Suspended
This week has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Today I had no problem waking up at 6:15 am to watch Dortmund and the return of the Bundesliga. Having been to a home game at BVB it was surreal watching the match without the usual environment. But it was great to see live sports back in action!
A few days ago getting out of bed was harder. Our conference the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) became the first in the country to suspend fall sports. Just like that our season, like we know it, was over. This meant no pre-season in August, BBQ at my house to kick off the season, Otter Pops in the locker room, picture day, buddy shot with Sarah Stralen (the only player ever to take me up on my offer to take a buddy shot on picture day), pre-season trip to Canada, and much more...
Don't get me wrong. I think the CCAA made the right decision for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators. Nothing is more important than our health and safety. Also please understand I want nothing more than to coach my team. I'd probably go to practice tomorrow if someone didn't tell me no. And I'm pretty confident my entire team would show up.
So the big question is will others follow?
Like many, I've followed the NCAA discussions regarding return to sport. They mostly focus on football. In the latest discussion I've heard two things that raise questions:
The NCAA return to play protocols include contingencies if a team has to be quarantined due to a COVID19 outbreak.
This week NCAA President Mark Emmert said that with over 500,000 student-athletes it's not if student-athletes will get COVID19 but when.
Is the NCAA, and more importantly are colleges, willing to allow student-athletes to compete despite the obvious risk factor? In the CCAA the colleges and conference said no to that proposition.
If for others the answer is yes it raises more questions.
The NCAA already has massive image issues when it comes to the treatment of student-athletes. This is especially true in the sports of football and basketball. You can't just play those sports this year can you? That would perpetuate the image that only revenue matters and the NCAA is willing to sacrifice the health of certain student-athletes to make money. That means if college football is a go at the NCAA Division I level then so is women's soccer. Right?
What happens when we see images of the first student-athlete on a ventilator due to COVID19 and it is traced back to their participation in sport? Will there be public outcry? Right now the public, especially in football crazy states, wants the return of sports. The perception is that student-athletes are invincible. They are certainly healthier than most of us. But many student-athletes compete with health conditions that could be exacerbated by COVID19. Not to mention many coaches, athletic trainers, staff and administrators are in at-risk categories. How do we protect them?
If things don't change substantially in the next 100 days the NCAA and colleges nationwide will have to make a lot of tough decisions. While the CCAA was the first to suspend fall sports I doubt it will be the last.
