PROVO — BYU announced Friday that it will begin reopening some of its athletic training facilities on June 1.
The announcement comes two days after the NCAA Division I Council said Division I football and basketball student-athletes can participate in on-campus voluntary athletic activities beginning June 1.
A BYU news release says the athletic department is working “in collaboration with University leaders and government health officials” to provide its student-athletes an opportunity to return the first day in June “and participate in volunteer workout activities.”
The first phase of reopening will be limited to football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball student-athletes, the school said, promising access for other athletes in subsequent phases “subject to future NCAA directives.”
BYU tight end Matt Bushman said Friday that the reopening comes as welcome news for him and his teammates.
“Everybody is excited to hear that,” Bushman said. “It has been an adjustment, but I think the guys have been motivated. Kalani (Sitake) said he is going to trust us and he believes we will come out of this better than before.”
“We have worked closely with the University leadership, medical professionals, training staff and coaches to prepare a comprehensive plan for our student-athletes to begin participating in voluntary activities in select athletic facilities.” — BYU AD Tom Holmoe
Bushman said the months working out on his own “have been a blessing” because they allowed him to focus on his individual strengths and weaknesses in an effort to improve.
“I have been able to go to a trainer that stayed open and was limited to 10 people and was really respectful to the guidelines of cleanliness and the virus,” he said. “But it is definitely going to be nice to get back together and have more than 10 people meeting up and doing stuff, just to have that chemistry and motivation to work harder. Being around your teammates is always more fun.”
BYU said the re-opening will be supervised by the BYU training staff.
“We have worked closely with the University leadership, medical professionals, training staff and coaches to prepare a comprehensive plan for our student-athletes to begin participating in voluntary activities in select athletic facilities,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said in the school news release. “The multiphase plan provides opportunities for our student-athletes to resume some of the workout routines typical of this time of year.”
A BYU athletics department spokesperson said Thursday that Football Media Day, which was scheduled for June 18, most likely will be postponed and held in July.