Hallmarks of testing protocols to protect health and safety include daily antigen testing, weekly PCR testing and game-day rapid result PCR testing in the event of a positive antigen test 

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pac-12 Conference released today further details on its men’s and women’s basketball testing protocols to protect the health and safety of student-athletes and all those connected to Pac-12 basketball programs.  The Conference also announced its basketball game cancellation policy.

Testing Protocols

Key elements of the testing protocols for basketball student-athletes include the following:

• Daily point-of-care testing on each day of full practice, higher-risk of transmission activity, travel, and games;
• Minimum once weekly PCR test (in addition to daily point-of-care testing);
• Any positive daily point-of-care antigen test must be followed by a PCR test within 24 hours;
• Game day air ambulance service will be available in case any individual tests positive while traveling for competition;
• For non-Conference opponents, a minimum of four tests the week leading up to competition, including on game day;
• For multi-team events, a minimum of three tests per week leading up to the event along with a test on the day of arrival and prior to each game; and
• All testing protocols continue to be subject to state, local, and campus public health requirements.

A more detailed summary of the minimum testing requirements can be found below.

The return-to-play testing summary supplements the Pac-12 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group’s return-to-play considerations and guidance, most recently published on September 24.

Game Cancellation Policy

The Pac-12 has established a minimum roster count with which a team is considered available to play a scheduled basketball game: at least seven (7) scholarship players and one (1) countable coach available to participate. If a team has fewer than the minimum roster available for a scheduled game, the impacted institution may elect to play the game with fewer than the minimum roster seven (7) scholarship players. Otherwise, upon review and approval by the Commissioner, the game may be rescheduled or declared a no contest.  In all cases cancellation, postponement and rescheduling of a contest will be decided by the Conference in consultation with the participating teams and the Pac-12 medical advisory group.

In addition, a game may be canceled for:

• Inability to isolate new positive cases within a team or athletic department, or to quarantine high-risk contacts (as determined by local public health and medical staff). 

• Unavailability or inability to perform testing as provided by the Pac-12 medical guidelines. 

• Campus-wide or local community transmission rates that are considered unsafe by local 
public health officials. 

• Inability to perform adequate contact tracing consistent with governmental requirements. 

• Local public health officials of the home team state that there is an inability for the hospital 
infrastructure to accommodate a surge.

• Game Day Testing: Institutions will administer a “home team” testing model. The Home team will coordinate with the Visiting team in order for the Home team to schedule and administer testing.
   
• Testing Groups: Game day tests will be administered to:
  • Home team bench group
  • Visiting team’s travel party
  • On-court officials
     
• PCR Inventory: If there is any positive antigen test result on game day and the Home team has the capability of performing a confirmatory PCR prior to game time, the Home team may utilize the confirmatory PCR as long as it also makes the same capability available to the Visiting team prior to game time.

• An online gameday attestation form will be submitted by each team physician and athletic director after completion of game day testing attesting that:
  • each team has complied with minimum testing requirements
  • no individual present at the game has:
    • received a presumptive positive test result (without clearance),
    • received a confirmed positive test result,
    • had high-risk contact, or
    • is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Any individuals not receiving game day testing have been infected with COVID-19, have recovered, and are within the exemption time period enforced by their respective conference.

• Pac-12 has engaged with AirMed International air ambulance service to provide game day transport for individuals who test positive while traveling for competition. Each institution will designate an Air Med point of contact.

• Face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth by all individuals in the arena.
• Players may remove face coverings while on the court but must re-place their face coverings once they have returned to the bench area.

• OK: surgical mask, cloth mask, gaiter (double layer or thick cloth)
• Not OK: face shield (may be used with other face covering specifically for nose and mouth)