Original 7/26/2020 (5:30 p.m.)
Updated 7/29/2020 (3:30 p.m.)
Following the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s announcement that intercollegiate fall sport competition will not be possible at institutions within the WIAC, UW-Oshkosh has compiled this document to help student-athletes and institutional coaches and administrators answer questions that may arise as students make decisions about their enrollment and/or athletics participation options for the 2020-21 academic year.
This document will be updated as additional questions or issues arise and as additional guidance is received from NCAA, the WIAC, and the institution.
1. Q. Will there be fall sports?
A. At UW-Oshkosh, all fall sports including football, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country will be cancelled for the 2020-21 academic year. In the upcoming weeks, UW-Oshkosh will determine when and how many practice opportunities, within the limitations stipulated by the NCAA and in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local, and institutional safety guidelines, will be conducted throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
All competition in the sports of women’s tennis and women’s golf will be suspended for the 2020 fall term. The WIAC seasons and championships in the sports of women’s tennis and women’s golf will be moved to the 2021 spring term. In the upcoming weeks, in the sport of women’s tennis and women’s golf, UW-Oshkosh will determine when and how many practice opportunities, within the limitations stipulated by the NCAA and in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local, and institutional safety guidelines will be conducted during the fall semester.
2. Q. Will fall student-athletes return early to begin preseason?
A. No, fall student-athletes will arrive on campus with other students.
3. Q. Will athletic teams that are not competing continue to function as teams? Will they have coaches?
A. 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.
4. Q. Will there be different rules for fall contact and non-contact sports?
A. At this time, rules for fall sports programs will be the same for all sports.
5. Q. What will the athletic experience be like for the fall semester?
A. All student-athletes will continue to be provided with workout plans, academic and personal support, and leadership development opportunities by our athletic administrators, strength & conditioning 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.
6. Q. How will practicing affect NCAA eligibility?
A. Practices 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. While practicing normally triggers a season of NCAA eligibility in Division III, student- athletes would not use a season of eligibility in the fall of 2020 because the team will not compete. Student-athletes who are enrolled full-time during the fall of 2020 are considered to have used a semester within the permissible 10 semesters allowed by the NCAA in which to complete their four seasons of participation. An NCAA waiver will be considered for any student-athlete who may need to exceed 10 semesters of eligibility as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Please address any eligibility concerns with the Associate Director of Athletics and NCAA Compliance Coordinator, Victoria Stimac, at stimacv@uwosh.edu.
7. Q. Can a coach engage in athletically-related activity with their student-athlete if the institution does not sponsor competition for fall sports in 2020?
A. Yes, provided that the athletically related activity is within the declared playing season. 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.
8. Q. If a student-athlete engages in athletically-related activity within the declared playing season in which no outside competition will be conducted, will the student-athlete be charged with a season of participation?
A. No. A student-athlete is only charged with a season of participation when the student-athlete participates (practices or competes) during or after the first contest in the traditional segment. If the student-athlete's engagement in athletically-related activity does not include outside competition, the student-athlete may practice without being charged with a season of participation
9. Q. Will a leave of absence be necessary to stay on track from an NCAA eligibility perspective?
A. No. A leave of absence is not necessary. Because UW-Oshkosh is not competing in the fall of 2020, a student-athlete is not using a season of eligibility. Student-athletes have 10 full- time semesters to complete four seasons of participation in a sport. An NCAA waiver will be considered for any student-athlete who may need to exceed 10 semesters of eligibility as a result of circumstances beyond their control.
10. Q. Can a student-athlete enroll at a junior college to save money and re-enroll spring of 2021 or fall 2021 if their season has been cancelled or postponed?
A. This is permissible; however, this would trigger a transfer status and all transfer rules would apply. Not being enrolled full-time at UW-Oshkosh would also cause the student-athlete to be unable to participate in any team activity regardless if it is virtual or in person.
11. Q. With the fall 2020 season cancelled (football, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country) or suspended (women’s tennis and women’s golf), does a student-athlete need be enrolled at UW-Oshkosh during the fall semester in order to participate in the spring of 2021?
A. If another college or university is attended during the time not enrolled at UW-Oshkosh, transfer status would be triggered and all transfer rules would apply including reapplying for admission. If a semester is taken off, the student-athlete would need to reapply for admission. Not being enrolled full-time at UW-Oshkosh would also cause the student-athlete to be unable to participate in any team activity regardless if it is virtual or in person during the fall.
12. Q. When will students know if winter and spring sports are happening?
A. All sports engaging in competition in the fall of 2020 is currently being evaluated by the WIAC COVID-19 Task Force and Chancellors. No decision has been made at this time. The decision to participate in intercollegiate athletic competitions during the spring of 2021 will be made at an appropriate time and will be informed by an evaluation of the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.
13. Q. Will spring sports have the opportunity to engage in their non-traditional seasons?
A. Following the WIAC’s announcement that intercollegiate fall sport competition will not be possible at institutions within the WIAC, non-traditional seasons will also not conduct competitions in fall 2020. Any other 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.
14. Q. Are all student-athletes allowed to participate with their teams this fall?
A. Yes, all students who are permitted back on campus and enrolled full-time are allowed to participate with their teams. 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.
16. Q. Will all student-athletes be allowed to participate with their teams in the spring?
A. This will be dependent on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.
17. Q. What about student-athletes whose seasons cover both semesters, such as men's and women's basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, and men's and women's track & field? Will they be permitted to participate in both semesters?
A. As we transition to an alternative learning environment after Thanksgiving, University operations will remain open. As long as the COVID-19 pandemic does not cause a need for change, student-athletes with a season which spans both semesters will be able to participate in both semesters.
18. Q. Does a student-athlete need to be enrolled full time at the institution to participate in virtual practices conducted by the institution?
A. Yes, for the 2020-21 academic year all existing eligibility requirements apply. Practices 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.
19. Q. What athletic training, strength & conditioning, and locker rooms will be available?
A. Athletic training rehab, treatment, and evaluation will be by appointment and protocols will be implemented. Strength & conditioning will take place in small groups with appropriate spacing in designated time slots as per Student Recreation and Wellness, NCAA, State and local guidelines. Not being enrolled full-time at UW-Oshkosh would also cause the student-athlete to be unable to utilize these services. Locker rooms will not be available at this time. All spaces will have enhanced daily cleaning protocols in place.
20. Q. Will athletic spaces, such as fields, courts be available for student use?
A. Spaces will be reopened in line with state guidelines. Not all athletic spaces will be operational when you first return to campus, and for many of these spaces there will be new protocols to follow, such as scheduling based use, cleaning requirements and capacity limitations.
ADDED ON 7/29/20
21. Q. What do I need to do to still be a member of a team this fall?
A. Prior to participation in any athletically related activities, all preseason participation paperwork must be completed (athletic training/medical and eligibility paperwork). Due to the changes this summer, ALL paperwork must be completed and turned in by September 1, 2020. Coaches will disseminate eligibility paperwork and meeting times in the upcoming weeks.
22. Q. What happens if there is a positive test result on our team?
A. If a team member tests positive, the Athletics Department will follow UW-Oshkosh campus guidelines for isolation until the incubation period and/or symptoms resolve. We will begin contact tracing with the tested individual to identify and notify those that may have come in contact with them. Through this process, we will determine if those potential contacts need to self-quarantine for 14 days. If a person tests positive, we will work to provide a thermometer (if one isn’t available already) and symptom checklist for daily monitoring of symptoms. Once isolation period and/or symptoms resolve, the person will follow up with a physician for clearance to return to activity.
23. Q. Is my athletic paperwork still due?
A. Yes. In anticipation of athletically-related activities, ALL preseason participation paperwork needs to be completed. Due to the changes this summer, ALL paperwork must be completed and turned in by September 1, 2020. ALL paperwork must be completed prior to your participation any athletically-related activity.
24. Q. Will the Student-Athlete Participate fee still be assessed for the 2020-21 academic year?
A. A Student-Athlete Participation fee will only be assessed to student accounts if outside competition occurs.
25. Q. Who do I contact if I have questions?
A. If you have questions about items that are specific to your team, please contact your head coach - https://uwoshkoshtitans.com/insideathletics/Staff
If you have questions about your eligibility or any of the NCAA waivers, please contact Victoria Stimac, stimacv@uwosh.edu
If you have any questions about the Athletic Training Room or testing procedures, please contact Wade Peitersen, peiterse@uwosh.edu
26. Q. I am a prospective student-athlete, how does this all affect my recruitment?
A. If you are a prospective student-athlete you may experience changes in the length of your on campus visit, your ability to view a practice or competition, or your ability to experience an overnight visit to campus. These changes are all being made with your health and safety in mind. The coaches who are recruiting you will communicate what your recruitment will look like throughout the year.