Colorado State Athletics Returning to Athletic Activities on Monday, Aug. 31

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – As Colorado State University enters the second week of classes today, Monday, Aug. 31, Colorado State athletic teams will return to activities as allowed by the NCAA and approved by the University's Pandemic Preparedness Team (PPT).

All Colorado State student-athletes have the opportunity to opt-in or opt-out by the end of the day. Student-athletes who opt-in for the fall semester of activities will begin allowable team activities and/or strength and conditioning activities under strict health and safety protocols within Colorado State's athletic facilities. Per NCAA guidelines, student-athletes who elected to opt-out of the fall semester will not have their scholarship reduced and will continue to receive any on-going sports medicine services for athletic-related injuries as well as continued academic support. Football student-athletes will have the opportunity to voluntarily resume strength and conditioning activities.

All athletic department staff and students have been instructed to not discuss the on-going investigation initiated by the President's Office, directly or indirectly.

The Mountain West postponed all fall events on Aug. 10, and activities for Colorado State student-athletes have been voluntary since then. There will be no competition this fall in any sport. The Mountain West Conference has decided that it is in the best interest of student-athletes to continue to train but to follow all health protocols.

On August 21 the NCAA adopted emergency legislation to specify that athletics financial aid awarded to a student-athlete who opts out of participating during the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about contracting COVID-19 shall not be reduced or canceled as a result of the student-athlete's decision. Furthermore, the NCAA approved a blanket waiver allowing institutions to self-apply waivers to extend the a student-athletes five year period of eligibility and to self-apply season of competition waivers for fall sport student-athletes who compete up to the maximum permissible amount of competition during the 2020-21 academic year as a result of the disruption and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Though we aren't able to provide a normal fall semester of activities for our student-athletes due to the postponement, it's imperative that we provide the sense of structure that our student-athletes deserve by returning to the maximum level of activity possible," Director of Athletics Joe Parker said. "After consultation with President McConnell, we believe the best place for our student-athletes to continue their development is in our facilities and on our campus."

"As students have returned to our campus, it is important that we provide growth opportunities and great service for all our students, and that includes our student-athletes," said University President Joyce McConnell. "Though limited, I believe voluntary training opportunities for our student-athletes is an appropriate level of activity at this time."

Athletic training rooms are currently open by appointment only, group size during workouts remains restricted, and student-athletes, staff, and coaches are required to wear masks while on campus – consistent with University policy. Weight rooms and equipment also undergo rigorous cleanings between groups and at the end of the day.

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