NCAA & NCAC Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions
Wittenberg University COVID 19 Resource Page
Due to the rapid and evolving nature of COVID-19, the North Coast Athletic Conference presidents made the difficult and challenging decision to cancel the 2020 spring conference regular season and championships, effective immediately.
While we know that many student-athletes, parents and coaches have several questions surrounding this situation, the North Coast Athletic Conference has created the following Frequently Asked Questions document, as of March 16, 2020.
If your have any additiona question that aren't answered below, you can email Wittenberg University Senior Associate AD, Bret Billhardt, at billhardtb@wittenberg.edu.
NCAA Championships
Q: Does the NCAA announcement on March 12, to cancel all remaining winter and spring championships, apply to all NCAA Championships, regardless of the Division?
A: Yes, the NCAA has cancelled ALL winter and spring 2020 national championship events.
NCAA Eligibility
Q: As a student-athlete, what happens to my eligibility?
A: The NCAA has granted a blanket waiver for spring sports.
Q: What does the waiver allow?
A: (a) Waive the use of a season of participation for all student-athletes in spring sports. If an institution continues or re-starts its season, this relief would still exist; and (b) Waive the use of the spring semester towards their limit of 10 semesters/15 quarters, regardless of whether they used a season.
Q: What does this mean?
A: Any spring sport student-athlete in 2020 did not trigger a season of participation, regardless of how many practices, contests or dates of competition participated in. Also, the semester does not count against their use of 10 semesters/15 quarters of eligibility. It's as if this semester never happened from an eligibility perspective.
Q: Can a spring student-athlete access the benefits of the waiver even if they graduate this spring?
A: Such a waiver would be considered on a case-by-case basis by Student-Athlete Reinstatement. The most likely scenario would be that a student-athlete would be enrolled in graduate school or for a second baccalaureate degree in order to compete OR that they do not graduate and complete the final class(es) required for their graduation next spring, when they can compete as less than fully enrolled in their final semester as long as the class(es) is/are required for their graduation, per current legislation.
Q: Will there be an additional year of eligibility for winter sports cancelled while still ongoing in NCAA play?
A: Such a waiver would be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.
Q: For the purpose of the 10-semester/15 quarter clock, does the spring semester count as a full-time semester for fall and winter sport student-athletes?
A: Yes, the spring academic semester counts as one semester toward the limit of a fall or winter sport student-athlete. (3/20/20)
Q: When do these eligibility requirements apply?
A: Eligibility requirements will apply for next academic year.
Q: Does the waiver apply for the sport of men's volleyball?
A: Men's volleyball is a spring sport and the student-athletes would have the benefit of the waiver.
Q: Does the waiver apply for the sport of water polo?
A: Water Polo is a spring sport and the student-athletes would have the benefit of the waiver.
Q: Does the waiver apply for the sports of golf, tennis and rowing?
A: The NCAA Championships for split season sports of tennis, golf and rowing are in the spring and the student-athletes would have the benefit of the waiver. It is important to note that spring student-athletes only receive back one semester toward their 10 semester/15 quarters, even if a portion of their season was completed in the fall. (updated 3/20/20).
Q: A student-athlete drops below full-time for the remainder of the spring semester. Can they still participate in athletically related activities this spring?
A: Yes, they can still participate in athletically related activities for the remainder of this academic year. (3/20/20)
NCAA Membership Requirements
Q: Will the NCAA host Regional Rules Seminars in May and/or June?
A: The Regional Rules Seminars in May and June will be conducted remotely. At this time (3/18/20) any institution needing to meet their 1-in-3-year required attendance will need to participate.
Q: Do institutions need to meet the sport sponsorship minimums?
A: The NCAA has granted a blanket waiver for spring sports.
Q: What does the waiver allow?
A: A blanket waiver of any deficiencies in sports sponsorship requirements related to spring sports occurring as a result of actions taken in response to COVID-19. This will not apply to sports sponsorship issues related to fall or winter sports.
Q: What does this mean?
A: The number of contests played, nor the number of student-athletes participating will not adversely affect sport sponsorship minimums. By eliminating contests, or competing with altered roster numbers, teams will not be penalized for not meeting established minimums. This only applies to spring sports. Minimums of fall and winter sports must still have been met.
Q: Is it necessary to process medical hardship waivers for spring sport student-athletes?
A: No, it is not necessary. All spring sport student-athletes are regaining a season of participation, as well as a Semester as a result of the blanket waiver. However, school should still retain documentation of the waiver for any future waiver opportunities (such as the extension of the 10 semester/15 quarter time limit). 3/20/20
NCAA Practice Seasons and Extra Benefits
Q: If we bring students back to campus, could we extend periods of athletically related activity past the traditional dates of the NCAA championship in a respective sport?
A: The administrative committee stated that institutions should apply flexibility with respect to the playing and practice seasons through the end of this academic year because in these unique circumstances, NCAA playing season regulations shouldn't prevent a potential participation opportunity if institutions believe they can provide one.
Q: Can fall sports conduct non-traditional seasons if student-athletes remain on or return to campus?
A: Yes, they can. And teams have flexibility regarding playing and practice seasons directed by Administrative Committee. This might mean practice more than four times a week in order to take advantage of shortened time on campus, for example.
Q: Can we help our student-athletes with expenses related to the closure of campus?
A: Yes, per the flexibility regarding playing and practice seasons directed by the Administrative Committee. This could mean such things as helping with travel, lodging, and meals associated with being displaced due to campus being closed or spring trips being completed early.
Q: Can student-athletes practice/compete with an outside team if they find one while they are off campus?
A: Yes, they can practice/compete with an outside team.
Q: Can coaches and/or strength & conditioning coaches send workouts home with student-athletes?
A: Yes, they can, per the flexibility regarding playing and practice seasons directed by the Administrative Committee. Spring sports can proceed just like they were in season, with regards to contact, tracking, reporting etc. as you can remotely. Fall sports within their NTS can also proceed just as you would during the time you'd be together on campus. Winter sports can also interact with their SAs as they normally would at the end of the season. They can send workouts, show youtube examples of workouts, etc. However they cannot require any type of reporting back, or having SAs post videos of them doing workouts etc. (updated 3/20/20)
Q: Can coaches communicate with their SAs - even about training, etc.?
A: Yes, they can, per the flexibility regarding playing and practice seasons directed by the Administrative Committee.
NCAA General
Q: Since the NCAA has canceled championships, does the catastrophic insurance coverage still apply/kick in in a "worst case" scenario?
A: Cancellation of spring championships does not impact the NCAA catastrophic injury insurance policy's definition of "Qualifying Intercollegiate Sport", "Covered Event", or any other relevant policy definition.
Q: Where can I find more information about the catastrophic coverage:
A: On NCAA.org, - insurance program benefit summary: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/insurance/ncaa-catastrophic-injury-insurance-program
Q: Do the announced extensions of recruiting dead periods apply to Division III institutions?
A: They do not. Division III does not have a recruiting calendar. Coaches and staff must still follow all current recruiting rules. The NCAC is not enacting any additional recruiting restrictions. (updated 3/20/20)
NCAC
Q: The NCAC cancelled all spring regular season contests and championships. Does that apply to all athletically related activity?
A: No. Athletically related activity will be determined by the administration at each campus, pending any guidance from federal, state or local health authorities.
Q: Will the NCAC continue to hold regularly scheduled meetings?
A: All regularly scheduled conference meetings for March and April will be held, as scheduled, but will be moved to an electronic format.
Q: Who has been monitoring the situation and making determinations on NCAC policies?
A: Ongoing review has been occurring by the NCAC Office, conference directors of athletics, and presidents. The NCAC presidents have ultimate authority for all decisions that impact their campus and the NCAC. Discussions have been guided by recommendations from federal, state and local public health officials.
Q: Will the NCAC award All-NCAC honors for spring 2020?
A: The NCAC will not be awarding all-conference teams for spring 2020. We have also completed Player of the Week awards for 2020. (3/20/20)