The Old Dominion Athletic Conference Presidents’ Council, in consultation with the ODAC Board of Directors, has endorsed a plan for a return to collegiate competition during the 2021 spring semester.
“Every institution in the ODAC has been focused on ensuring the best possible student experience throughout the pandemic and the role athletics plays in that is an important one,” said Dr. David Bushman, President of Bridgewater College and currently serving as chair of the ODAC Presidents Council. “As we have all learned over the past nine months, prudent planning and the capacity to respond quickly to changing circumstances go hand in hand. We believe putting detailed plans in place now for a return to competition beginning in January is the best way to honor the commitment we make to all of our students.”
The Presidents’ Council has committed that the conference will follow all established NCAA testing recommendations. A Standard Operating Procedures for Competition has been completed and the document was developed by the ODAC Board of Directors and a number of member working groups including athletic training and sports medicine personnel.
The ODAC considered several different scheduling models as part of its return to competition plan. The resulting framework provides regular season and conference championship structures for fall and winter sports in addition to the unaltered previously established spring sport schedules and championships. Basketball, indoor track & field, and swimming will maintain their opportunities to qualify for NCAA championship participation. Second semester competition is scheduled to begin on January 23 with men’s and women’s basketball. All other sports will begin later as the semester progresses.
“The conference has worked diligently to create a plan for all our student-athletes to continue their collegiate athletic experience in the spring,” said ODAC Commissioner Brad Bankston. “I am pleased with the progress we have made and the plans we have created. While no one can control the pandemic, we can continue to follow local guidance, implement well-documented best practices regarding health and safety, and prepare for competition following the recommendations presented by the NCAA. I thank all the student-athletes, parents, coaches and fans who have been patient with us during this difficult time. We’re all living in an environment where we must continue to closely monitor recommendations from health professionals and pivot when and where needed.”
Conference leadership will meet on a regular basis between now and the end of 2020 and continue with its planning for competition in 2021. Leadership will track the progress of COVID-19 and subsequent health and safety recommendations provided by local, state and national public health authorities.
“Roanoke College is extremely pleased with the decision of the ODAC to move forward with competition opportunities for our student-athletes,” said Roanoke College Director of Athletics Scott Allison. “We put protocols in place this fall to ensure that our student-athletes would be able to train, work out, and practice in anticipation of having the opportunity to compete in the spring. The hard work of the ODAC leadership, President’s Council, and Board of Directors has paved the way with a well thought out plan for a return to competition.”
VHSL clarifies “spectators” and “participants” in Governor’s new order
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has clarified the difference between spectators and participants in regard to Virginia Governor Northam’s new statewide measure to contain COVID-19. Specifically the VHSL has addressed the reduction from 250 to 25 spectators for in-person gatherings at VHSL sports and activities.
The reduction in public and private gatherings to 25 individuals applies to “spectators” and does not include participants at those events. The Governor’s order defines “participants” as players, coaches, officials, school event staff and school administration critical to the operations of the contests, media, law enforcement, and medical services. Cheerleaders, pep bands, etc., and other student support groups, are counted as spectators in the limit of 25 allowed at events.
According to Amended Executive Order 67 guidelines for recreational sports, which emphasizes that sports activities are permitted but must comply with the following requirements:
a. The total number of spectators cannot exceed the lesser of 30% of the occupancy load of the certificate of occupancy for the venue, if applicable, or 25 spectators per field. Races or marathons may have up to 250 participants, provided staggered starts separate runners into groups of 25 or less.
