iStockphoto
Canceling the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournament due to the coronavirus wasn’t the only announcement the NCAA made on Thursday, it also canceled all remaining championships for all spring and winter sports.
Baseball, softball, hockey, golf, tennis and all other spring and winter sports were effected yesterday. While March Madness getting canceled was the biggest news, thousands of other student-athletes across the country had their lives turned upside down.
While the world’s health and wellbeing are priority number one during the coronavirus outbreak, it’s tough not to feel for these student-athletes, especially seniors, that were gearing up for the postseason or other athletes that were just getting into the thick of their seasons.
Even if spring and winter sports resume action there wouldn’t be a Frozen Four, College World Series or NCAA Tournaments at the end of the year, which for lack of a better phrase, sucks big time.
It appears that the NCAA has stepped in and done the right thing, however.
According to Jeff Goodman, the NCAA is planning to grant an extra season of competition to all student-athletes who have participated in spring sports this year.
It is worth noting that at this time there hasn’t been any decision or announcement made regarding winter sport student-athletes.
The NCAA’s Council Coordination Committee has agreed to grant relief for the use of a season of competition for student-athletes who have participated in spring sports.
Committee will also discuss issues for winter sport student-athletes.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2020
This announcement doesn’t really mean too much for student-athletes set to graduate and are looking to get into the real world or student-athletes set to make the jump to the professional level, but for thousands of other student-athletes around the country, it’s certainly great news.
It will be interesting to see how the logistics play out with this decision; still a lot of moving parts.