May 20, 2020
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF COVID-19 MEDICAL ADVISORY GROUP
The American Athletic Conference has announced the formation of a COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, which comprises medical professionals from each of the Conference's member institutions. The group is chaired by Dr. Greg Stewart, director of sports medicine at Tulane University.
"There is no more important task ahead of us than protecting the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials, support staff and fans as we contemplate the reopening of our fall sports," said Commissioner Mike Aresco, "and to that end we have established a COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group with representatives from our 12 institutions, which will be chaired by Dr. Greg Stewart of Tulane University, and which will guide our efforts in establishing the health and safety protocols that will govern our athletic endeavors during the crisis. We are fortunate to be able to call upon the expertise and experience of these distinguished medical professionals as we make critical decisions in the days ahead regarding a safe return to athletic competition on our campuses."
"The American has assembled a group of medical experts and key staff members at our institutions who will monitor closely current public health information regarding COVID-19," said Dr. Stewart. "We look forward to providing our schools with guidance, assistance, recommendations and best practices and protocols for a safe return to competition for student-athletes, while also protecting the health and safety of administrators, support staff, officials and fans."
The Conference has been consulting its sports medicine professionals on an ongoing basis, and the newly-formed Advisory Group will now provide guidance and informational updates to the Conference's presidents, athletic directors, commissioner and office staff.
The Advisory Group will address the unique challenges that The American and its colleagues in other conferences will be facing if, and when, there is a return to competition in all sports. Among these will be critical questions involving testing, tracing, sanitation, hygiene, and practice and training guidelines as well as protocols for dealing with COVID-19 positive cases. The Advisory Group will work closely with the Conference membership to develop and disseminate health and safety best practices and recommendations.
In order to safeguard the health and well-being of its student-athletes and all those connected to its athletic programs and events, the American Athletic Conference previously announced the cancellation of all athletic competition and championships for the remainder of the 2020 spring season and suspended all in-person athletic activities through May 31. In addition, the 2020 American Summer Kickoff and Media Days will not take place in July in Newport, Rhode Island, and will be held virtually at a date to be determined.
Members of The American's COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group:
• Medical Advisory Group Chair - Dr. Greg Stewart, Tulane University, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Jon Divine, University of Cincinnati, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Joseph Armen, East Carolina University, Head Team Physician
• Dr. Andrew Li-Yung Hing, University of Houston, Team Physician
• Darrell Turner, University of Memphis, Associate Athletics Director – Sports Medicine
• Dr. Lance Leclere, United States Naval Academy, Team Physician
• Dr. Matt Davis, Southern Methodist University, Team Physician
• Dr. Cory Keller, Temple University, Team Physician
• Dr. Jeff Cunningham, University of Tulsa, Team Physician
• Mary Vander Heiden, University of Central Florida, Director of Sports Medicine
• Steve Walz, University of South Florida, Associate Director of Athletics/Director of Sports Medicine
• Dan Cahill, Wichita State University, Director of Sports Medicine
March 17, 2020
- As part of the American Athletic Conference announcement Monday that canceled all conference spring sport competitions and championships, UCF suspended organized practices effective immediately. Volunteer workouts are suspended beginning at 5 p.m. today (Tuesday) through at least Sunday, March 29, in conjunction with the UCF campus policy for students and staff to work remotely. The suspension of practices and volunteer workouts will continue until UCF determines it is safe for students and staff to return to normal campus activity.
- Almost all UCF athletic facilities (including the weight room) will be closed at 5 p.m. today (Tuesday) and will remain closed through at least Sunday, March 29. The athletic training room will have limited hours in order to accommodate student-athletes who require rehabilitation over the next two weeks.
- Student-athletes have been strongly encouraged to go home no later than Wednesday if they can.
- All UCF students began taking classes remotely Monday and that will continue through at least March 29.
- All UCF coaches and support staff must work remotely, beginning no later than Wednesday, and through at least March 29.
- The health and safety of the UCF athletic staff and student-athletes remains the top priority. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.
- At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, UCF announced that per state instruction, the university will continue remote instruction for the rest of the spring semester.
March 16, 2020
- The American Athletic Conference announced today that all athletic competition and championships have been canceled for the remainder of the academic year. In addition, all American institutions have ceased practicing.
- UCF has also announced that the 2020 Spring Game presented by DEX Imaging, previously scheduled for April 4, has been postponed indefinitely.
March 12, 2020 - 4 p.m.
- Commissioner Mike Aresco has announced that, effective immediately, the American Athletic Conference will suspend all spring sports competition until further notice.
- The decision to suspend competition was made after consultation with member institutions as part of a continued effort to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to protect student-athletes, coaches, institutional and event staff, media and spectators.
- The Conference will continue to evaluate risks associated with intercollegiate athletics competition in conjunction with local and state health authorities.
- The UCF Athletics Department is continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 virus outbreak. UCF officials are working with the university, local and state health departments, the American Athletic Conference and the NCAA to take proactive steps with this fluid situation.
- UCF athletic teams will be permitted to hold practices and team activities but will not travel or participate in competition.
- Refunds for fans who have purchased single game tickets to upcoming sporting events, beginning with the baseball games against Yale this weekend will be automatically refunded in the next 7-10 business days. Refunds for additional upcoming events will be refunded within 7-10 business days after the scheduled event date. UCF will work with season ticket holders at the end of the regular season to determine the impact and offer a partial refund. Fans with questions may contact the UCF ticket office at 407-823-1000 or tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.
- UCF announced Wednesday that it will move to online instruction beginning Monday for at least the next two weeks. For additional details on the university's plans, please visit https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/
March 12, 2020 - 12 p.m.
- The UCF Athletics Department is closely monitoring the COVID-19 virus outbreak. UCF officials are working with the university, local and state health departments, the American Athletic Conference and the NCAA to take proactive steps with this fluid situation. At this time, there is no recommendation to entirely cancel UCF athletics events. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.
- UCF plans to continue its athletic competition and practice schedules—however beginning today spectators will no longer be permitted at upcoming Knights' home athletic contests. Only student-athletes, coaches, essential event and administrative staff, television partners, credentialed media and immediate family members of participants will be permitted to attend home events. No determination has been made on how long this policy will be in effect. UCF will continue to provide updates as available.
- Refunds for fans who have purchased single game tickets to upcoming sporting events, beginning with the baseball games against Yale this weekend will be automatically refunded in the next 7-10 business days. Refunds for additional upcoming events will be refunded within 7-10 business days after the scheduled event date, assuming the event is cancelled. UCF will work with season ticket holders at the end of the regular season to determine the impact and offer a partial refund. Fans with questions may contact the UCF ticket office at 407-823-1000 or tickets@athletics.ucf.edu.
- Fans can continue to follow the Knights home contests via live streaming at UCFKnights.tv, Twitch channels ucfknightstv1 and ucfknightstv2.
- UCF announced Wednesday that it will move to online instruction beginning Monday for at least the next two weeks. For additional details on the university's plans, please visit https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/
March 12, 2020 - 11 a.m.
- Commissioner Mike Aresco announced this morning that the 2020 Air Force Reserve American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship, scheduled to take place March 12-15 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, will not be played.
- The decision was made in consultation with the Conference's leadership in light of recent developments regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is a proactive decision to protect the safety, health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches and staff and all involved with the tournament.
Prevention Tips
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/about/prevention.html
Coronavirus - Travelers Health Information
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/novel-coronavirus-china
Resources
For additional details on the university's plans, please visit https://www.ucf.edu/safety/coronavirus/.
For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms, etc., please visit the Centers for Disease Control's website as a helpful resource.
Prevention tips can be found on the CDC's COVID-19 information website.
The Florida Department of Health also has resources and updates about COVID-19 monitoring in the state.
The U.S. Department of State shares updates on travel advisories regarding COVID-19 on its website.