Press Release: Stanford Athletics has announced the following training and competition modifications for several of its programs, in accordance with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's emergency directive issued on Nov. 28.
Santa Clara County's updated guidance for collegiate, professional and youth sports temporarily prohibits recreational and athletics activities that involve contact, that do not allow for social distancing, or that take place indoors.
Additionally, individuals will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon return to the county from travel of more than 150 miles. The revised and new mandatory directives began Nov. 30 at 12:01 a.m. and remain in effect until at least Dec. 21 at 5 a.m.
"We are extremely grateful for the ongoing collaboration with our University leadership and Santa Clara County officials and recognize the surge in COVID-19 transmission our community is facing at this time," said Bernard Muir, Stanford's Jaquish & Kenninger Director of Athletics. "We continue to lean on the expertise of our University doctors and public health experts every step of the way as we strive to provide opportunities for our student-athletes to train and compete as safely as possible.
"I am proud of the robust health and safety protocols we have implemented and of our student-athletes' commitment to adhering to them, which led to our student-athletes recording only one positive COVID-19 test during the entire month of November.
"Since the county issued its latest directive, we have explored and pursued opportunities to temporarily relocate our three programs scheduled to participate in Pac-12 competitions between now and the Dec. 21 expiration date of the current directive.
"We will continue to monitor the local and national landscape, collaborate with University and county officials and health experts, and make informed decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our student-athletes, the vast majority of whom continue to express a strong desire to compete alongside their teammates and coaches, so long as they can do so without unduly jeopardizing the health and safety of others or themselves. We will also continue to support any student-athlete who elects to opt out of their current or upcoming season, including honoring their scholarship."
Football
Stanford traveled to Seattle, Wash., on Dec. 1 to prepare for its scheduled road game against Washington on Dec. 5. The following week, Stanford plans to travel to Corvallis, Ore., to prepare for its Dec. 12 game against Oregon State, which has been moved from Stanford, Calif., to Corvallis, Ore. Additional scheduling updates will be provided as they become available.
Men's Basketball
Stanford departed for Asheville, North Carolina, on Nov. 28, prior to the county announcing the new directive, and opened its season Nov. 30 in the Camping World Maui Invitational. After today's conclusion of the tournament, the Cardinal plans to remain in North Carolina to continue training, while exploring the possibility of adding games against regional nonconference opponents. Stanford's three home nonconference games in December have been canceled, while a location for the Dec. 19 contest against Arizona has yet to be determined. Additional scheduling updates will be provided as they become available.
Women's Basketball
Stanford's four-game homestand, beginning with the Nov. 30 canceled contest against San Diego, will not be played at Maples Pavilion, and alternate dates and sites are being considered. In the meantime, the Cardinal plans to travel to Las Vegas, Nev., this week to play UNLV on Dec. 5. Additional scheduling updates will be provided as they become available.
Men's Swimming and Diving/Women's Swimming and Diving
Fall competitions for men's swimming and diving and women's swimming and diving are underway. Both programs will continue to train in accordance with the latest county guidelines.
Winter Sports Continuing Preseason Preparations
Programs that have already begun preparations for their upcoming winter seasons will have the opportunity to continue training in a modified format while adhering to the updated county guidelines.
Report Dates For All Remaining Sports
All other sports are scheduled to begin official team training at the end of December or in early 2021. At this time, their schedule remains unchanged.
The timing of these temporary training and competition modifications coincides with the University's Winter Break, which commenced Nov. 21.
