11-18-2020, 08:13 PM
I don't recall seeing it here (but maybe it was on a page about a 49ers game), but the Santa Clara County (SCC) rules on collegiate athletics can be found here.
The state's guidance on colleges is here with a section on athletics.
Considering that Stanford is playing under these rules, it seems appropriate to discuss them here, just as we would NCAA rules. (And, in this board, I expect politics won't be allowed! I'd vote for that ;)
The county requires PCR testing of teams based in SCC, plus PCR testing of their opponents within 48 hours of a competition (whether home or away).
Athletes and personnel must be tested 3 times a week (non-consecutive days).
The SCC rules focus more on interactions, incl. "households", and testing than the state does. SCC requires PCR testing, while the state allowed PCR or antigen. The state rules cover things like facilities and items (balls) which aren't covered in the SCC rules.
Overall, it sounds pretty good, but I found some things to note.
1. PCR sample collection is not required to be done by a trained professional who is not associated with the team. Leaving it up to the team allows the potential of inadequate collection of samples. ("Oh, you had a positive test on Tuesday. Ok, be sure to tell the trainer before he swabs your nose.")
2. It has an unstated assumption that the athletes stay in their households (which consist of teammates). It requires that no guest may visit their households but it doesn't require the athletes to not go visit other people, or go to parties, etc. (I'm not saying it SHOULD prohibit that, only that it doesn't). This applies to visiting (including overnight) boy/girlfriends & parents among others.
I presume households were intended to apply even on overnight trips. As I read it, a married athlete that lives with their spouse, can not room with anyone on a road trip (other than spouse), as that would be switching households.
3. The SCC document only requires tests & notification of positive results. In case of a positive result, the team's designee is responsible for taking all action by the state's guidance and county health officer orders. (Odd: should that be the responsibility of the individual?)
If Stanford has 1000 athletes and personnel, then they add 3000 tests to the weekly totals of tests in the county (about 5% of the 65K tests Nov 1-7). I don't see anything that limits this to the weeks of competition and/or practice (or excludes vacation) IMO, this dilutes SCC's %-positive results. I wonder how many other groups are testing frequently. [Ooops, wrong board! Sorry.]
This caught my eye in the state guidelines:
Note the 10% is within a fixed time period. The 25% (5 on < 20) is mentioned without a time period. I believe this section is loosely worded and may be interpreted differently by different readers. But the way I read it, one outbreak on a basketball team could end the season. The "may be considered" is wide enough for a semi-trailer truck to slide sideways through.
The SCC document (and the state document) seems to apply only to team-style competition rather than, say, an open competition (for instance, if Stanford hosted the Olympic trials). I think it could apply to something like a PAC-12 track championship meet, where there was a fixed set of teams.
Speaking of championships and/or tournaments, the documents provide little or no guidance on facilities outside their jurisdiction. For instance, if WBB played in a tournament in Mexico or in San Antonio, the restrictions would have no requirements on the facilities, only on the opposing teams (PCR tests within 48 of the competition).
(Darn, it just sunk in that I was thinking I'd go to the San Antonio tournament (I was there last time). Well, if the season happens, I hope Stanford is there even if I am not. Do you think tickets to an NCAA championship would qualify one for an early vaccine? Nah, didn't think so.)
The state's guidance on colleges is here with a section on athletics.
Considering that Stanford is playing under these rules, it seems appropriate to discuss them here, just as we would NCAA rules. (And, in this board, I expect politics won't be allowed! I'd vote for that ;)
The county requires PCR testing of teams based in SCC, plus PCR testing of their opponents within 48 hours of a competition (whether home or away).
Athletes and personnel must be tested 3 times a week (non-consecutive days).
The SCC rules focus more on interactions, incl. "households", and testing than the state does. SCC requires PCR testing, while the state allowed PCR or antigen. The state rules cover things like facilities and items (balls) which aren't covered in the SCC rules.
Overall, it sounds pretty good, but I found some things to note.
1. PCR sample collection is not required to be done by a trained professional who is not associated with the team. Leaving it up to the team allows the potential of inadequate collection of samples. ("Oh, you had a positive test on Tuesday. Ok, be sure to tell the trainer before he swabs your nose.")
2. It has an unstated assumption that the athletes stay in their households (which consist of teammates). It requires that no guest may visit their households but it doesn't require the athletes to not go visit other people, or go to parties, etc. (I'm not saying it SHOULD prohibit that, only that it doesn't). This applies to visiting (including overnight) boy/girlfriends & parents among others.
I presume households were intended to apply even on overnight trips. As I read it, a married athlete that lives with their spouse, can not room with anyone on a road trip (other than spouse), as that would be switching households.
3. The SCC document only requires tests & notification of positive results. In case of a positive result, the team's designee is responsible for taking all action by the state's guidance and county health officer orders. (Odd: should that be the responsibility of the individual?)
If Stanford has 1000 athletes and personnel, then they add 3000 tests to the weekly totals of tests in the county (about 5% of the 65K tests Nov 1-7). I don't see anything that limits this to the weeks of competition and/or practice (or excludes vacation) IMO, this dilutes SCC's %-positive results. I wonder how many other groups are testing frequently. [Ooops, wrong board! Sorry.]
This caught my eye in the state guidelines:
Quote:Discontinuation of practice with contact and competition for the rest of the season may be considered by local health departments if more than 10% of athletes on a team test positive within a 14-day period. For teams with less than 20 athletes total, if more than 5 members test positive, discontinuation of practice with contact and competition for the rest of the season may be considered.
Note the 10% is within a fixed time period. The 25% (5 on < 20) is mentioned without a time period. I believe this section is loosely worded and may be interpreted differently by different readers. But the way I read it, one outbreak on a basketball team could end the season. The "may be considered" is wide enough for a semi-trailer truck to slide sideways through.
The SCC document (and the state document) seems to apply only to team-style competition rather than, say, an open competition (for instance, if Stanford hosted the Olympic trials). I think it could apply to something like a PAC-12 track championship meet, where there was a fixed set of teams.
Speaking of championships and/or tournaments, the documents provide little or no guidance on facilities outside their jurisdiction. For instance, if WBB played in a tournament in Mexico or in San Antonio, the restrictions would have no requirements on the facilities, only on the opposing teams (PCR tests within 48 of the competition).
(Darn, it just sunk in that I was thinking I'd go to the San Antonio tournament (I was there last time). Well, if the season happens, I hope Stanford is there even if I am not. Do you think tickets to an NCAA championship would qualify one for an early vaccine? Nah, didn't think so.)