NJCAA COVID-19 Update - Safety Protocol Recommendations

Charlotte, NC - As the 2020-21 academic and athletic year approaches, the NJCAA has released recommendations and changes for safety and well-being protocols during regular season competition and championship events.  The NJCAA has also released a plan of action for the fall and winter sports season in response to COVID-19. 

Safety Protocol Recommendations for 2020-21 Regular Season Competition

• Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding corvid-19 and re-opening.
• Temperature checks are encouraged for all student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel prior to each competition.
• Visiting teams are encouraged to check temperatures before departing from their home location.
• Provide sport medicine staff with necessary personal protective equipment.
• Limit contact between teams when possible, including the elimination of the pre-game and post-game handshake.
• Limit student-athlete fan engagement before and after competition.

• Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding corvid-19 and re-opening facilities.
• Member colleges should clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the field, court, or playing surface.
• Develop a schedule for increased, routine cleaning, and disinfecting.
• Limit the use of shared objects and equipment when possible.
• Eliminate the sharing of water bottles and towels amongst teammates.
• Limit facility access for student-athletes as deemed appropriate.
• Implement social distancing for team benches when possible.
• Encourage fans, staff, and other event attendees to wear face masks.
• Encourage social distancing for fans during the event.

• Championship hosts should follow all safety protocol recommendations provided to NJCAAmember colleges for regular-season competition.
• Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding food service for concessions and hospitality rooms.
• Eliminating championship banquets.
• Eliminating team community service activities.
• Request a social distancing plan from the host prior to the start of the event, including fan ingress, fan egress, fan seating.
• Encourage social distancing and directional signage in venue.
• Extra sanitization of team areas including benches, locker rooms, athletic training rooms, warm-up areas, hospitality spaces.
• Required temperature checks for student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel prior to each entry into the venue.

For the 2020-21 NJCAA plan of action, visit: The Path for 2020-21 Sports

For all NJCAA COVID-19 updates, visit: NJCAA COVID-19 Homepage