NCAA Votes to Approve Voluntary Athletic Activities on Campus

The NCAA Division I Council has voted to approve voluntary athletics activities on campus to begin June 1. There were previous moratoriums that banned such activities through May 31.

As for now, the decision stands just for football, men's basketball and women's basketball. All other sports will be voted on at a later date.

NCAA Division I Council voted to approve voluntary athletic activities in football, men’s and women’s basketball beginning June 1, sources told @Stadium. Also reported by Yahoo
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 20, 2020

The news was first reported by Stadium and Yahoo Sports and later confirmed by Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde.

So what does this mean for Ole Miss athletes? That's yet to be decided. Officials from the SEC are set to vote on Friday as to whether athletes will be allowed to return to campus on that same June 1 date. If that vote is shot down, they will then vote on a June 15 return.

If and when the SEC vote passes, decisions to bring athletes back to campus then go to individual universities. Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter had previously spoken publicly to target a July 1 return date, however has not publicly commented recently as to whether that target would be altered by these new regulations.

Expected but important news.

Some conferences have their own ban on on-campus activity that will have to be lifted, but they are all expected to do so.

Our Monday story on what athletes can expect when returning to campus - https://t.co/Wixst1xNyU https://t.co/B9I2Ew5izy
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 20, 2020

Any return to campus would be strictly for voluntary workouts. Social distancing and other protocols would have to go into place within facilities and coaches may have to wear masks. Structured practices and training camps, to this point, could not be held until the standard calendar dates. That too, could be altered in the future to make up for time missed due to a lack of spring ball.

More decisions are still to be made, but the move is a monumental one in the step towards a return of college athletics.

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