Coronavirus Pandemic Impacts

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Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
·
1h

Summit league schedule starts Jan 2. Two games vs. opponent at one home site. 16 total games.

 

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Jon Rothstein Retweeted



Inside the NCAA
@InsidetheNCAA
·
3h

DI Council extends eligibility for winter sport student-athletes: http://on.ncaa.com/3qs85



"Winter sport student-athletes who compete during 2020-21 in Division I will receive both an additional season of competition and an additional year in which to complete it, the Division I Council decided. The same flexibility was provided to student-athletes after the spring season was canceled in 2020 and the fall season was seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council met by videoconference Tuesday and Wednesday."

"Additionally, Division I schools will not be required to sponsor the minimum required number of sports for membership purposes, provided the school indicated on its Sports and Demographics Survey forms that it intended to sponsor the requisite number of sports but cannot due to COVID-19 challenges.

Schools also will not be required to sponsor a sport in each season, and multisport conferences are not required to meet minimum sport sponsorship requirements.

The Council also agreed to grant a blanket waiver for 2020-21 to allow conferences to earn an automatic bid in fall championships if a minimum of three member schools participated in conference competition in that sport. The membership will collaboratively address automatic qualifications and at-large allocations should there be a change to field sizes in winter and spring sports, except for men’s and women’s basketball.

The Competition Oversight Committee previously had approved flexibility for championships selection:

• Teams in winter sports can participate in as few as 50% of the required minimum contests/dates of competition and still be considered for championships selection. Men’s and women’s basketball previously set their minimum contest number at 13. This reduction is consistent with what was provided for fall sports.
• Teams in winter sports are not required to have an overall won-lost record of .500 or better, which is normally required for teams to be eligible for at-large championships selections. This also is consistent with what was provided for fall sports teams."

 

[Pablo]

Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
·
4h

Division 1 Council voted today in favor of winter athletes receiving additional year of eligibility, source told @Stadium. There wasn’t discussion around roster size, but source said “those who exhausted eligibility will be exempted from counting against 13 scholarship limit."

 

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Brett McMurphy
@Brett_McMurphy
·
2h

Head coaches who have tested positive for COVID:

Jason Candle, Toledo
Chip Kelly, UCLA
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Kevin Sumlin, Arizona
Les Miles, Kansas
Nick Saban, Alabama

 

[Pablo]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...-releases-limited-travel-basketball-schedules:

"RICHMOND, Va. -- The Colonial Athletic Association on Wednesday released its men's and women's basketball schedules for the 2020-21 season using a format designed to limit travel and exposure to COVID-19.

The schedules will run from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28 and include 18 games. Instead of traditional home-and-home contests, it will feature teams playing the same opponent on back-to-back days at the same site, primarily on Saturdays and Sundays.

The men's and women's schedules mirror each other, with the men's game at one location and the women's games at the opposite site, the league said in a release Wednesday.

The lone exception to the back-to-back games at the same site format will come when schools designated as travel partners play games on each's home floor one weekend."

 

[Pablo]

Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops

Pac-12 announces it will go with a 20-game league slate this season for men’s basketball and 22-game league schedule for women’s basketball.

7:55 PM · Oct 15, 2020

 

[Pablo]

https://www.wric.com/news/william-m...after-being-threatened-with-title-ix-lawsuit/:

"WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — The College of William & Mary has decided to reinstate three varsity women’s sports after being threatened with a Title IX lawsuit.

In a statement Monday, the university acknowledged the plan to cut seven of its 23 Division 1 sports would not properly achieve gender equity."

"Women’s gymnastics, women’s swimming and women’s volleyball will continue, but four men’s sports — men’s gymnastics, men’s swimming and men’s outdoor and indoor track and field — are still slated to be cut. The new plan will drop William & Mary down to 19 NCAA Division 1 varsity sports.

The initial plan to cut sports sparked backlash, and eventually led to the resignation of athletic director Samantha Huge earlier this month."

 

[JPgmuswim]

https://www.wric.com/news/william-m...after-being-threatened-with-title-ix-lawsuit/:

"WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — The College of William & Mary has decided to reinstate three varsity women’s sports after being threatened with a Title IX lawsuit.

In a statement Monday, the university acknowledged the plan to cut seven of its 23 Division 1 sports would not properly achieve gender equity."

"Women’s gymnastics, women’s swimming and women’s volleyball will continue, but four men’s sports — men’s gymnastics, men’s swimming and men’s outdoor and indoor track and field — are still slated to be cut. The new plan will drop William & Mary down to 19 NCAA Division 1 varsity sports.

The initial plan to cut sports sparked backlash, and eventually led to the resignation of athletic director Samantha Huge earlier this month."

The W&M swim team has raised a lot of money since the announcement of being cut and has a 3 million dollar endowment. The head coach swam for Mason with me for 4 years.

 

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Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
·
1h

Georgetown's marquee non-conference games in 20-21:

At Syracuse
West Virginia (Big East-Big 12 Battle)
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Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
· 1h

Sources: Georgetown will play 25 regular season games in 20-21 and not participate in an MTE.

 

[GMUgemini]

I saw that tweet, too. Does that mean Georgetown only have 3 other OOC games to schedule besides those two?

 

[Pablo]

Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
·
2h

Sources: One major thing to monitor from a health perspective in college basketball is the retesting of individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19. Varying opinions on how many days are required until retesting will begin.

 

[Pablo]

Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
·
3h

Six Toledo players and head coach test positive. Program now shut down for two weeks.

 

[Mason32]

We going to have at least 10 suspensions this year for players breaking Paulsen's most likely insane bubble laws

 

[Pablo]

http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-i...ecommendations-game-day-operations-basketball:
"Guidance and Recommendations for Game Day Operations - Basketball

The focus of this document is to outline guidance and recommendations for institutions as they host basketball competition in their facility. All information contained in this document should be considered recommendations and/or considerations. As with prior NCAA publications, this document reflects the relevant scientific and medical information available at the time of print. These materials should not be used as a substitute for medical or legal advice. Rather, they are intended as a resource for member schools to use in coordination with applicable government and related institutional policies and guidelines, and they remain subject to further revision as available data and information in this space continue to emerge and evolve.

This document covers the period from when student-athletes and other team personnel arrive at the competition site through the competition. This document does not address travel, testing and officiating. For specific recommendations on COVID-19 testing and other health and safety guidance, please refer to the Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Basketball document.

Personnel.

1. All individuals necessary to host a home basketball game should be divided into three tiers, as described below. Tiers are based on the ability to wear masks/face coverings, the ability to practice physical distancing (6 feet or greater) and the role played in connection with the competition. All individuals should wear masks/face coverings and physically distance whenever possible. Only individuals assigned to Tiers 1 and 2 will be permitted access to the inner bubble (e.g., locker rooms, athletic training room, court area). The inner bubble must always be secured.
   1. Tier 1 — This tier consists of individuals for whom physical distancing and face coverings are not possible or effective during athletic training or competition. Examples of relevant individuals include student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and officials. Tier 1 individuals should be limited (e.g., 25-30). All Tier 1 individuals should wear masks/face coverings, except for student-athletes and officials on the playing surface. Physical distancing should be adhered to whenever possible.
   2. Tier 2 — This tier consists of individuals who come into close contact with Tier 1 individuals but can reasonably maintain physical distance and use face coverings during their interaction. Examples of relevant individuals include certain team staff (e.g., athletic department staff) and certain operational staff (e.g., security, event staff and league staff). Tier 2 individuals will maintain physical distance and universal masking while performing their jobs, and any interaction with Tier 1 individuals must be approved by the designated event organizer or athletics health care administrator (or designee), and both parties must maintain physical distance and wear face coverings.
   3. Tier 3 — This tier includes individuals who provide event services but are not in the same vicinity with Tier 1 individuals (and should closer contact become necessary, would be reclassified into Tier 2). Tier 3 individuals should minimize contact with Tier 2 individuals and observe masking and physical distancing at all times. Examples of relevant individuals include certain operational staff (e.g., housekeeping, catering, sanitation and transportation) and media/broadcast.
   4. Spectators are not part of Tiers 1, 2 or 3, and, if present, should observe local health official mandates and guidance with seating clearly separated from these tiered individuals at all times, and as per below.
2. Each host institution’s athletics health care administrator should maintain contact with local and state health officials regarding operations within the competition venue, including oversight of the daily screening log and any health developments of attendees.
3. Recommend that visiting band and/or cheer groups avoid travel. If the home band and/or cheer groups are permitted, they should be managed as other Tier 2 personnel."

"Facility planning — movement in/around areas.

1. Entry/exit.
   1. All entrants shall be subject to local health official restrictions and guidance, including health screening and temperature checks, before entering the competition venue.
   2. Entrants should be advised not to enter the venue if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive.
   3. Head count controls must be in place at each entry point if local guidelines restrict competition venue capacity as needed.
   4. Entry and exit procedures for the competition venue, back-of-house areas and courtside areas will be clearly marked.
   5. No loitering in back-of-house hallways or common spaces.
   6. Entry tunnels/doors to and from the court must be kept clear; no standing in tunnels/doorways.
2. Fan seating.
   1. Subject to local health official restrictions and guidance.
   2. Recommend that courtside seating be eliminated. If no Tier 1, 2 or 3 individuals occupy the space opposite the bench and/or scorers’ table area, recommend the first row of fan seating be a minimum of 12 feet from the sideline.
   3. Recommend the first row of fan seating be a minimum of 12 feet from the back of the bench and/or scorers’ table area, the corners and ends of the court.
3. Isolation and quarantine rooms.
   1. Diagnostic testing should be readily available for symptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19.
   2. Recommend that isolation and quarantine rooms be identified and ready for use. Isolation rooms are for newly positive cases or evaluation of individuals with COVID-19 symptoms. Quarantine rooms are for high-risk exposure individuals of newly infected or symptomatic individuals. Local health official reporting protocols should be followed.
4. HVAC considerations.
   1. Recommend review of HVAC-related engineering controls. Encourage three or more air changes per hour and use of more fresh recharge air vs. recirculation.
   2. Discuss temperature settings targeting a 74+F temperature and 50+% relative humidity."

"Handling equipment.

1. Each team should have its own rack (6-12 or an equal amount) of basketballs for use while in the venue. The basketballs should be cleaned by a designated member of the host institution’s game operations staff (Tier 2) according to manufacturer’s recommendations with dish soap and water, and not with a disinfectant.
2. Recommend three or four basketballs be set aside for game use only. Recommend replacing the game ball each time a ball goes out of bounds and is touched by an individual not in Tier 1 or 2. Game balls should be cleaned during media timeouts, halftime and each period break with dish soap and water.
3. Officials’ water/towels should be located behind each basket or on a table across from the scorers’ table. These must be specific to each official and handled only by the officials.

On-court operations.

1. Eliminate any coach/official/scorers’ table physical contact (e.g., handshakes, fist bumps) at all times.
2. Recommend eliminating the postgame handshake line involving the two participating teams. Consider some act of sportsmanship, such as the teams lining up at their respective free throw lines and giving congratulatory waves to each other.
3. Consider eliminating or reducing the time allotted for any halftime and/or timeout promotions to allow the court to be cleaned.
4. Recommend assigned work areas for the media to minimize the need for cleaning workstations until after media representatives have exited the venue."

 

[GMUgemini]

We going to have at least 10 suspensions this year for players breaking Paulsen's most likely insane bubble laws

As they should. One player tests positive the day of and that game is over before it starts.

 

[Pablo]

Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
·
1h

A 14-day pause for one COVID-19 test is going to be a MAJOR hurdle for college basketball this season.
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Jon Rothstein
@JonRothstein
· 1h

Marquette is pausing basketball activities for two weeks following two positive COVID-19 tests, per release.

 

[Pablo]

Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
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8m

UNC Greensboro had three positive tests, all asymptomatic, per source, and haven’t practiced yet. Shut down for two weeks. Toledo and Marquette also shut down for 14 days after positive tests.

 

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Spartan Athletics
@MSU_Athletics

Michigan State Athletics Announcement Regarding Swimming & Diving Program:



Michigan State Announces Plans to Discontinue Swimming & Diving After 2021 - Michigan State...
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have touched every area of our life. It's forced us all to evaluate not only our current place, but also our prospects for the future. Michigan State Athletics is...
msuspartans.com

 

[Pablo]

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...em-football-game-canceled-covid-19-no-contest:

"The Big Ten will determine whether to cancel games this year based on COVID-19 testing positivity rates within a team, and if a game can't be played, it will be deemed a "no contest," the conference announced on Thursday."

"If a game is canceled, it won't count as a win or loss for either team. Because of the league's truncated schedule, there is no flexibility or bye weeks built in, so conference officials have accounted for the possibility of unbalanced schedules in their lengthy tiebreaker policy. It is similar to that of the Pac-12, which was released earlier this week."

 

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Jeff Goodman
@GoodmanHoops
·
17h

NJCAA has decided to give all basketball players an extra season of eligibility, source told @Stadium.