then daily testing while participating on-site.	TBD	TBD

Return-to-play considerations following a positive test during championships

Some athletes may test positive for COVID-19 just before or during championships and may have an opportunity to compete if they have completed mandatory isolation and recovered and the championship event is ongoing. For this scenario, the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group agreed with the following considerations that were developed by the COVID-19 Playing and Practice Season Subcommittee of the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports.

• Return-to-play decisions are to occur in a manner consistent with the provisions of independent medical care legislation, which provides primary athletics health care providers with unchallengeable autonomous authority to determine medical management and return-to-play decisions related to student-athletes (Division I Constitution 3.2.4.19; Division II Constitution 3.3.4.19; Division III Constitution 3.2.4.21).
• Consistent with previous feedback, the subcommittee agreed that established best practices related to transition periods apply to this scenario, given the time of inactivity and potential for infection impact.
  • See Interassociation Recommendations: Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes and available guidance noted in Resocialization of College Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition, Second Edition (Updated).
• No singular approach (e.g., X-day policy) is appropriate as a substitution for local medical judgement and decision-making. Specifically, there can be significant variability in the clinical impact of COVID-19 infection and the overall physiological readiness of student-athletes, and this variability must be individually assessed by primary athletic health care providers.
• Following isolation and appropriate medical clearance (e.g., cardiopulmonary evaluation), physical activity should be appropriately calibrated for sport-specific intensity, frequency and duration. In particular, the subcommittee highlighted the need for a demonstrated progression of intensity in a noncompetition setting. 
  • For example, before competition a student-athlete should demonstrate the ability to successfully manage physiological stress comparable to that during competition.
• In summary, the principles of transition periods with a focus on frequency, duration and intensity of activity continue to apply; further, the variability in the clinical impact of disease and the overall physiological readiness of student-athletes does not support a national standardized policy for return to play. Following isolation and appropriate medical clearance, affected athletes should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and in a sport-specific way, before return to competition.

Media requests

Media should submit inquiries on health and safety protocols using this form.

 

The purpose of this Frequently Asked Questions document is to facilitate and support the efforts of NCAA member institutions to comply with applicable divisional concussion safety legislation. In early 2015, the Concussion Safety Protocol Committee created the Concussion Safety Protocol Checklist (Checklist) to encourage and support institutional compliance with industry best practices and applicable concussion legislation. Consistency with the Checklist is now specifically referenced as part of the requirements in each of the three divisional manuals. The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) recently approved an updated version of the Checklist and, while the NCAA has, through its governance process, relaxed many of the legislative requirements related to submission and reporting deadlines in response to the impact on schools resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, member schools still need to ensure that institutional concussion management practices are consistent with applicable legislative and policy requirements and should incorporate a thorough analysis of the recent updates to the Checklist and any other concussion-related legislative and policy changes as part of that process. Specifically, schools should carefully review and understand the most recent updates to the Checklist, and related concussion management legislation, policies and guidance, and work with applicable institutional personnel to ensure any necessary adjustments to their concussion management practices are properly and timely implemented. In this Frequently Asked Questions document we have provided responses to some of the most anticipated membership questions related to those institutional review and update activities.

Q1. Have there been any legislative or policy updates related to concussion management since 2019?

A1. Yes. While there have been no changes to Division II or III legislation related to concussion management, a portion of Division I Constitution 3.2.4.20.1 (Concussion Safety Protocol) has been updated to require that an institution's Concussion Safety Protocol must be consistent with the Checklist. In addition, all three divisions are required to comply with the Interassociation Recommendations: Preventing Catastrophic Injury and Death in Collegiate Athletes, which contain content specific to concussion management and which were unanimously endorsed by the NCAA Board of Governors and announced as Association-wide policy under the Uniform Standard of Care Procedures in the summer of 2019. A copy of those materials can be accessed here.

Q2. Has the Checklist been updated since 2019?

A2. Yes. CSMAS approved updates to the Checklist at its most recent committee meeting in March of this year. These changes became effective immediately upon approval.

Q3. How is the Checklist updated?

A3. The NCAA Board of Governors designated CSMAS to prescribe the process and format recommendations related to applicable concussion legislation. The Concussion Safety Advisory Group (CSAG) was created by CSMAS for the purposes of providing focused review and advice around emerging developments in concussion science and policy, including those that may warrant an update to the Checklist and related policy and educational materials. CSAG meets annually in the spring to review and discuss available research data and accepted industry practices and how they may impact Checklist content. At its March 2020 meeting and based on input from the CSAG, CSMAS approved several substantive changes to the Checklist.

Q4. How do I know what has changed with the Checklist?

A4. The updated version of the Checklist can be accessed here. All updated content has been highlighted so that changes from the previous version can be easily identified.

Q5. Aside from the legislative and policy updates described in Item Q1 above and the updates to the Checklist, are there any other legislative or policy requirements related to concussion management that we should review or be aware of?

A5. Yes. While certain details of applicable concussion legislation vary depending on division, and each school should carefully review all legislative and policy requirements related to concussion management, all three divisions require that the following provisions be included as part of a school’s concussion management plan:

• An annual process that ensures student-athletes are educated about the signs and symptoms of concussions. Student-athletes must acknowledge that they have received information about the signs and symptoms of concussions and that they have a responsibility to report concussion-related injuries and illnesses to a medical staff member;
• A process that ensures a student-athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be removed from athletics activities (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) and evaluated by a medical staff member (e.g., sports medicine staff, team physician) with experience in the evaluation and management of concussions;
• A policy that precludes a student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion from returning to athletics activity (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) for at least the remainder of that day; and
• A policy that requires medical clearance for a student-athlete diagnosed with a concussion to return to athletics activity (e.g., competition, practice, conditioning sessions) as determined by a physician (e.g., team physician) or the physician’s designee.

Q6. Who is responsible for assuring the implementation of applicable concussion management updates at my institution?

A6. Independent Medical Care legislation in all three divisions requires the designation of an Athletics Health Care Administrator (AHCA) who independently oversees the administration and delivery of athletics health care on behalf of the institution. While we anticipate that the creation and implementation of any necessary concussion management changes and practices may require input from a variety of institutional medical and other personnel, it is reasonable to consider these activities as part of the broader administration and delivery of health care at each institution.

Q7. What is the NCAA Concussion Protocol Template and why was it created?

A7. To facilitate and support member compliance with concussion legislation, CSMAS approved a Concussion Safety Protocol Template (Template) that includes all components of the Checklist. The Template is available for download in Microsoft Word format and allows schools to individualize certain areas of the document and to otherwise modify the Template to accommodate and reflect individual needs and practices.

Q8. Which institutions can access and use the Template?

A8. The Template is available to every NCAA member institution and may be utilized by institutional staff as an educational and compliance tool.

Q9. Where can I find a copy of the Template and does it reflect the most recent Checklist updates?

A9. Yes. We have revised the Template to reflect the most recent changes to the Checklist and the updated version of the Template can be accessed here. All updated content has been highlighted so that changes from the previous version can be easily identified.

Q10. Will there be Checklist changes in the future?

A10. The NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) will continue to work with CSMAS and the corresponding CSAG at least annually to identify and review information that may inform recommendations about future Checklist changes.

Q11. How does the Checklist and other legislative and policy requirements relate to the certification requirement arising from the Arrington settlement?

A11. While many of the member obligations in Section IX.A of the Settlement Agreement are similar to or overlap with certain existing NCAA health and safety legislation, policies and guidance materials, each set of obligations is distinct from and, in some instances, different from the other. Compliance with one set of obligations should not be deemed to automatically or entirely satisfy compliance with the other. Therefore, it is important to consult with school legal counsel and other risk management staff as necessary to fully understand these differences and to evaluate your institutional practices and compliance with respect to the member obligations as they relate to the Arrington matter and applicable NCAA legislation, policy and guidance. Additional detailed information about institutional obligations related to the Arrington matter, and the differences between those and NCAA legislative requirements, has been provided to all member institutions by email in the form of two Frequently Asked Questions documents, which can be found here.

Q12. I have a question not covered here. Who can I contact?

A12. If you have reviewed the content of this FAQ and cannot find the answer, please email the Sport Science Institute at: ssi@ncaa.org.

Additional Considerations for Division I Schools

Q13. Are Division I autonomy schools still required to submit a concussion management protocol for review by the Concussion Safety Protocol Committee?

A13. No, not at this time. As part of a broader effort to provide support and flexibility to member institutions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee decided to waive reporting and submission deadlines identified in Constitution 3 for active Division I member institutions, as needed (e.g., sports sponsorship and demographic form, health and safety survey, concussion safety protocol). The waiver effectively removed the obligation of Division I autonomy schools under Constitution 3.2.4.20.1 to submit concussion management protocols for review by the Concussion Safety Protocol Committee by May 1 of this year. This information was sent to impacted member schools by email late last month stating that institutions may work with NCAA staff to establish appropriately revised deadlines. However, due to the continued uncertainty around the timing of return to campus activities and the recognition that these timelines will likely vary from institution to institution, a new protocol submission deadline has not been identified at this time. If a new 2020-21 submission deadline is established, we will communicate that information to impacted institutions well ahead of time.

Q14. If the May 1 protocol submission deadline has been waived, what is the new deadline for Division I autonomy schools to submit their institutional protocols for review?

A14. The 2020 submission deadline has been waived. Due to the uncertainty around the timing of return to campus activities and the recognition that these timelines will likely vary from institution to institution, a new protocol submission deadline has not been identified at this time. If a new submission 2020-21 deadline is established, we will communicate that information to impacted institutions well ahead of time.

Q15. Can my institution utilize the Template that was created to conform to the updated Checklist?

A15. Yes. The Template may be used by every NCAA member institution as an educational and compliance tool.

Q16. My institution submitted its protocol last year for review and the Concussion Safety Review Committee confirmed that it was consistent with the Checklist. Do we need to do anything this year?

A16. Division I Constitution 3.2.4.20.1 (Concussion Safety Protocol) has been updated to require that an institution's Concussion Safety Protocol must be consistent with the Checklist. Because the 2020 Checklist includes material updates, you should carefully review these changes and other relevant legislative and policy requirements and work with applicable institutional medical and other staff to identify and incorporate any necessary adjustments to your concussion management protocol and practices.

Q17. I understand that the May 1 submission deadline has been waived; but can we still submit our updated concussion protocol to the Concussion Safety Protocol Committee for review and feedback?

A17. No. Due to the travel and other resource restrictions and impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, neither the Concussion Safety Protocol Committee nor its designated subcommittee that has historically reviewed Division I non-autonomy opt in submissions will be convening for or conducting protocol review activities at this time. However, the NCAA SSI staff is committed to providing membership with all of the tools and information necessary to identify applicable updates to concussion management practices resulting from the recent Checklist changes and will work, in conjunction with CSMAS as applicable, to respond to all membership questions on the topic. Specific questions about the Checklist or the recent updates should be directed to ssi@ncaa.org.

Q18. I understand that the protocol submission deadline has been waived. Do we still need to sign the annual Compliance Certification Form?

A18. Yes. Division I Constitution 3.2.4.20.1-(g) requires that a written certificate of compliance signed by the institution’s AHCA be included in the institution’s concussion safety protocol. We recommend that the signed form is kept on file in the office of the institution’s AHCA along with a current copy of the concussion safety protocol and other concussion management materials.

Q19. Is there a specific Compliance Certification Form that my AHCA needs to use to meet the legislative requirement?

A19. No. However, to facilitate and support member compliance with this requirement, the NCAA has developed a standard Compliance Certification Form. A blank copy of the form can be accessed here. We recommend that your AHCA print, sign and keep the form on file in his or her office along with a current copy of the concussion safety protocol and other concussion management materials.

Q20. How do I know if my institutional protocol was reviewed as part of the 2019 process and whether we received any related feedback?

A20. If your institution participated in the 2019 Concussion Safety Protocol Review Process, feedback would have been provided in the form of a letter addressed to your institution's athletics director, AHCA, conference commissioner and senior compliance administrator. Any inconsistencies between your protocol and the then current version Checklist would have been identified and described as part of that feedback communication. If you are unable to locate a copy of this communication and are unsure of your 2019 submission or review status, you can request that information by emailing ssi@ncaa.org.

COVID-19 has caused disruption to everyone. It is important to be aware of the potential negative impact that a crisis can have on our mental and physical health, often because of a breakdown in self-care. The NCAA Sport Science Institute will be developing webinars and outreach recommendations with the NCAA membership. The purpose of this memo is to provide resources and recommendations that may be helpful now.

General Resources

The CDC webpage on managing anxiety and stress provides a practical overview of self-care and resources. The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a comprehensive information and resource guide that addresses self-care and community/national resources.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration tip sheet answers questions about COVID-19, social distancing, quarantine and isolation.

Daily Strategies

The National Alliance on Mental Illness recommends daily strategies for self-care and awareness. Following is a summary of general recommendations:

• Space. Create a structured, dedicated work environment, and include regular patterns of self- care.
• Routine. Try to maintain a routine that reflects your normal day routine, including how you dress and structured breaks for lunch and mini-breaks.
• Activity. Regular exercise and mindfulness activities are key during times of crisis. Exercise and mindfulness activities help mitigate depression and anxiety while improving cognition and confidence. Develop a daily routine for both, even if this is as simple as a 15-minute walk and/or quiet time with deep breathing.
• Time and Energy Management. Be mindful of over- or under-working. Try to structure your daily work in a way that mirrors your normal workplace hours. In addition to time management, be aware of the way in which you eat, self-talk, and communicate with others. Self-compassion and self-care provide stability and confidence.
• Accessibility. Develop ways in which you are accessible to colleagues, friends and family.
• Face Time and Connectivity. Humans need to feel and be connected. Utilize video tools such as Microsoft Teams, Skype, Facetime, Google Hangouts, Facebook and WhatsApp to connect visually.
• Resources. Map out your important resources, ranging from daily necessities to emergency management.
• Support. The National Alliance on Mental Health Illness website provides a comprehensive guide to national and local resources. Know that there is help when needed.

Athletics health care providers and athletics staff should forward this message to all strength and conditioning coaches and other personnel who oversee student-athlete exercise and strength and conditioning sessions.

Member schools have the primary responsibility for ensuring that actionable plans are in place to guide the local response to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 among school personnel or a related exposure to the virus at an on-campus event. Athletics personnel should reach out to campus health care leaders at their respective school to safeguard the well-being of student-athletes, employees and fans attending athletics events.

If campus staff members have reason to believe that someone associated with the athletics department shows symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should immediately notify the personnel on campus responsible for coordinating with local and state health officials, including public health departments.

When members are engaging with the campus health crisis leadership team about issues that may be specific to their athletics department, such as the proximity of student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and other medical personnel to one another, here are topics to discuss:

• Guidance to athletics departments to communicate the policy to athletics personnel, including student-athletes.
• Confirmation of procedures athletics staff members should follow to notify campus leadership of a suspected case or exposure to COVID-19, so appropriate governmental notifications can take place as soon as possible.
• Roster and contact information of individuals assigned to the school’s action or response team charged with responding to medical emergencies or local public health crises.
• Contact information for local and/or state health departments so athletics staff members can access resource materials.
• Implementation of a campus policy regarding the triage and clinical management of individuals showing symptoms of COVID-19.
• NCAA guidance on medical disqualification as found in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook (page 34).
• Coordination of athletics events with campus leaders and local and/or state health departments if there is a suspected outbreak of COVID-19 in the community.

More Information

For more information on the coronavirus, visit the CDC’s coronavirus page. CDC guidance on clinical signs and symptoms and infection prevention and control recommendations are available here.

As with all information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that may impact the well-being of student-athletes, the NCAA Sport Science Institute encourages athletics departments to carefully review these materials with applicable institutional health care providers and other relevant campus personnel. They should implement any appropriate risk-mitigating initiatives.