NCAA, CBU Providing Extra Year for Spring Senior Student-Athletes
4/14/2020 5:12:00 PM | General
RIVERSIDE – The NCAA Division I Council recently approved by vote that schools can provide spring-sport student-athletes that used a season of competition an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibility.
California Baptist University announced today its plans to support the return of senior student-athletes participating with spring programs that had shortened 2020 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus giving them an option to return to competition.
"We are excited about the Council's decision to extend eligibility for our spring-sport student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Dr. Micah Parker. "It's also outstanding that we can provide an option for the impacted seniors to return, and that we can do so by offering up to the same scholarship amount they have now. We are looking forward to having them back so they may continue to advance academically while competing once again in a Lancer uniform in 2020-21."
CBU coaching staffs of spring programs are currently in contact with senior student-athletes interested in returning. CBU is anticipating that many seniors will accept the opportunity to come back with some of them needing to start graduate studies soon. Others may decide to transition to other aspects of life such as playing professionally, pursuing a job opportunity or furthering their education elsewhere.
According to the March 30 NCAA statement, "Members also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for incoming recruits and student-athletes who had been in their last year of eligibility who decide to return."
In a nod to the financial uncertainty faced by higher education, the Council vote also provided schools with the flexibility to give students the opportunity to return for 2020-21 without requiring that athletics aid be provided at the same level awarded for 2019-20. This flexibility applies only to student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility in 2019-20.
"A lot of factors go into providing this great opportunity that we are proud to be able to offer during a time of uncertainty throughout college athletics and beyond," Parker added. "We have worked hand-in-hand with our campus leadership and coaches in an effort to serve our student-athletes to the best of our abilities."
Division I rules limit student-athletes to four seasons of competition within a five-year period. The Council's decision allows schools to self-apply waivers to restore one of those seasons of competition for student-athletes who had competed while eligible in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 spring season.
"I feel blessed that I have been presented the opportunity to come back and play another year for CBU," said baseball senior student-athlete John Glenn. "I chose to come back because the feeling of unfinished business did not sit well with me. I am excited to have another chance to chase a championship."
The Council also will allow schools to self-apply a one-year extension of eligibility for all spring-sport student-athletes who used a season of competition, effectively extending each student's five-year "clock" by a year. This decision was especially important for student-athletes who had reached the end of their five-year clock in 2020 and saw their seasons end abruptly.
Winter sports were not included in the decision. Council members declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons were completed.
The Council also increased the roster limit in baseball for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only spring sport with such a limit.
WHAT CBU SPRING-SPORT HEAD COACHES ARE SAYING:
Gary Adcock, Baseball
"I am grateful and thankful to the NCAA Council and CBU for the opportunity given to our players to compete again, particularly our seniors. While it cannot fix all the issues that have arisen during these trying times, it is a bright spot and a source of hope for the future. Having these seniors back with their leadership, hard work, abilities and knowing the Lancer Way is going to be invaluable."
Bill Baber, Softball
"I am very excited about our seniors that are returning. They worked hard preparing for the season and now they will get the chance to be rewarded for all their hard work."
TL Brown, Men's Golf
"What an incredible opportunity the NCAA provided to student-athletes. Especially those senior athletes that have worked so hard to execute down the stretch. They will now have a chance to finish the race and truly cross the finish line."
Marc Machado, Women's Golf
Amidst these difficult and uncertain times, this is such great news for all student athletes. We are so fortunate that the NCAA has made this decision and also that CBU has decided that they can financially support our seniors for another year. This is a true testament to our campus leadership and all of their continued support of CBU Athletics and the overall student experience. I'm very grateful to work at a University that holds these values. Even in these times, God is still good.
Jonathan Miller, Women's Water Polo
"We're extremely thankful that the NCAA and CBU is allowing these student-athletes to return next year. After all the hard work they have put in over the course of their careers, it is great that they will have the option to be able to finish with a complete season."
Adam Tribble, Cross Country and Track
"We all of course were very disappointed with not being able to complete this track season, but there is a silver lining in that we can now welcome back for another year, both Anett (Somogyi) and Fruzsina (Ladanyi). They both did a great job this past fall in cross country, and we're very excited to see what they each can accomplish next track season."
California Baptist University announced today its plans to support the return of senior student-athletes participating with spring programs that had shortened 2020 season
"We are excited about the Council's decision to extend eligibility for our spring-sport student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Dr. Micah Parker. "It's also outstanding that we can provide an option for the impacted seniors to return, and that we can do so by offering up to the same scholarship amount they have now. We are looking forward to having them back so they may continue to advance academically while competing once again in a Lancer uniform in 2020-21."
CBU coaching staffs of spring programs are currently in contact with senior student-athletes interested in returning. CBU is anticipating that many seniors will accept the opportunity to come back with some of them needing to start graduate studies soon. Others may decide to transition to other aspects of life such as playing professionally, pursuing a job opportunity or furthering their education elsewhere.
According to the March 30 NCAA statement, "Members also adjusted financial aid rules to allow teams to carry more members on scholarship to account for incoming recruits and student-athletes who had been in their last year of eligibility who decide to return."
In a nod to the financial uncertainty faced by higher education, the Council vote also provided schools with the flexibility to give students the opportunity to return for 2020-21 without requiring that athletics aid be provided at the same level awarded for 2019-20. This flexibility applies only to student-athletes who would have exhausted eligibility in 2019-20.
"A lot of factors go into providing this great opportunity that we are proud to be able to offer during a time of uncertainty throughout college athletics and beyond," Parker added. "We have worked hand-in-hand with our campus leadership and coaches in an effort to serve our student-athletes to the best of our abilities."
Division I rules limit student-athletes to four seasons of competition within a five-year period. The Council's decision allows schools to self-apply waivers to restore one of those seasons of competition for student-athletes who had competed while eligible in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 spring season.
"I feel blessed that I have been presented the opportunity to come back and play another year for CBU," said baseball senior student-athlete John Glenn. "I chose to come back because the feeling of unfinished business did not sit well with me. I am excited to have another chance to chase a championship."
The Council also will allow schools to self-apply a one-year extension of eligibility for all spring-sport student-athletes who used a season of competition, effectively extending each student's five-year "clock" by a year. This decision was especially important for student-athletes who had reached the end of their five-year clock in 2020 and saw their seasons end abruptly.
Winter sports were not included in the decision. Council members declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons were completed.
The Council also increased the roster limit in baseball for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the only spring sport with such a limit.
WHAT CBU SPRING-SPORT HEAD COACHES ARE SAYING:
Gary Adcock, Baseball
"I am grateful and thankful to the NCAA Council and CBU for the opportunity given to our players to compete again, particularly our seniors. While it cannot fix all the issues that have arisen during these trying times, it is a bright spot and a source of hope for the future. Having these seniors back with their leadership, hard work, abilities and knowing the Lancer Way is going to be invaluable."
Bill Baber, Softball
"I am very excited about our seniors that are returning. They worked hard preparing for the season and now they will get the chance to be rewarded for all their hard work."
TL Brown, Men's Golf
"What an incredible opportunity the NCAA provided to student-athletes. Especially those senior athletes that have worked so hard to execute down the stretch. They will now have a chance to finish the race and truly cross the finish line."
Marc Machado, Women's Golf
Amidst these difficult and uncertain times, this is such great news for all student athletes. We are so fortunate that the NCAA has made this decision and also that CBU has decided that they can financially support our seniors for another year. This is a true testament to our campus leadership and all of their continued support of CBU Athletics and the overall student experience. I'm very grateful to work at a University that holds these values. Even in these times, God is still good.
Jonathan Miller, Women's Water Polo
"We're extremely thankful that the NCAA and CBU is allowing these student-athletes to return next year. After all the hard work they have put in over the course of their careers, it is great that they will have the option to be able to finish with a complete season."
Adam Tribble, Cross Country and Track
"We all of course were very disappointed with not being able to complete this track season, but there is a silver lining in that we can now welcome back for another year, both Anett (Somogyi) and Fruzsina (Ladanyi). They both did a great job this past fall in cross country, and we're very excited to see what they each can accomplish next track season."
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