Bubble Talk: NCAA's Plan on Having a Postseason
Q & A with Neal Hazen
2019 ATC of the Year - Head ATC of Ball State
We spoke with Neal about what to expect for the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. All 68 participating teams will travel to Indianapolis for the tournament in March and April, a move necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. Games will be played at six venues—Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers’ Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Field House, and Indiana Farmers’ Coliseum as well as at Purdue’s Mackey Arena and IU’s Assembly Hall. The tournament will be hosted by a number of local colleges and organizations, including Ball State, Butler, the Horizon League, Indiana, Purdue, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Q: How will the NCAA plan for the safety of student-athletes and personnel to hold the entire tournament in Indiana in the midst of a pandemic?
A: The NCAA, in conjunction with the Marion County Public Health Department, has formalized the COVID-19 health and safety protocols to be used during the tournament, including all rounds and the Final Four. NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline assures us his emphasis is on the safety and well-being of all participants, saying, “We are confident we will provide a safe environment for student- athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials.”
Q: Will fans be allowed at the tournament games?
A: As of now, there will only be crowds of up to 25 percent capacity allowed to attend. The attendees will not be able to have any in-person contact with the players during the tournament. The select family members who are allowed to watch the games will be masked and seated in physically distanced clusters throughout the arenas.
Q: What are the Covid-19 testing requirements?
A: Before arriving in Indianapolis, each individual must have seven consecutive negative COVID-19 tests. If any of these tests yield a positive result, the person will not be allowed to attend the tournament until he or she has completed a period of self-isolation. On the day the teams arrive, participants will undergo another COVID-19 test. Until participants have two consecutive tests in Indianapolis, they will be required to remain in their rooms under “strict quarantine.” Once everyone on a team has had two negative PCR tests on-site, teams can begin practicing. Teams will also be expected to undergo daily coronavirus testing and will be assessed daily for any symptoms. People who have had both doses of the vaccine at least two weeks before the tournament who are within 90 days of having had COVID-19 will not be required to undergo testing, according to the NCAA.
Q: What are the requirements for players wearing facemasks?
A: Masks must be worn at all times except during practice and games. This applies even to those who are vaccinated.
Q: How will contact tracing take place?
A: Everyone will wear tracking devices throughout the tournament, including for practices and games. The sensors, which record proximity from one device to another, will be used along with video, to help officials determine who was within 6 feet of anyone who becomes infected. If a participant is infected, quarantine may only be required for others who spent more than 15 minutes in close contact with the infected individual over 24 hours.
Q: Will a “Bubble” be maintained for participants?
A: Health officials said teams “will not interact with others outside of their travel party.” The players will eat meals in their own hotel rooms or physically distanced in dining rooms with assigned seats.
