CCCAA Cancels Spring Seasons, Restores Eligibility
The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Thursday that the remainder of the 2020 spring sports season will be canceled, the spring season of competition for approximately 9,500 student-athletes will be restored and face-to-face recruiting and recruiting-related travel is being prohibited immediately but will be re-evaluated next month. Ventura College is a participant in the CCCAA, and the college has moved to all online instruction for the remainder of the spring semester.
The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously on Thursday that the remainder of the 2020 spring sports season will be canceled, the spring season of competition for approximately 9,500 student-athletes will be restored and face-to-face recruiting and recruiting-related travel is being prohibited immediately but will be re-evaluated next month. Ventura College is a participant in the CCCAA, and the college has moved to all online instruction for the remainder of the spring semester.
The CCCAA, which oversees and governs athletics for 109 member institutions, postponed the spring seasons last week due to concerns over COVID-19 with hopes of possibly returning to competition. However, with campuses throughout the state closed and most classes taking place online, and with the uncertainty about when conditions will improve, the Board of Directors voted to cancel the spring sports seasons.
Additionally, nontraditional seasons and practices outside of regularly scheduled classes are canceled through June 30, 2020.
The Board of Directors subsequently voted that nearly 9,500 student-athletes who competed this spring will have their season of competition restored, provided they had not quit or been cut from their teams prior to the seasons being postponed by the CCCAA on March 12. The restoration only applies to the student-athletes' status within the CCCAA. The NCAA, NAIA and other collegiate governing bodies are currently addressing similar issues and the CCCAA will continue to work with them to help student-athletes who wish to eventually transfer.
In light of the state and federal guidelines related to COVID-19, the CCCAA has also instituted a temporary ban on face-to-face recruiting - and any travel related to recruiting - until April 15 at which time the CCCAA will review and decide whether to continue the ban or not. It's similar to recruiting restrictions put in place by other collegiate governing bodies.
"College athletics are facing unprecedented circumstances and we are doing our best to address the concerns that have come about as a result," said Jennifer Cardone, CCCAA Interim Executive Director. "Undoubtedly, it's a challenging time but student-athletes are at the center of our focus as well as what's in the best interest of our institutions."
The CCCAA canceled its men's and women's basketball championships at West Hills College-Lemoore last week and later canceled its 2020 CCCAA Convention in Ontario. The association will continue to disseminate pertinent information as it becomes available.