Getting Back at It
Below is the text of an email Scott Wetherbee sent to all football parents explaining how things will go as the Eagles get back into the swing of things. I can hear the crack of the pads now.
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Eastern Football Parents,
Over the past few weeks, our staff has been extremely busy working hard to provide the safest possible return to campus for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. As you will see in the email below we have provided a detailed plan of action to the first wave of student-athletes that will return to campus. This plan of action was developed in conjunction with the Eastern Michigan University safe return steering committee, public health group, St. Joe/IHA, our team doctors, as well as guidelines set forth by the federal and state government. Please understand that this plan is fluid in nature and we will continue to evaluate every step as new information and research is developed to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workouts in the month of June will be 3 days a week and are voluntary. We anticipate required workouts will begin soon after the 4th of July weekend (waiting on the confirmed dates from the NCAA). If you or the student-athlete feel uncomfortable returning or have more questions please feel free to reach out to me.
Scott Wetherbee
Director of Athletics
Eastern Football Family,
Over the past few weeks, our staff has worked hard to provide the safest possible return to campus for you, our student-athletes. We are excited to say that we have approval for you to start voluntary workouts as soon as Thursday, June 18th pending individual student-athlete clearance by EMU sports medicine and EMU medical professionals.
Our athletic training staff, sports performance coaches, equipment team, and our team doctors have done an excellent job of planning and executing the appropriate protocols and procedures for ensuring a safe return to workout environment. We are prioritizing the student-athletes’ health and well-being over everything else in the program and we are taking numerous precautions to make sure this plan is as effective as possible.
Prior to your arrival back on campus, each student-athlete will be required to fill out a medical screening questionnaire, which will allow us to evaluate each individual's COVID-19 exposure risk. Once you return to campus each student-athlete will be required to take a COVID-19 nasal swab test at the EMU Health Center. EMU will cover any cost the insurance provider does not cover. The sports medicine staff will work with each player to schedule a day and time for their test. Student-athletes will not be allowed to participate in any training or practices until both the medical screening is completed (and reviewed by our medical team) and has had a negative test for COVID-19 and cleared by sports medicine. Once both of these have been accomplished you will be allowed to start voluntary training with our sports performance coaches. In addition, we will be doing daily screenings with all student-athletes before every training period. Having these measures in place will assure everyone’s health and safety as we move forward with preparing for the season. We are taking these precautions very seriously and appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding.
In the event that someone does test positive for COVID-19, the individual will be quarantined, and monitored, and our staff will follow all county health guidelines. Additionally, anyone who was in close contact with the individual that was confirmed positive will be evaluated by the EMU sports medicine staff and treated, which may include additional testing or self-isolation. To keep the potential spreading to a minimum we have organized everyone into clusters of 25-30 for outdoor training workouts. It is important that they remain in these clusters and keep your interactions with anyone outside of these clusters to an absolute minimum. Let me say that again, it is vitally important that all individuals stay away from anyone outside of their designated cluster.
Five Steps To Return To Workouts:
1. Complete EMU Sports Medicine online medical forms
These forms will be emailed directly to you on Friday June 12 via the PRIVIT system.
2. Pickup IHA Health Center medical screening forms from SAPC
Eastern Football staff will be available on Monday, June 15th from 1pm to 3pm
These forms must be completed prior to your arrival at IHA
3. Verify your medical insurance coverage with EMU Sports Medicine.
This can be completed while picking up your IHA medical screening forms
4. Complete COVID-19 testing at the IHA Student Health Center
Each student-athlete will receive a designated appointment time
Please arrive at least five minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
IHA Address: 1065 N Huron River Dr Suite 100, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
5. Receive final medical clearance from EMU Sports Medicine staff
Once you are cleared to participate in voluntary workouts we will provide educational information and a training video to show how we will be training outdoors the next few weeks.
In the coming weeks we look forward to welcoming our student-athletes and staff back onto the EMU campus, but it is necessary to be mindful that the battle against this pandemic is not over. We must remain vigilant in our adherence to the rules set forth by the EMU, CDC and state government. It is the expectation of all student-athletes and staff to follow all social distancing, face mask, and local and state regulations. Failure to comply with any of these requirements may forfeit access to athletic facilities. At the end of the day, we all want to enjoy a successful season this fall and that begins now.
I look forward to having you on campus soon. If you have any questions feel free to ask your position coach, athletic trainer, sports performance coach, or myself.
See you at The Factory!!
Scott Wetherbee
Director of Athletics
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