BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins Director of Athletics Jennifer S. Baker announced today the schedule for the upcoming 2021 Blue Jay men's lacrosse season and the COVID safety measures and testing protocols that have been put in place for the team and its Big Ten competitors.  Johns Hopkins will open the season on Saturday, February 20 against Ohio State; the first five games of the season have been announced by the Big Ten with an additional five conference games to be announced at a later date.
 
2021 Johns Hopkins Men's Lacrosse Schedule (First Five Games)
Feb. 20 – Ohio State (H) – 12 pm (ESPN3)
Feb. 27 – Michigan (A) - TBA
Mar. 6 – Maryland (A) - TBA
Mar. 13 – Penn State (H) – 12 pm (ESPNU)
Mar. 20 – Rutgers (H) – 1 pm (ESPN3)
(The remainder of the 2021 Big Ten men's lacrosse schedule will be announced at a later date)
 
Testing/Safety Protocols
To ensure the highest level of safety for all participants, each member of the Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team will be tested extensively throughout the season for COVID-19. In addition to the three University-mandated PCR tests that each undergraduate student is administered weekly, team members will also be subject to the Big Ten's daily antigen testing program.  The antigen test is given each day before team members may practice and on game day prior to competition.  This testing model will be in place throughout the 2021 season.
 
Members of the coaching staff and other Johns Hopkins staff members who are in close contact with the team will also be tested daily.  All Johns Hopkins employees who have contact with undergraduates are also administered a weekly PCR test.
 
The Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team returned to campus for the start of preseason practice on December 28.  While working through a weeks-long progression that began with small-group work and has only recently evolved to full team practices, all members of the team and coaching staff were administered regular PCR tests.
 
As non-conference games for the six Big Ten men's lacrosse teams were not scheduled, each team the Blue Jays compete against will include only participants who are, at a minimum, testing daily per Big Ten protocols.
 
All individuals, including officials, with sideline access during the games will be required to wear a protective mask and officials will be utilizing electronic whistles during the 2021 season.
 
Fans at Homewood Field
To start the 2021 season, fans will not be permitted to attend lacrosse games at Homewood Field.  In addition, no tailgating will be permitted at any location on the Homewood campus.
 
Broadcast Details
All Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse home games during the 2021 season will be broadcast on ESPNU or ESPN3.  As in previous years, games that air live on the web (ESPN3) will run at a later time via tape delay on ESPNU.  Broadcast information for Blue Jay away games will be available on HopkinsSports.com the week of each game.
 
Big Ten Tournament
The 2021 Big Ten Tournament will include all six conference teams, with the top two teams in the standings at the end of the regular season receiving a first-round bye. The quarterfinal round will be hosted by the teams seeded third and fourth on Saturday, May 1. The semifinals (May 6) and final (May 8) will be hosted at Penn State.