NOTE: Final decisions regarding actions intended to ensure the health and safety of all student-athletes, coaches, and staff, remain the sole prerogative of each respective member institution of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Updated December 28, 2021.
The Earlham College athletic department has announced that spectators will not be permitted at home indoor games until further notice. This decision was made due to increasing COVID-19 transmission rates.
goearlham.com will still provide live coverage of all athletic events as well as any updates to schedules and fan policy.
Earlham Athletics' COVID-19 Policy is based on the NCAA document “Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: 2021 Fall Training and Competition” (August 4, 2021). It should be noted that this policy will be amended based on future recommendations from the NCAA and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC).
This policy will not supersede any guidelines set in place by Earlham College, the City of Richmond, Wayne County, State of Indiana, or Federal government. Student-athletes, coaches, and athletics staff will comply with all requirements set forth by the college and government agencies. It should also be noted that any team traveling out of state will comply with the requirements of that state or local government agency.
Vaccinated Student-Athletes and Tier 1 staff.
Testing
- Testing is required if the individual is symptomatic or based on a risk assessment of a documented close contact with COVID-19.
- If a student-athlete or tier 1 staff is identified as a closed contact with Covid-19, PCR testing will occur on day 5 post exposer. Masking is required for all indoor settings until a negative test is confirmed. (EC and CDC guidelines)
- A student-athlete may continue to practice and compete while awaiting their day 5 PCR test as long as a negative antigen test result is received that day.
- A close contact student-athlete may not use the locker-room until the day 5 PCR negative test is received.
Masking and Social Distancing
- Masking is required within the locker-room facilities. Individuals may choose their mask as long as it meets the requirement of completely covering the nose and mouth.
- A 15-minute accumulated time limit will be required for locker room use.
- Masking is required for team travel on buses, vans, or cars.
- Masking is recommended during team meetings/activities when 6 feet of social distancing can not be maintained.
Individual receiving a positive test for Covid-19
- Any individual testing positive for Covid-19 will comply with Earlham College requirements for quarantine/isolation. The College utilizes recommendations from the CDC.
Unvaccinated Student-Athletes and Tier 1 staff
Testing
- Out of Season student-athletes and tier 1 staff (season as defined by the NCAA) Will comply with Earlham College guidelines for unvaccinated individuals.
- A weekly PCR test will be obtained and documented with the college.
- It is the individual’s responsibility to meet this guideline.
- In Season student-athletes and tier 1 staff will comply with NCAA recommendations for surveillance testing.
- 1 PCR test per week or 3 rapid antigen tests per week (non-consecutive days)
- The student-athlete is responsible for the cost of any testing preformed by Earlham College Athletics and any personal protective devices required. The student’s college account will be charged.
- A student-athlete can seek off-campus testing and some clinics will offer free options.
- The testing must meet NCAA standards for PCR and/or Antigen tests.
- It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to inform the sports medicine staff that they are seeking off campus testing.
- Documentation of a negative test result must be received prior to the first competition of that week.
- Failure to comply will result in the student-athlete being suspended for practice and competition.
Masking and Social Distancing
- An N95 mask is required within the locker-room facilities.
- A 15-minute accumulated time limit will be required for locker-room use.
- An N95 mask is required for team travel on buses, vans, or cars.
- Masking required during team meetings/activities when 6 feet of social distancing can not be maintained. Type of mask can be chosen by the individual as long as it completely covers the nose and mouth.
- Masks are required in the varsity weight room and 6 feet of social distancing.
Individual receiving a positive test for Covid-19
- Any individual testing positive for Covid-19 will comply with Earlham College requirements for quarantine/isolation. The College utilizes recommendations from the CDC.
- Any unvaccinated individual that is deemed a close contact with Covid-19 will comply with Earlham College requirements for quarantining and isolation. The College utilizes recommendations from the CDC.
Sustained Increased Transmission
If sustained increased transmission on a team, test all symptomatic individuals or individuals with close contacts, or apply a similar risk mitigation strategy. Sustained increased transmission is likely occurring if:
• Team of more-than-50: Concurrent positive cases of three or more.
• Team of less-than-50: Concurrent positive cases of five percent or more
Cardiac Testing Post Covid-19 Infection
- Any student-athlete who has had a documented case of Covid-19 must comply with NCAA guidelines for cardiac evaluation.
NCAA defines a Tier 1 staff member as someone who has direct contact with student-athletes on a daily basis. Coaches, Sports Medicine Staff, and Strength / Conditioning Staff are designated as Tier 1 staff.
FAQs
What is the 10-semester rule?
Normally, student-athletes have 10 semesters to complete their four seasons of participation as a student-athlete. Student-athletes enrolled full-time in the Fall 2020 semester will use a semester within the permissible 10 semesters allowed.
An NCAA waiver will be considered for any student-athlete who may need to exceed 10 semesters of eligibility as a result of circumstances beyond their control due to COVID-19; please read below for more information.
How does practicing/competition affect my NCAA eligibility?
A student-athlete is charged with a season of participation only upon participating (practice or competition) during or after the first contest. However, the NCAA has approved a Season of Participation Waiver if the student-athlete practiced or competed after the first contest and was otherwise eligible for competition to allow for the season of participation no to count.
How this waiver applies to each student-athlete
may depend on their unique circumstance, depending on whether they have taken semesters off for study abroad or EPIC, whether they are a transfer student, or other circumstances. Please contact Lauren Horton at
hortola@earlham.edu or 765-983-1490 (office), if you have questions about your specific situation.
Do I still have to be enrolled in 12 credit hours to be eligible for practice/competition?
Yes. A student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours combined for the Fall 2021 semester. For example, a minimum of six credit hours in Fall 1 and six credit hours in Fall 2.
Will all athletic facilities be open?
Facilities will be open for students as well as active faculty and staff. Community members (i.e. paid members), retired faculty and staff, and family members of faculty and staff
are being permitted in the Athletics and Wellness Center at this time.
The below spaces are subject to change.
- Athletic Training – 10 student-athletes allowed at a time with a limit of 10 minutes unless appointment for rehabilitation is scheduled prior.
- Strength & Conditioning – 20 student-athletes allowed per session in Loose Varsity Weight Room. The Energy Center in the Athletics and Wellness Center (AWC) will also be open, subject to capacity and social distancing guidelines.
- Locker Rooms – no locker room access for practices. Student-athletes need to be dressed prior to practice in their own space. Locker rooms will be utilized for competitions.
Who can I contact with questions regarding the safety of student-athletes and their activities (practices and competition) during this period?
Earlham Athletics places the health and safety of its student-athletes as its foremost concern. Specific concerns regarding the safety of student-athletes with relation to athletically related activities can be brought to:
Director of Athletics
Adam Hutchinson, 765-983-1624
Assistant Athletics Director
Nick Johnson, 765-983-1611
Administrative Coordinator of Athletics,
Allison Franklin, 765-983-1414
