IU football resumes voluntary workouts as uncertainty surrounding 2020 season continues

After a two-week layoff, the Indiana football program has resumed voluntary workouts.  IU had paused workouts on July 17 after six positive cases of COVID-19 within the program.

While the team has resumed training, there is still uncertainty as to the status of the 2020 season.  It is widely expected that a revised Big Ten only 2020 schedule will be released in the coming days.  However, that schedule will by no means ensure that things moves forward, as rumors persist that the season will be postponed until the spring.

IU would have started its fall camp next week, but the Big Ten has not given a green light for teams to move forward in that regard.

Indiana also provided its latest COVID-19 testing results in the release that follows.

Back to work. 🏈#IUFB #IUStrong pic.twitter.com/46N34imLN1

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) July 31, 2020

Via IU Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Department of Athletics has administered a total of 480 COVID-19 tests for student-athletes, coaches and staff, as a part of its return to campus protocol with 33 positive and 447 negative tests reported. Testing began on June 8.

The football program resumed all voluntary workouts today following the guidance of the IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group. Workouts were paused on July 17. The Hoosiers return to enhanced voluntary summer training, where athletes are allowed 20 hours per week of countable athletically-related activities, including up to eight hours per week of strength training, up to six hours per week of meetings/film review, and up to six hours per week of walk-throughs.

Testing will continue and all workout decisions will continue to be re-evaluated by the Indiana medical staff to protect the health and safety of all student-athletes.

IU Athletics began bringing groups of students back to campus for voluntary workouts on June 15. The Medical Advisory Group’s Restart Plan, which was released June 3, includes a series of pre-participation protocols before participants can be reintegrated. Following reintegration, subsequent requirements for voluntary workout participants include daily medical checks, abiding by CDC guidelines regarding social distancing, and, when deemed necessary by IU Athletics’ Chief Medical Officer, COVID-19 testing.

Per the recommendations of the IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group, each positive test results in isolation until further notice and contact tracing measures are established to detect individuals who are considered close contacts, and may have been exposed to the virus. These close contact individuals are also quarantined until further notice.

All summer athletic activities will continue to be voluntary in all sports currently permitted to engage in such activities. Furthermore, student-athletes who choose not to participate in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the summer and/or the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored and will remain in good standing with their team.

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