The Pac-12 conference announced Tuesday it will allow for voluntary, in-person athletic workouts for all sports beginning June 15.
The ruling is subject to individual schools’ decisions about their own campuses, along with any local government regulations in effect.
“As educational institutions, our highest obligation is to the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff,” Pac-12 CEO group chair and University of Colorado chancellor Philip DiStefano said in a statement. “As we considered the pros and cons of taking steps that can pave a path to returning to play, those considerations were foremost, guided by the advice of our own medical experts along with public health officials.”
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott added in a statement, “The Pac-12 is committed to the well-being of our student-athletes, and the decision to allow for voluntary workouts, subject to a determination by each school, is guided by the advice of our medical experts and will be supported by the detailed protocols established by our medical advisory committee in concert with our campus’ own safety guidelines.
“As states have either already opened or begin to open up access to parks, gyms and other training facilities, student-athletes should have the option at this time to be in, what for many, will be a much safer environment on campus, where they can have access to the best available health, well-being and training support.”
The conference also laid out detailed protocols to be followed when athletes return.
The NCAA announced last week that it would permit conferences and schools to reopen for voluntary workouts starting June 1. The SEC will permit schools to have voluntary workouts beginning June 8, while Big 12 will allow football programs to hold voluntary workouts beginning June 15. The Big Ten and ACC have each left decisions about workouts up to specific schools.
The current regulations in states where Pac-12 teams play — Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington — have varied, but most are beginning to reopen or are getting close to that point.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that his state could open up for athletics within a few weeks, provided the state can “hold these trend lines.”
