Pac-12 Conference: Voluntary In-Person Athletic Workouts Can Begin June 15th

Per a press release dated Tuesday, May 26th, the Pac-12 Conference announced that “it will allow for voluntary in-person athletic workouts for all sports to commence on June 15, subject to the decision of each individual campus and where permissible by relevant governmental entities”. Prior to this release, athletics had essentially been cancelled by the Pac-12 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision by the Conference of Champions follows the NCAA’s focus, which stated last week that the same voluntary activities could begin June 1st, based on the discretion of the schools involved. The Pac-12 came to it’s decision via the use of the Pac-12 CEO Group and the Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee.

Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott commented on the decision, stating “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.”

You can read the most recent release and stay up-to-date on the Pac-12’s decisions and protocols regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic here.