Chapman high-risk sports canceled for fall semester

Pete the Panther won’t have the chance to rear his head at Chapman football games this fall, as it was announced July 24 high-risk sports would be cancelled until the spring. Panther Archives

Seasons for high-risk fall sports at Chapman University have been canceled for 2020, with more potential restrictions looming on the horizon.

In a virtual town hall meeting July 28, Chapman Athletic Director Terry Boesel announced that fall sports including football, soccer, volleyball and water polo are postponed through Dec. 31. Men’s and women’s basketball are the first winter sports to see a suspension, with their potential season start date being pushed from Aug. 10 to Jan. 1, 2021. 

Normally, fall teams compete over the course of 18 to 19 consecutive weeks. However, given the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has altered the “season” to a 114-day system. With the NCAA Division III canceling all fall championships as of Aug. 5 and the dismantlement of normal game and practice schedules, coaches will be able to spread those 114 days throughout the duration of the academic year. While seemingly simple, there are some wrinkles to this rule. 

With campus shut down to begin the fall semester, athletes cannot gather in person for any form of practice.

“Anytime we are remote, we will not be able to participate in athletics,” Boesel said. “However, if we switch to residential learning, then coaches can work with athletes and sports can come back.

Residential learning, while classes still may be online, means students will still receive on-campus housing from Chapman Residence Life. In the midst of cuts to the number of students allowed in housing, Boesel mentioned that athletes may be given extra consideration for a spot to live on-campus. 

Students experienced their first taste of remote learning back in March, when the University moved its method of instruction from classrooms to remote, virtual meetings. For student-athletes, returning at some point in the fall for residential learning could still mean online classes, but it would give student-athletes the ability to have meal plans, live on campus and take part in small, in-person group workouts. However, while the university operates remotely Boesel said coaches are planning to hold virtual workouts. 

Boesel and Associate Director of Athletics Doug Aiken stated virtual workouts could start as soon as Aug. 10, with small group workouts potentially commencing the first day of school, Aug. 31.

Athletes will also be given an opportunity to opt-out of the upcoming season. The NCAA is offering a blanket waiver to any athlete within a program that participates less than 50% of its season. Players who exercise this waiver will retain a year of eligibility. 

In order for students to be eligible to participate in athletic activity, they must be enrolled in at least 12 credits during the season. Aiken is working with upperclassmen student-athletes who want an opportunity to play at Chapman next fall by helping them allocate enough academic credits to be eligible, whether it be reducing course load or entering a graduate program.