The NCAA Division III staff has created this bi-weekly communication for the Division III Commissioners Association in an effort to provide up-to-date communications on the constantly evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Division III membership. Please share this communication with your conference members.
RECENT GOVERNANCE MEETINGS AND KEY COVID-19 DISCUSSIONS AND OUTCOMES
Management Council, Oct. 19-20
Championship Recommendations. The Council approved a 75% cap on winter and spring championships (team and individual) for the 2020-21 academic year. Committee members understand adjustments may be necessary later based on the number of eligible institutions as championships approach.
Blanket waiver - minimum amount of participation.The Council recommended the Presidents Council approve the 2020-21 student-athlete eligibility blanket waiver request submitted by many conferences. The Council received feedback from SAR, SAAC and SLR, which supported the request.
Interpretations and Legislation Committee, Oct. 21
Blanket waiver -- minimum amount of participation.The committee, similar to SAR, SLR and SAAC, reviewed the request for a blanket waiver. Similar to last week’s Management Council discussion, the committee supported the waiver, but reaffirmed the principle that student-athletes should be enrolled full-time when participating in intercollegiate athletics. Consequently, any student-athlete that is able to participate as a result of this waiver, may only participate if they satisfy established enrollment requirements.
Presidents Council, Oct. 28
Blanket waiver -- minimum amount of participation. The Council approved a blanket waiver request that allows student-athletes to compete up to the established dates of competition/contest maximums without being charged a season of intercollegiate participation or a term of attendance for any term (semester/quarter) during the 2020-21 academic year in which they are eligible for competition.
Mirroring the Management Council’s stance, the Council agreed that this recommendation does not serve as rationale for future reduced enrollment by student-athletes. Student-athletes benefiting from this waiver will still be expected to adhere to the full-time enrollment requirements during the current and future academic years, consistent with the Division III Philosophy.
Staff is developing a companion FAQ and will release it in the coming weeks.
COVID-19 Playing and Practice Season Internal Working Group
Guidance and recommendation for basketball game day operations. The NCAA Sport Science Institute and the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball staffs, along with the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Competition Committees, have released guidance for basketball game day operations.
The guidance addresses the period from when student-athletes and other team personnel arrive at the competition site through the competition. The considerations include physical distancing, face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting, hydration, towels, layouts for team benches and scorers’ tables, facility planning, locker rooms, equipment and other protocols. The recommendations do not address travel, testing and officiating.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND ANTICIPATED DISCUSSIONS
Championships Committee, Nov. 2
Winter championships pre-determined host site selections. The committee will continue its discussion regarding the process to seek pre-determined host sites for winter championships.
Winter championship formats. The committee also will continue its review of winter championship formats.
With every communication, we also anticipate additional questions. Please send all questions to d3identity@ncaa.org. Stay healthy and safe and thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership.
This email was sent to the NCAA Division III Commissioners Association