On July 16, the SAA and Centre College announced the suspension of athletic competition until at least January 1, 2021. Below are answers to anticipated questions and concerns. We will update this page as we receive more FAQs.
Updated 08.10.20
What sports will be able to compete during the fall semester?
In conjunction with SAA Presidential action, Centre will not be competing in any sports during the 2020 fall semester due to college policies regarding travel and a restriction of visitors on campus. This includes conference as well as non-conference competition.
Will fall and winter sports compete at all in 2020-21?
Currently, there will be no athletic competitions until at least January 1, 2021. We will continue to work with the College administration, the COVID-19 Athletics Task Force, and the Southern Athletic Association to consider possible options for competition for fall/winter sports in the winter and/or spring season.
However, on August 5, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council cancelled all fall sport championships for the 2020-21 academic year. More information can be found
here.
When will students know if winter and spring sports are happening?
We know that there will not be any athletic competition until at least January 1, 2021. No decisions regarding competition beyond that have been made at this time. We will continue to work with the College administration, the COVID-19 Athletics Task Force, the Southern Athletic Association, and the NCAA to consider options for winter and spring sports.
Will fall and winter season teams be able to compete during the Winter or Spring Terms?
On August 5, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council cancelled all fall sport championships for the 2020-21 academic year. More information can be found
here. We are still planning for meaningful competitive opportunities for our fall teams during the fall/winter/spring terms, but there will be no NCAA championships in play.
Currently, winter sports are still planning on competing January 1, 2021.
What impact would only being able to practice or play a limited number of games have on my eligibility with the NCAA?
Under NCAA rules, students will not use a season of eligibility if their team does not compete during the traditional sport season. On July 9, the NCAA issued a blanket waiver providing guidance regarding eligibility concerns for teams who play a limited number of contests, or whose seasons end prematurely. The blanket waiver states that student-athletes will not be charged with participation for the 2020-21 season if their team can complete only 50% or less of the sport's maximum contests/dates of competition due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCAA also approved a second blanket waiver which permits student-athletes to receive a two-semester/three-quarter extension of eligibility if the student-athlete is unable to participate in their sport during the 2020-21 academic year due to the impact of COVID-19 or if the student-athlete's team completed 50% or less of the sport's maximum contests/dates of competition due to COVID-19. For more information on these blanket waivers, please see the
NCAA press release.
What will it be like to participate on a team at Centre as a student-athlete this fall?
We are investigating opportunities with the NCAA to designate the fall season as the non-traditional season for our fall sport teams. If this opportunity is granted, fall season athletes would have the opportunity to have 16 practices over a five-week period during the fall semester. In turn, we would be able to seek competitive opportunities in a traditional season format for our fall teams during Centre term and/or spring term.
We anticipate winter season teams will begin practice on their traditional start dates. Institutional decisions are still being made about whether winter student-athletes will remain on campus following the Thanksgiving holiday.
We anticipate spring season teams will have their non-traditional season in the fall, with 16 practice opportunities over a five-week period.
What does “return to play” or the resocialization of sport look like in the fall?
Our COVID-19 Athletics Task Force is meeting weekly to outline safe and responsible “return to play” guidelines.
Has the NCAA announced any changes to the 2020-21 sports seasons?
Yes, fall sport championships have been cancelled by the NCAA Division III Presidents Council. More information can be found
here.
When will student-athletes arrive on campus now that the fall preseason has been cancelled?
The Centre Student Life Office will communicate arrival dates and times with all students as soon as possible.
Will student-athletes have access to the services and support such as athletic training and strength and conditioning?
Yes.
If a student-athlete is taking all courses online and not living on campus, can their sport coaches send them workouts and practices so they can do them on their own?
It's permissible all year round for coaches to provide student-athletes with workouts. Prescribed workouts can only be required/coach can only conduct workouts during the team's declared season (114 days or 18/19/24 weeks). Coaches can send the workouts outside of the declared season; however, per Bylaw 17.02.1.1(f), the workouts have to be voluntary (17.02.14).
If a student-athlete is taking all courses online and not living on campus, can the strength and conditioning coaches send them workouts?
Prescribed workouts can only be required during the team’s declared season (114 days or 18/19/24 weeks). Per Bylaw 17.02.1.1.1.4-(a)(3), voluntary workouts conducted by a strength and conditioning coach may only occur during the regular academic year, so yes, during this academic year the strength and conditioning coaches can send student-athletes who are taking classes online prescribed workouts.
For additional information please visit the Centre College Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources website.
