The Atlantic Coast Conference released its COVID-19 protocols for all competitors during the 2021-22 fall athletic seasons Thursday.

According to the release, should a team be unable to field enough players to compete on the scheduled day of the game due to COVID-19 issues, that team would forfeit and be given a loss. The other team would also be given a win.

Should neither team be able to compete due to COVID-19 issues, both teams would forfeit and be given a loss.

These rules apply to teams competing in football, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

The ACC also mandated that any unvaccinated individual on a team with a vaccination status below the 85% threshold must submit to PCR testing three times a week. If the team is at or above the 85% threshold, unvaccinated members will be tested once a week.

UNC head football coach Mack Brown told reporters Sunday that his team will be at the 85% mark by the start of the regular season. Teams at or above the mark may also relax mitigation strategies during team activities such as meals and meetings.

The ACC also stated that any masking of individual team members within the bench area or within the playing enclosure “will be at the discretion of the home institution.”

“The ACC’s Medical Advisory Group continues its tireless efforts to deliver meaningful protocols that will provide a healthy and safe environment for our student-athletes and teams,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips in a statement Thursday. “As a conference, we are extremely proud of the significant progress and overall high rates of vaccination among student-athletes, coaches and staff.”

 

Featured image via Atlantic Coast Conference


Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.