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A Slow Return to Ball State Sports

MUNCIE, Ind. (NewsLink) -- After the NCAA voted to allow college athletics to resume this fall, they also released re-socialization guidelines that universities and colleges could refer to.

Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns and the Board of Trustees have made it clear that along with the methodical return of students to campus, athletics will also make a phased transition. 

However, Mearns explained these plans are a blueprint for what a possible return could look like. Ball State Athletic Director Beth Goetz, along with Ball State administration, are waiting and listening to local and state health officials before proceeding.

If these plans are finalized, approximately 30 football players that live in Muncie and around the Ball State campus would be authorized to resume voluntary workouts at campus facilities in the first phase of this plan in the middle of June.

Around July 1st, possibly 30 more football players would be authorized to workout, along with some other fall sports resuming workouts in small numbers in the second phase.

In the third phase, around mid-July, Ball State Athletics would permit more fall sport athletes to voluntarily work out and allow football to begin pre-season practice as a complete team.

If everything runs smoothly, all fall sports could resume pre-season practices by early August.

Mearns also shared that testing may be a requirement for teams as they begin to start traveling.

For any comments or concerns about this story, contact the author at imbutts@bsu.edu.