July 21, 2020
Hill College Athletics
Response to the Novel Coronavirus and COVID-19 for 2020-2021
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has changed how everyone proceeds with life worldwide. Hill College and Hill College
Athletics has prepared a strategic plan of both reopening campus and planning to move forward. First, and foremost, all
Hill College faculty, staff, students and student-athletes will be expected follow the guidelines and procedures set forth
by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Health and Human Services (HHS), NJCAA, the Governor of Texas and Hill
College. Failure to follow the recommendations can have a potential detrimental effect on not only your life, health and
well-being, but those of your fellow students, student-athletes and the faculty and staff. The athletic department has
created a thorough action plan to get athletics back for the 2020-2021 academic year by following recommendations
from not only the CDC, HHS and NJCAA, but also the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) Presidents Athletic
Workgroup. As a result of this Workgroup, the following recommendations were made:
• All member colleges agree that our student athletes are “first and foremost students” and that their health and
safety are of the upmost importance.
Hill College has always stressed the student in student-athlete and will continue to strive to ensure that their
health and safety is always a priority whether on the athletic field or the classroom.
• All member colleges agree to develop physical distancing plans for each athletic team that considers the
following:
a. Limiting (when applicable) the numbers of athletes to coaches/faculty/staff in each workout session or any
activity indoors.
b. Length of workout and practice sessions.
c. Mechanisms to conduct student and coaching staff symptom checks.
d. Public health practice: face coverings, 6-feet of physical distancing, cough/sneeze etiquette, hand hygiene
e. Provisions for hand sanitizer and enhanced cleaning of facilities to include regular and frequent cleaning and
disinfecting of surfaces, including, but not limited to doorknobs, tables, chairs, exercise equipment, athletic
equipment, restrooms, and locker rooms.
f. Removal or restriction of possible hazards in common areas such as drinking fountains, furniture and
manually operated doors.
• All member colleges agree to create plans for regular wellness checks of all athletes on a weekly basis to check
for symptoms related to COVID-19.
• All member colleges agree to establish housing plans for all residential students including athletes
• All member colleges agree to establish travel protocols for athletes.
The TACC Athletics Workgroup recommendations has guided the Hill College athletics department in its plan to
return to athletics. The newly created procedures are intended to provide the highest quality care and protection
for our student-athletes. The procedures included in this document will be the expectation when athletics begin in
the fall of 2020 for all student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, student trainers and other individuals who either
participate or assist with the athletic department. COVID-19 is constantly evolving and thus, our procedures will
continue to evolve based on recommendations from the CDC, HHS, NJCAA National Office and the Governor of
Texas.