The waiver asks players to pledge to take responsibility for their health and help stop the spread of COVID-19GETTY IMAGES
Ohio State football players who returned to campus for voluntary workouts last week were "required to sign an acknowledgment of risk waiver before their participation," according to Joey Kaufman of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The two-page document "outlines the health risks involved with workouts and other athletic activities, and calls for the athletes to follow strict health and safety protocols implemented by the school." Referred to as a so-called Buckeye Pledge, the waiver asks players to "pledge to take responsibility for my own health and help stop the spread" of COVID-19. The document goes on to warn athletes "although the university is following the coronavirus guidelines issued by the CDC and other experts to reduce the spread of infection, I can never be completely shielded from all risk of illness caused by COVID-19 or other infections." The form also mentions that players who "do not adhere to the pledge could be prohibited from participating in athletic activities or using on-campus facilities." It would "not affect their scholarship status" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/15).
STAYING COMMITTED: ESPN.com's Heather Dinich noted Ohio State AD Gene Smith said that the waiver is "intended more for educational purposes than it is for liability." Smith said, "We don't look at that as a legal document. It's a Buckeye pledge. Allow us to help you so that if we face a situation, our trainers, our strength coaches, our coaches or any athletic administrator sees a student-athlete not wearing a mask or not social distancing, we can say, 'Hey, you made a commitment. You signed a pledge. Your parents signed a pledge. Your parents are a part of this.'" Smith said that he "got the idea" from Indiana AD Fred Glass "during a weekly call with the Big Ten ADs" (ESPN.com, 6/14).
