The College of St. Scholastica

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 1 AT 10:00 AM

Q-Will there be Fall sports?
The UMAC announced Thursday, July 30, that conference competition for the sports of football, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball will not be conducted in the fall or governed by the UMAC. The UMAC will explore opportunities to provide conference competition and championships/tournaments for fall sports in the spring season. The UMAC Council of Presidents and Chancellors supports institutional autonomy to pursue non-conference competition in the fall.

On Monday, August 24, the UMAC announced the suspension of fall competition for Cross Country and Golf and will also pursue opportunities in the spring for those sports, including a UMAC Men's and Women's Golf Championship to determine an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships in the spring. Given the cancellation announcement of NCAA Fall Championships on August 5 and the NCAA recommendation of no fall competitions on August 20, CSS will not be pursuing outside competition this fall and will focus on development both on and off the field. 

Q-Will Fall sport athletes return early to begin preseason?
Yes - Move in dates for the following dates are as follows.

• Golf - Aug. 22 
• Football - Aug. 29 
• Volleyball - Aug. 30 
• Men's Soccer - Aug. 30 
• Women's Soccer - Aug. 31 
• Cross Country - Sept. 3 

Q-When will students know if winter and spring sports are happening?
The NCHA announced on Thursday, August 6 that league games will not be played until January of 2021.

The UMAC announced on September 1, that conference competition would be suspended through December 31, 2020 in men's and women's basketball and men's and women's indoor track & field.

Institutions still have the autonomy to schedule non-conference games prior to January 1 in both conference. CSS is still reviewing whether to pursue non-conference competition in those sports prior to January 1. 

Decisions from the CCSA will be made at a later date.

Decisions on spring sports will be made not until later this fall semester.

Q-What will it be like to participate on a team as a fall sport?
CSS will work to ensure a safe and meaningful student-athlete experience for the Fall by continuing to explore the following options:

• Fall sport practices throughout the typical traditional season.
• A full non-traditional season during the fall semester for spring sports (Baseball, Softball, Men’s Tennis and Women’s Tennis).

Q-What will the athletic experience be like for the fall semester?
All student-athletes will continue to be provided with workout plans, academic and personal support, athletic training needs and leadership development opportunities by our athletic administrators, sports medicine staff and coaching staffs. Regardless of their location, they will be able to have athletic-related meetings online with coaches. Student-athletes not returning to full-time enrollment for the fall semester will not be permitted to participate in individual or small group in-person workouts. All activities will be held in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local, and institutional safety guidelines.

Q - What will happen if one of my teammates tests positive for COVID-19?   
Athletics will be following the College's Safe Return Policy.  Link to http://www.css.edu/administration/safety-and-security/coronavirus/saintsriseup-safe-return/safe-return-faqs.html

Note to student-athletes and parents: Student-athletes with a confirmed positive test will be encouraged to return home for the duration of their recovery time.  Teammates of said individual will be entered into a 14-day quarantine and also encouraged to return home during this time. If returning home is not an option, residential life will have designated room assignments for both the isolation of a positive test student and exposed individuals entering into quarantine status.

Q-Will athletic teams who are not competing continue to function as teams? Will they have coaches?
It is expected that coaches will be permitted to engage with their teams and student-athletes. We anticipate the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities with members of our coaching staffs that will prepare teams to be competitive when their sports return in the future. Teams will likely practice in small groups to begin and progress through various phases that will increase the number of participants and activities. Any athletically-related activities must be conducted in accordance with NCAA resocialization guidelines in effect at that time in addition to any mandated restrictions imposed by local, county or campus entities.

Q-Will spring sports have the opportunity to engage in their non-traditional seasons? 
Yes - Our spring sports will have the opportunity to conduct practices and team activities this fall, following all safety recommendations. 

• Baseball/Softball/Tennis - September 14 (Tentative)

Q-How are sports determined to be low-, medium- or high-risk?
In accordance with the NCAA’s Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sports, each NCAA-sponsored sport was classified as low-, medium-, or high-risk for virus transmission based on consensus from the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel and the AMSSM COVID-19 Working Group on the probability and significance of respiratory droplet spread during vigorous exercise when physical distancing and masking are not applied or are not possible.

CSS Sports Below
Low contact risk: Golf, Nordic Skiing, Tennis, Track and Field.
Medium contact risk: Baseball, Cross Country*, Softball.
High contact risk: Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball.

*The UMAC is exploring options to create an environment that will move Cross Country to a low risk sport.

Q-When will athletic facilities be available for students?
We anticipate having the facilities available when the students return to campus. The BWC plans to reopen the week of Aug. 24. All users must:

• Enter via front door A
• Carry in a pair of clean, non-marking shoes
• Check in at front desk with your Saints card (CSS ID) 
• Wear face covering at all times.

The BWC will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until school begins on Sept. 8

Q-Will athletic spaces, such as fields, and courts be available for student use?
All spaces will still be available for usage under new maximum capacity and reservation protocol to adhere to Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.
Click Here for further information.

Q-Will locker rooms and coaches’ offices be available for student-athletes?
Locker rooms will have limited access for traditional sports (in season) only with a revised maximum capacity and only for practice and contests usage.

Q-Will outdoor facilities/spaces/fields be "open" for student-led workouts and optional practices?
Outdoor facilities will be available, but usage will be tracked through a check in process.

Q-Will teams be allowed to travel off-campus for practice?
Yes - this will be at the discretion of the coach.

Q-Will athletic training and the weight room be available?
Both facilities will be available and we will adhere to Minnesota Department of Health and CC guidelines.

Q-Will masks be required when working out in the BWC or on outdoor facilities?
Masks will be required at all times when inside the BWC, unless you are involved in an intercollegiate practice. For outdoor spaces, if are not able to physically distance when not participating in an activity, a mask is recommended. 
Q-Will student-athletes be allowed to work on campus or off-campus during the school year?
Yes - Also students required to do internships, class-related work and other off-campus activities.

Q-Will practicing affect my NCAA eligibility?
No. For Division III student-athletes, participation in workouts, meetings or practices in their usual season during the fall semester will not trigger the use of a season of participation.

Additionally, on July 9, 2020, the NCAA approved a recommendation that ALL Division III student-athletes would not be charged with a season of eligibility if their team could not participate in at least 50% of the maximum number of contests/dates of competition during the season. Or if the student-athlete was unable to participate in their sport during the 2020-2021 academic year as long as the student-athlete was otherwise eligible for competition.

Q-Are there certain medical conditions, in relation to Covid-19, that might preclude me from participating in organized athletic activity?
Yes. As outlined in the NCAA Resocialization of Sport document, specific underlying medical conditions such as moderate to severe asthma, immunocompromised status, severe obesity, diabetes or additional heart, lung, kidney or liver disease have all been identified as conditions that may place an individual into a higher-risk category. It is recommended that individuals with increased risk factors refrain from participation in the early stages of organized athletic activity. The presence of increased risk factors may require additional documentation from your primary physician, and all final participation clearances are at the discretion of the health care providers at the college.

Q-Are there other Division III colleges and universities that have altered their fall semester varsity athletics programs?
Yes. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C9Dq-M4gzed298NitTWxuKUObQQFY8G9nxJ8d4xE5NU/edit?pli=1#gid=2034604698

Q-What guidance can be provided regarding general health and safety, fitness, recreation, and dining services for the St. Scholastica campus community?
All CSS campus community members are encouraged to visit the Safe Return website: http://www.css.edu/administration/safety-and-security/coronavirus/saintsriseup-safe-return.html 
The website includes FAQs & Resources by topic.

Q-Where can resources for all St. Scholastica students be found?
Resources for students regarding returning to campus, residential life, academic support, as well as international & study abroad programs can be found at: http://www.css.edu/administration/safety-and-security/coronavirus/saintsriseup-safe-return/safe-return-students.html

Q-Where can visitor resources be found?
Visiting campus during the fall semester. Stay informed & up-to-date about how the College is managing the COVID-19 outbreak at:
http://www.css.edu/administration/safety-and-security/coronavirus/saintsriseup-safe-return/safe-return-visitors.html

Q-Where can faculty & staff resources be found?
Resources regarding returning to work, returning to labs and other instructional resources can be found at: http://www.css.edu/administration/safety-and-security/coronavirus/saintsriseup-safe-return/safe-return-faculty-and-staff.html