In our daily routines and in the media, it has become the end all and be all of 2020. However, as individuals and communities have weathered this pandemic, it seems like sports — professional and collegiate-level — have also had their share of challenges throughout this pandemic.
On July 18, the Sunshine State Conference President’s Council announced the postponement of all scheduled competition in the fall sports season. For NSU, that affects men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s cross-country and women’s volleyball. But what exactly does that mean for the fall sport student-athletes?
Michael Mominey, director of athletics, said that the postponement of the fall sports NSU offers is with the intent to play those seasons in the spring, assuring us it is not a cancellation.
As of Aug., NSU’s athletic department is in discussions with other teams in the Sunshine State Conference over scheduling and related planning for the fall sports with an anticipated schedule for the spring. These fall student-athletes are returning to campus as originally scheduled and are following a plan of action for socialization, which follows the NCAA board of governors, state, county and CDC health guidelines. This plan is known as the Return of the Sharks Athletic Action Plan.
“We are moving the fall sports to the spring and moving at a slower pace. We are being very prudent and methodical in our approach. [The Return of the Sharks Athletic Action Plan] allows the student-athletes to get acclimated to campus and slowly phase in practices and workouts,” said Mominey.
Mominey explained that this process will mimic the pre-season routine, in what would be their season, to have them prepared for their anticipated season-openers.
For the winter sports, namely men’s and women’s basketball and swimming, they are slated for their regular season starting in November.
“With the winter sports, we still anticipate them playing in their regular season. Whether that happens or changes, we are preparing as [originally scheduled],” said Mominey.
On Aug. 7, NSU announced that it will suspend the women’s rowing team indefinitely starting with the 2020-2021 academic year, citing COVID-19 related budget reductions as the contributing factor in making this decision. NSU will honor the individual student scholarships of the women’s rowing team through the graduation of those students.
“Our number one interest is [student-athletes] health, welfare and safety and it is my belief that education helps alleviate fear. Through this plan, we will educate our student-athletes, coaches, trainers and staff [on proper procedure and best-available recommendations]… But, if we can’t commit to the protocols that NSU is putting in place within the guidelines of the CDC and Broward County, we might as well call it a year right now,” said Mominey.
