CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Members of the Illinois football team began returning to campus Monday. Illinois' plan for safe return includes initial and ongoing viral and antibody testing, initial quarantining, contact tracing, and arrangements for extended quarantine and care of any student-athlete testing positive for COVID-19, as the Illini plan to start voluntary workouts soon.Â
Illinois has developed detailed workout protocols, which include safety elements borrowed from comparable procedures crafted by the NFL, NBA, United States Olympic Committee, NCAA, and Big Ten. These protocols include daily symptom checks and entry screenings; locker room, shower, and laundry procedures; guidance on group size and composition; directives regarding facility and equipment usage and cleaning; and expectations for safe coaching and instruction.
By early July, Illinois anticipates student-athletes from women's basketball, volleyball, and soccer will have returned to campus as well. Illinois will evaluate the ability to return student-athletes from sports beyond these five as the summer progresses.
Per NCAA guidance, all football and basketball workouts in the month of June must be strictly voluntary.
