Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Q: Will we be tested? How often will we be tested?

1. Yes, Fall Viterbo student-athletes will be given a baseline test within 72 hours of arrival.
2. Sue Danielson, Viterbo Director of Health Services, will coordinate the team testing.
3. MAYO Health System will administer the tests and the testing site is a short walk from campus.
4. Following the baseline test, athletes will only be tested again if they are symptomatic.
5. Further information on testing can be found here.

Q: What happens if one of the players tests positive? The coaches?

1. The individual will be removed from participation and quarantined per Viterbo University COVID protocol.
2. The individual will be referred to Sue Danielson, Viterbo Director of Health Services.
3. Viterbo will assist the student with quarantine and/or seeking treatment if needed.

Q: Are there rules for practice such as temperature checks, distancing, etc. or can athletes just practice/play as normal?

1. Yes, Viterbo will have all students complete a daily screening survey via the Viterbo University app.
2. Athletes will need to make sure they complete the self-screening within 6 hours of athletic practice or competition.
3. It is possible a student-athlete will have to complete the health screening via the Viterbo app early in the day if they have a face-to-face class and then again prior to practice to comply with the six-hour window requirement.
4. In addition to the health screening, athletes will also have their temperatures checked before all team activities and competition.
5. Masks will be worn indoors. When athletes are competing or practicing outdoors, mask will not be required on the field. Athletes on the sidelines will wear masks.

Q: Does each team have a COVID-19 safety protocol?

1. Yes, each team will have a COVID-19 risk mitigation plan addressing the unique nature and associated risks of their sport.
2. The plan will be in compliance with CDC, State, and local health department guidelines as well as follow NAIA and conference affiliated requirements.

Q: What team travel modifications are in place?

1. There are specific protocols in place for transportation, lodging, dining, and team travel.
   1. Transportation – Based on team size or travel roster, the form of transportation may be different. A guiding principle will be providing transportation that allows for distancing. For those teams that use a motor coach, the seating capacity will be reduced to approximately 45% of normal seating capacity. This includes players, coaches, and staff. For those teams who use a Viterbo fleet vehicle or rental vehicle, maximum seating capacities have been adjusted to account for distancing.
   2. Lodging – We will be limiting the number of student-athlete in a hotel room to two (2).
   3. Dining – We plan to get carry out orders for the bus or hotel room as much as possible. When not possible or on special occasion of dining inside or outside a restaurant, all social distancing rules, including masks will be required.

Q: Can there be spectators at Viterbo Athletics Events?

1. Yes, for INDOOR athletics events, the seating will be restricted to 25% of capacity. That translates to 228 fans for the R.W. Beggs, Sr. Gymnasium. We will require physical distancing guidelines and have other COVID risk mitigation strategies which may including wearing a mask.
2. Yes, for OUTDOOR athletic events, we will follow all social distance guidelines and are looking to block off spots on bleachers to help identify and honor physical distancing.

Q: Can we have post game snacks?

1. Yes, but athletes desiring snacks after the game will be asked to bring or purchase their own packaged snacks and not share with teammates.
2. Similarly, athletes are asked to bring or purchase their own drinks and not share.

Q: If there isn't a fall season, would the student-athletes still be able to practice and train?

1. Currently, we are planning to have a fall teams practice and compete
2. If that should change and teams are not allowed to compete, our contingency plan would be to allow teams to practice following the established team and University protocols.

Q: I heard the Fall Championships for some sports are now going to held in the Spring. How does that impact those teams?

1. Correct. The NAIA has moved the fall sports championships for soccer, women’s volleyball, and cross country to the spring.
2. However, they have allowed conferences and individual institutions to decide whether or not they choose to compete in the Fall
3. Viterbo, the NSAA along with the other Midwest NAIA conferences (GPAC, HOA and KCAC) have all chosen to move forward with safety precautions and modifications in place.

Q: Will students receiving athletics scholarships still get their scholarship if we don’t play?

1. Yes, the University is committed to allowing student-athletes to keep their athletic scholarship in the event teams don’t play.

Q: What is the university doing to help prevent the virus from spreading once everyone gets back on campus and throughout the semester?

1. The University has a COVID-19 Response Team that has met twice a week since March to build risk mitigation strategies to help ensure the safety of the campus community, all leading toward a safe return of students.
2. Some of the changes and expectations across campus as we begin this fall will include physical distancing, required masking in shared spaces, daily self-health screenings, reducing class sizes to comply with space requirements, education and messaging and offering combination of face to face, hybrid and on-line courses to meet the requests of our students.

Q: Will student athletes have housing separate from the other students?

1. No, student-athletes living on campus will not be living in a separate residence hall space from the rest of the student population.
2. That said, if a room request was made for a student-athlete to live with another athlete in a room, the Residence Life team does their best to try and honor those requests.

Q: Will we be required to wear a mask during practice?

1. The answer is POSSIBLY, depending on the local, state and CDC guidelines.
2. If our location is designated as a “high risk” area, then YES, students practicing indoors will be required to wear a mask during practice.

Q: Will there be guidelines on punishment for athletes who are being irresponsible in regards to COVID-19 (not wearing masks, going to bars, etc.)?

1. There are University-wide expectations for students and employees with regards to choices and behavior related to COVID-19
2. Students will be expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct and will be enforced by student affairs professionals and consequences will follow if the behavior does not change.
3. All athletes are required to review, sign, and comply with the Student-Athlete Pledge and Acknowledgement of Risk document.
4. Coaches also have the authority to impose team rules and standards that are above and beyond the general student expectations.

Q: How will basketball teams travel if they are going play double headers with the men’s and women’s team?

1. In compliance our motor coach provider, Ready Bus, the seating capacity of all motor coaches for our Viterbo athletic teams will be reduced to approximately 45% of normal seating capacity.
2. That capacity would include players and coaches. That would mean one person per every two seats and not having anyone sit in the two seats just behind the bus driver and leaving the very back seat near the restroom open.
3. If the determined travel roster of both genders exceeds the maximum seating capacity, than each team would be required to take a separate bus.

Q: What will happen to the team if a few players test positive during the season?

1. The individual will be quarantined per Viterbo University COVID protocol.
2. The Director of Health Services (Sue Danielson) will be contacted to direct the next steps.

Q: Who will be in charge of the daily screening?

1. Student-athletes will be required to complete a daily health screening on the Viterbo app to document their check.
2. They will be required to get their temperature checked by a designated person before practices.
3. A coach, faculty member, or other Viterbo personnel may request confirmation of a completed temperature check and/or health screening.

Q: Will all of the teams in our conference have a universal guidelines?

1. For those teams part of a conference, there will be some universal NAIA and conference guidelines and requirements.
2. However, individual schools will also have the autonomy to impose additional requirements.

Q: What are the cleaning protocols for the locker rooms and weight rooms?

1. The athletics department has prepared an athletics facility use plan that addresses COVID risk mitigation plans. The campus has committed to increased cleaning and disinfecting of all campus areas.
2. Key areas of the plan include space protocols for cleaning, sanitizing, scheduling, social distancing, reduced occupancy, user requirements, etc.

Q: What are the medical insurance expectations related to who will pay for the testing.

1. Viterbo University will pay for the cost of our baseline student-athletes tested at MAYO CLINIC.
2. Students referred because they are symptomatic will be at the students expense.

Q: If you have antibodies will you still need to be tested?

1. Yes, and Viterbo will not be doing antibody testing, which looks at past infection.
2. Health Services will follow University and La Crosse County Health Department, and medical professionals to determine if/when follow up testing would be required.

Q: What is the plan for controlling spread between athletes and non-athletes?

1. The university COVID-19 policy calls for the wearing of masks, social distancing, hand hygiense, and self health checks.
2. Health Services will follow the established protocol to determine isolation and quarantine times.

Q: What will happen if a person on team tests positive?

1. Viterbo will follow the established protocols to determine isolation or quarantine requirements.
2. The length of this stay will be determined based on the flow chart published in August.
3. Contact tracing will be done by Health Services and the local health department.
4. Close contacts of the individual will be assessed and quarantined based on the established protocols.

Q: Options for someone who has fever/who doesn't feel well?

1. If students are ill, they should remain at home or in their campus residence and contact Health Services, (608) 796-3806.

Q: Will masks be required on a bus, in the locker room, in dugouts, etc.?

1. Yes, especially in places that cannot provide the 6 ft. social distancing.
2. Proper hand hygiene is also required.

Q: If games are canceled, will we practice or will that be canceled too?

1. If one of our sports seasons is canceled, the University would make a final decision on team practices.

Q: Will students need to wear masks when working out and will there be a limit on how many students are allowed in the gym at once?

1. Yes, all students will need to wear a mask when working out indoors.
2. Capacities will be reduced and will be posted in each location.

Q: Will we play our full schedule or will it be reduced to a conference-only season?

1. Team schedules will likely change based upon sport, conference affiliation, opponent location, etc.
2. Check with head coach for more information or the athletics web site.

Q: Have any decisions been made regarding winter sports?

1. Viterbo is currently preparing to proceed with winter sports.
2. The NAIA or our conferences have not yet made any decisions regarding winter sports.