Big Ten Announces No Padded Football Practices Until Further Notice

The Big Ten Conference announced in a statement Saturday that, “based on the advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee,” football teams will have to remain in the helmet-only phase of practices until further notice.

All other fall sports besides football “will continue to work locally with team physicians and athletic trainers to adjust practices to the appropriate level of activity, as necessary, based on current medical protocols,” according to the statement.

Ohio State had begun its fall camp business as usual, according to head coach Ryan Day, with Day saying he has been happy with how well the team and the medical staff have handled the spread of COVID-19. This was also emphasized in a statement tweeted by multiple players that praised the medical staff and said that the demands made by Big Ten United were not necessarily the same thoughts shared by players with the Buckeyes.

The Big Ten ended the press release with a statement regarding the unknowns and doubts of the current conference-only schedule, which is set to begin with a Sept. 3 matchup between Ohio State and Illinois.

“We understand there are many questions regarding how this impacts schedules, as well as the feasibility of proceeding forward with the season at all,” the statement said. “As we have consistently stated, we will continue to evaluate daily, while relying on our medical experts, to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.”

Read the full statement by the Big Ten here.

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