IWU Athletics & Rec Wellness Center

The following protocols apply all “Participants” (i.e., student-athletes, coaches, and staff) engaged in team activities on the Indianan Wesleyan University campus. Additional protocols for competition may be developed as needed. These protocols apply to all varsity programs and will be updated as new guidance or requirements are provided.

Guidance

Guidance for these protocols is taken from the entities listed below, which will continue to be referenced.

• The State of Indiana
• Grant County Health Department
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and affiliate associations
• Crossroads League
• IWU-Marion Cabinet
• IU Athletics Medical Advisory Group (Phase One Restart Plan)
• Parkview Sports Medicine Athletic Recommendations

Medical Safety Protocols

To promote the health and safety of the Participants, the following protocols must be followed prior to any Participant returning to athletically related activities and during the course of any athletically related activities.

Testing and Screening

All Participants will complete pre-participation history that will:

• Determine if the Participant has been sick or is currently sick;
• Determine if the Participant has been exposed to COVID-19 or has tested negative or positive for COVID-19;
• Determine where the Participant is traveling from and their mode of transportation to Marion; and
• Determine if the participant is a thigh risk for severe illness if they contract the virus and whether additional precautions should be in place for the Participant or if medical clearance should not be provided for that Participant.

Participants will be tested in accordance with the IWU-Marion guidelines for COVID-19 Testing.

Participants may be subject to additional testing requirements as determined by the Crossroads League and /or NAIA. 

Self-Quarantine

Student-athletes may be required to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to engaging in any team activities if they have been in an area identified as high risk for COVID-19 within 7 days of traveling. 

All Participants will be required to sign the Wildcat Commitment Pledge that outlines the expectations to be a responsible member of the IWU Athletic Family and practice personal hygiene, physical distancing, non-contact with others if symptomatic and the agreement to quarantine and/or isolate if necessary.  Additionally, there will be a requirement to notify Wildcat Health Clinic staff if the Participant becomes symptomatic. 

All athletic department personnel will be required to attend a virtual training to review relevant policies and encourage care for the IWU Athletics and campus communities by following the stated guidelines. Participation will not be permitted until the training is complete. Department personnel will include all coaches (including volunteers), student-athletes and managers, athletic training staff (including athletic training students), sports information staff (including student staff) and administrators.

Quarantine/Isolation

Participants with symptoms consistent for COVID-19 or those who are asymptomatic but have had direct contact with a COVID-19 patient must quarantine in accordance with the IWU-Marion policies until cleared by a university official.

Participants who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate in accordance with IWU-Marion policies until cleared by a university official.

Any Participant identified through contact tracing as having been potentially exposed to COVID-19 will follow the guidance of the Wildcat Health Clinic.

Daily Medical Check

All Participants will respond, daily to a health screening questionnaire prior to participating in team activities.

Participants will show proof of a completed screening and will be asked if they any symptom changes from when their screening was completed prior to entering the practice facility.

If a student-athlete selects “yes” to any symptom(s), they should immediately contact a member of the Wildcat Health Center to receive guidance on next steps, and they should not leave their residence.

Staff must contact their supervisor should they check “yes” to any symptom(s) and they should not come to the facility. 

Overall Participation Guidelines

Physical Distancing

All Participants must practice physical distancing (being at least six feet apart from each other) whenever possible within IWU Athletics indoor and outdoor facilities.

Hand Hygiene

All Participants will be reminded to wash their hands as much as possible, especially prior to and after using equipment, receiving medical treatment and working out. Alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) sanitizer should be used frequently if the Participant is not able to wash their hands.

Facial Coverings

All Participants must wear facial coverings at all times, especially when physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Student-athletes must follow the direction IWU Athletics staff regarding face coverings.

If there is low to moderate intensity physical activity where it is impossible to physically distance, such as spotting or stretching, Participants are required to wear facial coverings.

If there is an activity in a confined space, such as a meeting room or athletic training clinics, Participants are required to wear facial coverings.

If there is physical activity where physical distancing measures are able to take place, such as sprints on a practice field, the Participants may not be required to wear facial covering. Participants should have their facial covering with them so they can put it on when entering the facility.

Personal Travel

          All Participants should limit nonessential travel.

          All Participants must follow the guidelines listed this document when traveling.

Specific Protocols for Participants Receiving Medical Treatment (Non-COVID-19 Related)

          All Participants should wear facial coverings at all times.

          While receiving treatment, Participants should maintain proper physical distancing as able.

          All treatments will be by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be allowed.

          Treatment tables and equipment will be cleaned between each patient. 

Facility Safety Protocols

Capacity

All facilities will follow IWU-Marion guidelines for room capacity (currently at 50%). If a team plans to meet in a space but exceeds the capacity guidelines, the team must utilize a larger space or meet separately in smaller groups.

All spaces must be reserved with Athletics Administrative assistant in 25Live to ensure proper cleaning at the end of each day.

Participants will wipe down media carts, desks, and tables after use.

Points of Entry and Traffic Flow

All facilities should establish specific points of entry and exit whenever possible. All participants should use only the designated entrances and exits.

All facilities should establish traffic flow patterns wherever feasible to reduce bottlenecks and congregating of Participants indoors.

Timing

Time should be allotted between practice sessions to allow teams to exit prior to new teams arriving and for proper sanitizing of shared spaces.

Accessibility

Non-public facilities (Troyer, Football, etc.)

Students should only access non-public facilities during a team activity or with an Athletic Department staff member on-site to unlock the facility and monitor student-athlete access (making sure symptom screenings have been completed, capacity and cleaning guidelines are being followed, etc.).

Public Facilities

Students should follow all guidelines for accessing public facilities.

Coaches will be responsible for monitoring use of non-public spaces (Luckey, locker rooms) making sure symptom screenings have been completed, capacity and cleaning guidelines are being followed, etc.

Equipment

All equipment should be separated by 6-10 feet whenever possible.

If equipment cannot be moved or adequately separated, it should be utilized in a manner that allows for appropriate physical distancing.

Locker Rooms

Locker room access should be limited to immediately before or after on organized team activity. Participants should only be permitted in locker room after a daily symptom screening has been completed and accepted.

Signs with locker room expectations and cleaning instructions should be present both inside and outside of the locker room.

Facial coverings are strongly encouraged to be used in the locker room.

Individuals in locker room should continue practicing physical distancing.

Coaches should stagger entry into locker room to limit the total number of student-athletes in the locker room at a time to stay within IWU-Marion capacity guidelines and allow for physical distancing.

Cleaned equipment should stay in lockers but personal belongings should be removed at the end of each day.

Team meetings should be held in other spaces/outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained with the entire team in the locker room.

Creative/Non-Traditional Use of Spaces and Increased Use of Outdoor Spaces

Coaches should creatively consider use of outdoor space and rooms they may not have commonly used in order to provide for adequate physical distancing. All spaces must be reserved with the Athletics Administrative assistant in 25Live.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols have been developed for the following spaces:

“Cleaning Stations” (spray, towels, hand sanitizer) will be located in all facilities.

If/when you run out of product, do NOT throw away bottles. Contact Housekeeping for refills.

If You need products in a specific area that has not been stocked, contact Housekeeping.

Athletic Training Clinics

Athletic Training staff will implement disinfecting protocols when opening and closing clinics as well as between patients.

Weight Rooms

Sanitization of equipment after every exercise (when user has finished his/her reps, apparatus should be sanitized prior to the next user).

Teams should do a final sanitization of all equipment at the conclusion of entire work out.

Practice Areas

Teams should perform routine cleaning (pick up trash, sweep floors, sanitize high- touch surfaces) at the conclusion of each practice.

Housekeeping will routinely clean floors in common spaces such as Troyer and RWC gyms.

Equipment Services

Equipment cleaning

All hard surfaces/equipment must be cleaned before each practice session.

No shared clothing (pinnies, jerseys, towels).

Limit contact with shared equipment (cones, flags, goals).

Disinfect shared equipment after use.

Laundry protocols

Laundry techs will be provided with appropriate protective equipment (disposable glove) and should wear a face covering while doing laundry.

Laundry gins/hampers should be disinfected once dirty laundry has been removed prior to being used for clean laundry.

High-touch surfaces in laundry rooms (machines, doors, light switches.) should be sanitized after use.

Return to Sport after COVID-19 Diagnosis or Symptoms 

All Participants will follow IWU-Marion requirements for returning to general campus activities following COVID-19 diagnosis/Symptoms or isolation/quarantine.

Any student-athlete returning from COVID-like symptoms or COVID-related isolation/quarantine must complete an appropriate acclimatization period as determined by the Wildcat Health Clinic, team physicians, and IWU Athletic Training staff prior to returning to sport-related activities.

Rec & Wellness Center          

COVID screening guidelines:

Any person demonstrating any symptoms of COVID will have their temperature taken upon arrival.

Any person with a temperature of 100 or greater or exhibits other symptoms of COVID-19, will be asked to leave the facility.

All entrants must wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or hand sanitizer immediately upon entering the facility.

Hand sanitizer will be made readily available.

Use of doors

• RWC athletic teams will use the front or south door.
• RWC staff will have the use of any door.
• All other students, members, staff/faculty, and guest will use the front doors ONLY for entry and exit.
• Handicap button will be accessible with exceptions for games and events with prior approval.
• Entrance through front doors will be on the right as one enters and exit through front door will be on the right as one leaves.
• Interior doors will be propped open to eliminate touching.

Face masks are required in any public space in the building.

Any student who prefers to wear a face covering for activities should be allowed, if doing so will not cause a health risk.

No sharing of clothing, shoes, towels or water bottles.

Shared hydration stations including water fountains should not be utilized except for filling individual water bottles.

All state and local guidelines for group limitations must be followed and social distancing is encouraged. If it is not possible to follow these guidelines indoors or outdoors, the create as much distance as possible.

Failure to comply with the above guidelines, may result in the student being dismissed from the program and being asked to leave campus.

Sanitization Schedule

If equipment must be shared, including sports balls and exercise equipment, it should be cleaned immediately following usage.

Teams and Individuals will continue to sanitize used equipment following each use and full sanitization of any exercise rooms and equipment will occur daily at closing, and every 1 1/2 hours, regular sanitization of equipment will occur.

Locker Rooms

Students, staff, and faculty will be required to put items in a locker upon entrance.

Individuals will sanitize used locker following each use.

Full sanitization of locker room general areas will occur daily at closing.

Rooms

(including weight and fitness rooms)

• Limits are set at 50% capacity
• No more than two student athletes per weight station.
• Room Occupancy Limits (through August 15):
  • No more than 40 students using the cardio & machine weight room at a time.
  • No more than 18 students using the free weight room at a time.
  • No more than 8 students using a racquetball court at a time.
  • No more than 184 students using the IAC at a time.
  • No more than 66 students on the track at a time.
  • No more than 7 students in the group fitness room at a time.
• Sanitization of equipment required after every exercise.
• When spotters are being used the spotter will be required to wear a face mask.

IWU Athletics Home Game Guidelines

Pre-Game Screening

The following entities must be screened by an approved screener using the NAIA’s approved scorecard within six hours of the competition start time:

• Student-athletes
• Student Managers
• Coaches
• Officials
• Athletic Trainers
• Game Administrator
• Sports Information personnel (statisticians, scorekeepers, etc.)
• Operations personnel 9gate workers, ball runners, etc.)
• Cheerleaders
• Band members
• Any other personnel on or near the playing surface or interacting with the student-athletes.

The supervisor of each group should coordinate with an approve screener as to the timing of that group’s screening. (when they arrive on site, earlier in the day, etc.)

Pre-Game Screening for Visiting Teams

An IWU Athletics administrator or coach meets visiting team at their vehicle upon arrival to confirm all members of the traveling party have completed the required game day screening and continue to be symptom free, prior to entering IWU facilities.

If a team needs their official screening completed upon arrival, an approved screener will meet them at their vehicle. Visiting teams are requested to communicate this need with the IWU head coach 24 hours prior to arrival.

If a member of the visiting team has developed symptoms since leaving their home campus, that person should complete another screening upon arrival at IWU.

            “1” on the NAIA Scorecard- may enter the facility and participate but should continue to monitor symptoms.

            “2” or greater on the NAIA Scorecard- must isolate in the team vehicle.

Safety Protocols

Face Coverings

Student-athletes should wear a face covering except during warm-up and competition.

Student-athletes who have just returned to the sideline from competition should put on a face covering as soon as practicable.

Coaches, non-competing student-athletes, and any other team personnel should wear a face covering at all times. 

Physical Distancing

All participants should be practicing physical distancing (at least 6 feet apart) whenever possible throughout the competition.

All participants should avoid unnecessary contact throughout the competition (high-fives, fist bumps, handshakes, elbow bumps, etc.).

No post-game handshake lines or prayer circles will be permitted. Acknowledgement of a well-played game will take place from an appropriate distance.

Handwashing

Hand sanitizer will be provided at multiple locations throughout the facility. However, we recommend that each member of the traveling party also bring his/her own sanitizer that can be kept with them.

Locker Rooms

See Locker Room guidelines noted above.

Limit personnel to approved capacity, maintain physical distancing while in the locker room and limit total time in the locker room as much as practicable. Facial coverings are strongly encouraged.

Pre-game, halftime, and post-game meetings should be extremely brief or held in another location if your locker room capacity does not accommodate your entire team.

Athletic Training Treatment

Athletic Trainers will continue to see patients on an appointment-only basis on game day. Team specific athletic trainers will work with coaches and student-athletes to coordinate appointment times appropriately.

All necessary safety precautions will be taken for any in-game treatment.

Post-game follow-up will be coordinated by team specific athletic trainers, either immediately following competition on-site or by appointment in a clinic. 

Operations

Sideline Protocols

Facial coverings should be worn by all sideline personnel at all times.

Student-athletes who have just returned to the sideline from competition should put on a facial covering as soon as practicable.

Physical distance should be maintained between sideline personnel as much as possible within the defined bench and area of each sport.

Sideline/bench access should be limited to only essential personnel.

Non-essential personnel or those student-athletes who are unable to compete should be seated behind the bench to allow for appropriate physical distancing, especially if bench space is limited within the defined area for that sport.

Press Box

Press Box access will be limited to official game personnel. Coaches should refrain from entering press boxes or sending student-athletes/managers to press boxes unless requested to do so by a Sports Information staff member.

Facial Coverings should be worn at all times and physical distance maintained as much as possible.

Cleaning

Appropriate cleaning of equipment and high-touch areas should take place prior to warm-ups and throughout the contest as able.

Teams should wipe down benches and/or chairs post-game before putting them away.

Guidance for Media

The Sports Information Department will coordinate with local media outlets on appropriate seating areas away from the score tables or press box and bench/sideline area.

The Sports Information Director on duty will ensure all medial interviews are conducted with face coverings while maintaining appropriate physical distance.

Guidance for Officials

Officials will be screened upon arrival at the facility.

• Outside south door at Luckey
• Outside fence/gate at soccer
• Coaches/Officials’ parking lot at football
• Outside the barn at cross country

Locker rooms will be provided as needed.

Officials should wear masks as possible within the execution of their duties and guidance of their assignor or governing body.

Game Administrators and/or Athletic Trainers will coordinate with officials to provide water in the most sanitary way feasible. All officials are encouraged to bring their own water bottle to assist.

IWU Athletics Road Game Guidelines

Pre-departure Screening

Each Head Coach will coordinate with the Athletic Trainer on completion of the NAIA’s required game day screen prior to departure.

Teams leaving campus more than six hours before the start of the competition must be screened by the host institution upon arrival.

Vehicles

Facial coverings are required to be worn in all vehicles for the duration of the trip.

Only IWU personnel will be permitted to ride in vehicles with teams.

Physical distance as possible.

Consider an alternate/secondary car for potential transport/isolation of symptomatic personnel.

Meals

It is recommended that meals be carried out of restaurants or delivered to the vehicle whenever possible.

Non-packaged foods (e.g., pizza) should be distributed by gloved personnel.

Overnight Trips

All overnight trips must be approved by the Athletic Director

Recommend only 2 per hotel room.

Location

Approval for competition out of state, non-league facilities must be obtained from the Athletic Director two weeks prior to competition date.     

Symptoms Post-Departure

If a member of the traveling party becomes symptomatic after leaving campus, a second symptom screening should be completed.

“1” on the NAIA Scorecard- may participate but should continue to monitor for additional symptoms.

“2” or greater on the NAIA Scorecard-must isolate in the team vehicle and notify the IWU Health Clinic and Athletic Director to coordinate appropriate care for that individual.

The symptomatic person should be isolated as much as possible from the rest of the traveling party.