SJCNY Fall 2020 - Athletics

Athletic competition for the fall semester has been canceled. Fall teams will be able to begin practice in small groups after completing NCAA resocialization protocols.

No. Student-athletes will return to campus on September 9.

 A decision on winter sports will be made in early September. All decisions will be in keeping with Department of Health/New York State guidelines as they pertain to COVID-19.

We will utilize a four-phased return to sports activity:

• Phase 1: Student-athletes are required to self monitor and limit risks to exposure from their homes 10 days prior to returning to campus.
• Phase 2: Workout/practice groups will be limited to 8 people (including coaches), social distancing will be adhered to, masks/face coverings will be worn when social distancing cannot be maintained, equipment will not be shared among players, and training sessions will focus on individual skill work and conditioning.
• Phase 3: Workout/practice groups may increase in size, social distancing will be adhered to, equipment may be shared among team members, and training sessions will include organized group activities. Masks/face coverings will be worn based on current New York State and SJC guidelines when social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Phase 4 (which we may not fully enter during the fall semester): Allows for larger workout/practice groups, shared use of equipment, organized group activities and competition. Athletic training staff will work with coaches and student-athletes to enact enhanced personal hygiene and equipment cleaning practices. 
• Please note that small group and individual meetings will take place online or outdoors during Phases 2 and 3. Meetings will comply with campus guidelines if/when indoor meetings begin during Phase 4.

At this time, practice and competition rules will remain the same for all sports.

A decision about spring sports will be made prior to the start of the spring semester. Limited fall skill workouts and conditioning for spring sports will be permitted following established NCAA resocialization guidelines. All decisions will adhere to Department of Health/New York State guidelines as they pertain to COVID-19.

St. Joseph’s College is working with the NCAA and the Skyline Conference on parameters that will assist us in planning for each team during the fall semester. Our goal is to provide practice opportunities for all fall sports, as well as activities for winter and spring sports during the fall nontraditional segment in keeping with New York State guidelines. Check back for details.

These areas will be reopened in keeping with New York State guidelines once announced, starting with outdoor spaces, followed by large indoor spaces and then locker rooms. Not all athletic spaces will be operational upon return to campus, and for many of these spaces, new protocols will be in place, including but not limited to, scheduling-based use, cleaning requirements and capacity limitations.

We are required to follow New York State guidelines for gathering, including social distancing, group size and limitations on contact sports. For groups who want to recreate under these guidelines, the Department of Athletics will assist in scheduling these spaces if and when possible. Supervision will be required at any such gathering.

Yes, but access and services will be limited. All visits will require an appointment and overall volume will be kept to a minimum. Social distancing, face coverings and hand-washing requirements will be strictly enforced.

The Danzi Athletic Center will reopen on Wednesday, September 23. View our hours and rules.

Incoming first-year and transfer students will receive an email detailing the requirements. Returning student-athletes will also be sent a reminder regarding athletic injury/surgical clearances, as well as information pertaining to banned substance waivers. All athletes received information regarding the current clearance requirements for diagnosed/assumed cases of COVID-19 with regards to athletic participation. Depending on the severity of symptoms, some clearances may require specific cardiac screening that should be performed prior to arriving on campus. Additional requests for completing online forms, baseline screening and education will be sent later this summer. Whenever possible, screening appointments will be conducted remotely.

Yes. There are medical conditions that make individuals more susceptible to contracting and suffering adverse effects from COVID-19. As outlined by the NCAA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), below is list of underlying medical conditions that increase risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

• Chronic kidney disease
• COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Immunocompromised individuals (undergoing chemotherapy, solid organ transplant, etc.)
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
• Serious heart conditions (heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies)
• High Blood Pressure
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)

Might be at an increased risk:

• Cerebrovascular disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Neurological conditions
• Pregnant women
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Smokers
• Thalassemia
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Please note: It is recommended that in the early phases of resocialization of athletics, individuals with underlying medical conditions should refrain from participating and continue to In later phases of athletic reopening, it is recommended that these individuals participate, but should practice social distancing and minimize exposure to settings where such distancing is not practical. The presence of underlying medical conditions will require documentation from the medical specialist treating the individual. Final participation clearances are at the discretion of the head team physician in conjunction with SJC sports medicine staff.

Please contact your coach to notify them of the equipment you have and plans will be made to help you get it back to campus.

Not currently, but options are being explored and evaluated to facilitate this.

A student-athlete’s standing on the team will be unaffected; student-athletes need to make the best decision for themselves and their families.

Access to indoor spaces is currently restricted. We are working to facilitate outdoor training areas for student-athletes. When indoor activities are permitted and practical, students may use the facility in small, scheduled training groups.

With the decision to suspend athletic competition for the fall coupled with the DIII Administrative Committee’s approval of blanket waivers for participation, fall-sport student-athletes will not be charged with a season of participation, even if the team conducts small group skill instruction or practice. Additionally, student-athletes will receive a two-semester extension of eligibility, provided they were otherwise eligible for competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Winter- and spring-sport student-athletes are also eligible for this waiver, but only if their team completes 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests.