NCAA Lifts Ban on Voluntary Workouts in Football, Basketball

The NCAA Division I Council has voted to lift a moratorium on voluntary workouts by football and basketball players effective June 1st. 

The council’s vote yesterday applied to football and men’s and women’s basketball, and lasts through June.  A decision on other sports is pending.  Schools must follow all federal, state and local COVID-19 guidelines such as group size restrictions. 

The decision comes as a growing number of college leaders express confidence that fall sports will be played in some form.  Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he thinks his team’s home football games can be played with 20,000 to 30,000 fans in the stands. Ohio Stadium seats about 105,000.  He says he hasn’t figured out yet how fans would be chosen from among those wanting tickets.