Important Memo Regarding Board of Directors January Meeting & Event Decisions

The Board of Directors met yesterday to discuss the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and our plans moving forward throughout the remainder of the 2020-21 season of competition.  Below I have bulleted the Board’s decisions and rationale:

1.      The USCAA Cross Country Nationals have been cancelled.

a.      Following USCAA membership surveys, eight (8) institutions indicated that they would be hosting a spring XC schedule.  Furthermore, with only six weeks of planning remaining prior to the event and a rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide, we do not feel the event can be planned and executed effectively, nor do expected participation numbers exist to host a viable National Championship. 

2.      The USCAA will forgo any plans to host a National Invitational in the sports of basketball or volleyball.

a.      First, we recognize the continued rise in COVID-19 cases and the high-risk nature of the indoor sports of volleyball and basketball. 

b.      Following the cancellation of the National Championships in these events, we surveyed to determine demand for a National Invitational event.  In both instances, we received less than a 50% response from member institutions and from those that completed the surveys, we had fewer than 10 member institutions who were interested in attending, with even fewer having complete confidence that they would be permitted to attend.

c.      The USCAA will provide opportunities for member institutions to host USCAA branded regional tournaments and will work to assist in marketing and coordination should these events be considered viable by the membership.  Any institution interested in hosting must contact the national office with intent no later than February 15^th. 

3.      The USCAA has tabled our review of a National Invitational for soccer

a.      Due to both the timing of the event and the outdoor nature of the event, we have time to review the status of soccer in the USCAA and determine whether an invitational event is feasible.  This will be reviewed and voted upon in the February USCAA Board meeting. 

4.      The USCAA continues to plan for the USCAA Small College World Series (Baseball & Softball) and Golf National Championships. We will continue to monitor USCAA participation, as well as trends related to the pandemic. Our hope is to be able to safely provide a National Championship opportunity in these sports, and we will work towards that goal throughout the spring.

This week, we will be distributing a critical survey related to your participation in soccer, golf, baseball, and softball.  We encourage Athletic Directors to complete these surveys with full feedback from your President’s Office.  This will help determine the ongoing viability of National Championships in 2021.  Furthermore, the survey will assist in feedback on content development for this year’s virtual National Convention. 

Please know that the USCAA is committed to our small colleges across the country, ensuring that our student-athletes are safe and that our mission is served.  We appreciate your continued involvement and engagement in making the right decisions and we truly look forward to returning to the playing field soon.