The Atlantic 10 Conference will not allow handshakes between players before or after games during the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, in an effort to reduce the potential spread of coronavirus, according to a report from CBS Sports.
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The University of Dayton Arena will host the women’s basketball tournament this weekend, March 6 through March 8 while the men’s tournament will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York March 11 through March 15.
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The conference said “pre and post-game protocol of student-athlete handshakes have been suspended” and have been substituted with “forearm bumps,” CBS Sports reports.
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"The league is in communication with its member institutions, medical personnel, competition venues and media partners," a statement from the conference said. "The A-10 will continue to update its members throughout championship season and reminds student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans to be diligent in following the recommended health and safety precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus."
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The conference will also provide sanitizing gel for support staff working the games, CBS reports.
The Dayton Flyers women’s team plays in the first game of the tournament at UD Arena Friday at 11 a.m. against the Richmond Spiders.
Dayton men's team has two games remaining in the regular season this week, including tonight at Rhode Island at 9 p.m. The Flyers will wrap up the regular season Saturday at UD Arena against George Washington at 7 p.m.
The men’s team will play in Brooklyn for the A-10 tournament next Friday at noon. Their opponent has not been set.
