Arizona A.D. Dave Heeke Statement on Elibility Relief on Wednesday, April 1 at 1:27 PM (MST)

After a very tough couple of weeks for all Wildcats, I am pleased that the NCAA Division I Council voted to extend eligibility for spring sport student-athletes affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank President Robbins, the Pac-12 Conference leadership and the NCAA Division 1 Council for helping us support the student-athlete mission during these unprecedented times. Fulfilling the student-athlete experience is part of the fabric of the Wildcat Way at Arizona Athletics, and our entire athletics department is excited to see these Wildcats wear the colors, represent the Block A and compete for championships.
 
It's truly unfortunate that some student-athletes from our winter sports have seen their careers officially come to an end. I want to recognize their sacrifices, achievements and leadership as proud representatives of Arizona Athletics, the University of Arizona and Southern Arizona. They will be honored and remembered as great Wildcats by our athletics program and loyal fanbase.

NCAA Statement on Spring Sports Student-Athlete Eligibility Relief on Monday, March 30 at 4:50 PM (MST)

The Division I Council on Monday voted to allow schools to provide spring-sport student-athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility.

Members also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for incoming recruits and student-athletes who had been in their last year of eligibility who decide to stay. In a nod to the financial uncertainty faced by higher education, the Council vote also provided schools with the flexibility to give students the opportunity to return for 2020-21 without requiring that athletics aid be provided at the same level awarded for 2019-20. This flexibility applies only to student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility in 2019-20.

Schools also will have the ability to use the NCAA's Student Assistance Fund to pay for scholarships for students who take advantage of the additional eligibility flexibility in 2020-21.

Division I rules limit student-athletes to four seasons of competition in a five-year period. The Council's decision allows schools to self-apply waivers to restore one of those seasons of competition for student-athletes who had competed while eligible in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 spring season

The Council also will allow schools to self-apply a one-year extension of eligibility for spring-sport student-athletes, effectively extending each student's five-year "clock" by a year. This decision was especially important for student-athletes who had reached the end of their five-year clock in 2020 and saw their seasons end abruptly.

"The Council's decision gives individual schools the flexibility to make decisions at a campus level," said Council chair M. Grace Calhoun, athletics director at Penn. "The Board of Governors encouraged conferences and schools to take action in the best interest of student-athletes and their communities, and now schools have the opportunity to do that."

Winter sports were not included in the decision. Council members declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons were completed.

The Council also increased the roster limit in baseball for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only spring sport with such a limit.

Pac-12 Statement on Student-Athlete Activities on Monday, March 30 at 9:33 AM (MST)

The Pac-12 announced today that following a meeting of its CEOs, it has made the decision to extend its previously announced suspension of organized team activities through May 31, with certain limited exceptions based upon student-athlete well-being, and with periodic re-evaluations over the coming weeks should circumstances warrant a change in policy.
 
Key elements of the suspension include the following:

• No organized, in-person team activities of any type;
• No in-person voluntary workouts, film study sessions, meetings, technique drills or practices of any type;
• Virtual or online supervised voluntary workouts and skill instruction are not permitted, regardless of location;
• Virtual group activities, including film study, are permitted to two (2) hours per week for football and four (4) hours per week for all other sports.  We are appealing to the NCAA to increase the two-hour football limit in the near future;
• Coaches can recommend written, self-directed workout plans, and taped demonstration videos on workout plans are allowed in order to demonstrate proper form and technique;
• In-person, on-campus nutrition may be provided in circumstances where student-athletes are unable to leave campus, and off-campus nutrition is limited to distribution of products normally available on campus;
• It is fully permissible to provide non-athletically related support to student-athletes, including sports medicine treatments, physical therapy and rehabilitation; academic support; and mental health and wellness support; and
• It is permissible for institutions to provide off-campus student-athletes with apparel and personal equipment that is regularly available to student-athletes when they are on campus for conditioning workouts.  It is not permissible to rent, purchase or arrange for conditioning or strength training equipment or machines.

A full copy of the Pac-12 policy can be below as well as via the link here: Pac-12 Pandemic Policy (PDF)
 
The Pac-12 and its member universities will continue to make the health and well-being of student-athletes and all those associated with our athletic programs our number one priority.  We also committed to doing our part to support our communities and to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Pac-12 Statement on Competition and Activities on Saturday, March 14 at 11:57 AM (MST)

At a meeting of the Pac-12 CEO Group and Athletic Directors earlier today, the Pac-12 made the decision to cancel all Pac-12 conference and non-conference sport competitions and Pac-12 championships through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year.  This decision follows both the Pac-12's earlier decision to suspend all sports until further notice, and the decision by the NCAA to cancel the Division I men's and women's 2020 NCAA basketball tournaments as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.
 

In addition, the Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to prohibit all organized team athletically-related activities until at least March 29, at which time it will revisit this decision.

NCAA Update on COVID-19 on Thursday, March 12 at 1:30 PM (MST)

Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

PAC-12 Conference Update on COVID-19 on Thursday, March 12 at 9:35 AM (MST)

The Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to cancel the remainder of the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament and all Pac-12 sport competitions and Pac-12 Championship events, effective immediately, until further notice.  This decision has been made in consultation with our member universities in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and in the interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes, campus personnel, working and event personnel, and all those who attend Pac-12 events.

Arizona Athletics Update on COVID-19 on Wednesday, March 11 at 10:26 PM (MST)

With the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff and our community as a top priority at the University of Arizona, Arizona Athletics supports the NCAA's and Pac-12 Conference's decisions to limit fan attendance at upcoming championship events in addition to all home Arizona Athletics events until further notice. The athletics department is actively working to enact new refund procedures for fans and staffing policies for those affected by these new restrictions.
 
Arizona Athletics will also continue to monitor Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates from our campus partners as well as government agencies including the Center for Disease Control, Arizona Department of Health Services and Pima County Health. The Office of the Provost and the Campus Health Office at the University of Arizona provide regular updates to our campus and community.

Ticket Credit Information

Ticket buyers for all events affected by the canceled dates will receive a credit that they can use this year or during the 2020-21 season. The credit will be applied to each ticket buyers for all remaining home events that were canceled. Fans will need to call the McKale Ticket Office to apply their credit for a future purchase. Please dial the Arizona Athletics Ticket Office at 520-621-2287 for more information.