University of Virginia sets schedule for football players to return to Grounds

UVA football players can return to Grounds for voluntary workouts beginning July 5, and a 25-practice fall camp is slated to begin on Aug. 9.

The schedule is based on guidelines approved this week by the Division I Council.

Virginia is slated to begin the 2020 season against SEC power Georgia in Atlanta on Labor Day.

The walk-up from here to there begins with the return for voluntary workouts for a roster of players who have been scattered across the country and across the world since the COVID-19 shutdown in mid-March.

UVA was one of three ACC programs – along with North Carolina and Virginia Tech – that hadn’t begun spring practice when the shutdowns sent everyone home.

Coaches, training staff and players have had to devise and coordinate training routines limited by whatever players had in terms of equipment at their disposal.

Getting back to Grounds will be a plus, certainly.

Key to the process will be adherence to public health protocols. Virginia Athletics noted in a press release that the program will follow a detailed process coordinated through UVA Health System, which includes COVID-19 testing for all players and staff, and COVID-19-specific education being made available through a variety of print and video media, utilizing CDC and NCAA resources.

According to the school, the voluntary activity period is July 5-14. What is termed a required activity period, which includes up to eight hours of structured weight training, conditioning and film review, is July 15-25.

The required activity ramps up to 20 hours per week July 26-Aug. 8, a period during which teams can have walk-through sessions.

The presser stressed that football season tickets remain on sale, since that’s what this is really all about.

OK, actually, it’s about the TV money, but season ticket and concession revenues would be nice.

As more information regarding seating capacity at Scott Stadium becomes available this summer, it will be communicated to ticket holders and supporters, we’re told.

Story by Chris Graham