WALTHAM, Mass. – With COVID-19 restrictions easing in the state of Massachusetts and on campus, the Brandeis University athletic teams are set to return to action for the Spring 2021 season. The baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will engage in intercollegiate competition for the first time since 2020 later this spring, with intercollegiate competition approved to begin on April 1, barring case clusters and assuming full compliance with university protocol and processes.
“As a department, we have been working towards the goal of competing since last March,” said Director of Athletics Lauren Haynie. “Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have been diligent in preparing for this opportunity, while simultaneously keeping the health, safety and welfare of our community in the forefront. I commend them for their continued vigilance, and thank our university’s senior leadership for making outside competition a possibility.”
Since March 2020, Brandeis Athletics has been committed to the overall health and safety of the University community. Coaches, staff and student-athletes have frequently assisted at the University’s testing sites, with one staff member serving as the testing site administrator throughout the fall. During the fall semester, all 19 teams were able to successfully navigate physically-distanced, masked practices and strength & conditioning sessions multiple times per week by adhering to the University’s testing requirements, enhanced hygiene procedures and on-site health assessment procedures. Based on the success of the fall and the ability to remain diligent with the testing procedure, a return to competition plan was approved by the University’s medical director and COVID-19 Steering Committee.
Brandeis teams, which have been practicing according to University guidelines since their return to campus in February, will announce their schedules in the coming days.
Competition will be limited within the state of Massachusetts and among institutions with similar testing protocols. Student-athletes from both competing institutions will need to be tested between 48 and 72 hours prior to competition in order for results to be available. Officials will also be required to furnish the university with proof of a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to competition.
Prior to each competition, Brandeis’ athletic training staff will ensure that coaches and student-athletes have successfully met on-campus testing requirements. Universal masking for all student-athletes, coaches, officials and game personnel will be required and all locker room facilities will remain closed during competition.
Because visitors are not allowed on campus due to University regulations, there will be no spectators at home contests. Every effort will be made to stream intercollegiate home contests at BrandeisJudges.com.
Similar guidelines will also be in place for club sports and intramural activities. Club sports will be able to continue on-campus practices as they have been conducted for the majority of the spring semester. Off-campus practice opportunities will be available beginning April 1, as they remain consistent with Brandeis’ student travel policy. Club sports will not be eligible for intercollegiate competition. Intramural sports will continue to have individual skills competitions available, with opportunities for team-based competition also available beginning on April 1.
For further information on Brandeis Athletics’ COVID-19 policies, visit https://www.brandeisjudges.com/facilities/covid-policies. For Brandeis University’s COVID-19 response, visit https://www.brandeis.edu/covid-19/index.html.