The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference voted on Tuesday, July 14, to suspend all mandated conference athletic events and championships through the fall semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Conference has already undertaken a full review of its ability to shift fall sports competition and championships to the spring semester and fully intends to do so if a return to competition can be safely executed.
“The entire conference has worked hard these last few months to prepare for the return of sports to our campuses beginning this fall,” explains PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “However, it has become apparent that the safe conduct of sports under the guidelines of social distancing is untenable for our members. We cannot place our student-athletes at greater risk than the general student body. Despite our planning and collective efforts, it has become clear that we are not able to do so.”
“We are committed to giving our student-athletes the chance to compete during this academic year,” adds Geraldine Jones, President of California University of Pennsylvania and newly elected chair of the PSAC Board of Directors. “Many institutions and conferences are facing the same circumstances as we are, and if it is safe to return to competition, we will work with them and the NCAA to provide our teams with a championship experience during the spring semester. We know this is a huge disappointment for our student-athletes who work so very hard in their sport. This decision was not taken lightly and we feel saddened by having to do so.”
The Conference and its member institutions will develop guidelines for all teams to continue individual skill instruction as well as strength and conditioning activities under social distancing protocols by the end of the summer. The determination as to when winter and spring sports may begin workouts and practices will be considered at a later date.
“The circumstances we find ourselves in are unprecedented and thus we are taking unprecedented measures,” adds Murray. “The contraction of COVID-19 and its viral spread are not the types of risks those involved with sports activities face under normal circumstances. Therefore, we cannot expose our student-athletes, coaches and university personnel to those risks. It is a painful step we are taking, but we feel it is the right one.”
All fall and winter sports scheduled to begin before January 1 are impacted by this decision. The Conference will evaluate the necessary schedule changes and will communicate its plans for moving all competitions to the spring semester at a later date.
Gannon University officials weighed in:
Gannon University and the PSAC intend to shift all PSAC fall sports seasons and championships to the spring semester. More details regarding the shift will be announced at a future date.
“I know this will come as a tremendous disappointment to our student-athletes and their families,” said Keith Taylor, Ph.D., president of Gannon University. “We are deeply disappointed for them, and along with them. Nonetheless, we understand the decision and will support the policies and direction of our conference. We firmly believe that the Gannon experience is not a complete experience without a fully engaged mind, body and spirit and our purpose is to transform all aspects of one’s life through that experience.
“Athletics is a part of our Gannon culture and fuels our well-being,” Taylor said, “and though PSAC intercollegiate competition isn’t going to happen this fall, we will support our student-athletes’ participation in controlled workouts throughout the fall in keeping with the PSAC and NCAA guidelines.
“We are eager to get back to school and back to play, and we will make our way to that end judiciously, cautiously and safely,” Taylor said. “We acknowledge that these are not normal times. However, we, like our student-athletes, will stay active in every way possible to be fully prepared for the better days and the competitions that surely are ahead.”
Although no PSAC competition will occur during the fall semester, Gannon student-athletes will have the ability to practice and condition under University guidelines previously created for a safe return to play. Specific details regarding countable athletic related activity (CARA) hours will be determined after clarification conversations regarding playing seasons with the NCAA and PSAC.
Gannon administrators have been working since March to create protocols for the safe resumption of athletics this fall. In fact, the university is scheduled next week to welcome its first student-athletes back to campus since the COVID-19 pandemic suspended athletic activities in mid-March. The detailed plan was rolled out in segments to the student-athlete population over the last month. In addition to receiving e-mail updates, student-athletes have been able to ask questions while participating in virtual Athletics Town Hall
Meetings with various Gannon administrators. The return to play plan included:
- COVID-19 testing
- Daily health screenings
- Smaller “pod” systems for athletics activities
- Virtual team meetings when applicable
- Reduced room capacity and social distancing procedures when in-person meetings are needed
- Office meetings by appointment only with a maximum of two people with masks and social distancing
- Isolation and contact tracing procedures if someone tested positive
- Increased cleaning and sanitation of athletic facilities, vans and buses
- Traffic flow patterns for athletic facilities
- PPE equipment for athletic training personnel and athletic personnel
- Additional hand sanitizer throughout athletic facilities and on sidelines
- Individual items for student-athletes such as face coverings and water bottles
- Laundry service for athletic-related clothing
- Reduced capacity in the athletic training room, aided by an online system for appointments
- Social distancing at practice where applicable
- Masks being worn at all times where applicable
“We are confident in these measures,” explained Gannon Vice President for Student Development and Engagement Brian Nichols, who helped create the new processes. “A testing regimen has been established that will be augmented with daily temperature checks and health screenings. A more aggressive cleaning program has been put in place. And, to manage density, each team has created a “pod” system of smaller units to better monitor and – if necessary – manage outbreaks of illness within the teams.
“Protocols have also been created for athletic travel – from cleaning our vans and buses to how and where we stop during our trips,” Nichols said.
“We will be ready to return to competition as soon as the opportunity becomes available,” he said. “It’s unfortunate for our student-athletes, and their avid supporters, that they won’t have that chance to compete with other PSAC schools this fall.”
Gannon student-athletes will remain on schedule with their appropriate move-in times despite the announcement by the PSAC as classes are set to begin Aug. 10. The initial process that includes physicals and COVID-19 testing will also remain in place to get student-athletes ready for workouts and conditioning while maintaining proper health guidelines related to social distancing and room/building capacities.
“We are excited to welcome some of our fall student-athletes to campus early for the fall semester,” said Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk. “We will continue to communicate with our coaches and student-athletes as we develop plans and continue to move forward.
“We are committed to our student-athletes and the goal of providing them with a positive experience. We will explore multiple avenues to facilitate a meaningful and healthy fall. This continues to be a fluid situation. However, with the detailed plans that have already been developed with health and well-being at the forefront, we are prepared to facilitate opportunities,” McGuirk said.
