For information regarding CSU Pueblo’s response to COVID-19, click HERE.
Conditions around the COVID-19 pandemic and college athletics are rapidly evolving. Answers to these questions could change at any time. (Updated Sept. 25, 2020)
ATHLETICS CONTACTS
Eligibility and NCAA compliance:
Jackie Wallgren, jackie.wallgren@csupueblo.edu
Athletic training, health, and safety:
Devin Hart, devin.hart@csupueblo.edu
Academic questions: Shawn Devine, shawn.devine@csupueblo.edu
General questions:
Paul Plinske, paul.plinske@csupueblo.edu
Media inquiries:
Dax Larson, dax.larson@csupueblo.edu
COMPETITION STATUS
What is the current status of fall sports? (Updated Feb. 12, 2021)
On Aug. 5, the
NCAA announced the cancellation of all fall championships, and that fall sport championships would not take place during the spring.
On Aug. 6, the RMAC announced that football, soccer, and volleyball will move to the spring. Golf and Tennis will continue to compete as normal in the fall, and CSU Pueblo has opted out of competition in Cross Country for the Fall 2020 season. Soccer and Volleyball RMAC schedules have been developed for Spring 2021, and RMAC championships in these sports are planned for the conclusion of the spring season.
For football only, the RMAC has stated that there will be no championship awarded, and schools may schedule non-conference or conference games. CSU Pueblo will conduct traditional spring practices and has plans to host its annual spring football game on Friday, April 16. CSU Pueblo may participate against outside competition, but no final decisions have been made at this time.
What about winter/spring sports? (Updated Feb. 12, 2021)
The NCAA and RMAC have committed to conducting winter sport championships and are moving forward with plans to do so. At this time, every indication points to relatively "normal" regular seasons and championships for spring sports.
What is the status of spring non-traditional seasons in the fall?
At this time we anticipate spring sports will be able to practice relatively normally in the fall. Medium contact risk sports (baseball, softball) will be permitted to schedule home fall competitions. High contact risk sports (lacrosse, soccer, volleyball) will continue to practice in the fall semester but will not compete against outside teams.
What about NCAA championships? (Updated Feb. 12, 2021)
The NCAA has canceled fall championships. Winter and spring sport championships will be conducted, and the NCAA has implemented rigorous COVID-19 testing protocols for all participants in NCAA championships, and CSU Pueblo has committed to adhering to these protocols in order to ensure our student-athletes and teams are eligible to compete in these championships.
If there is competition, would fans be allowed? (Updated Feb. 12, 2021)
Fans will not be allowed at winter sport competitions held on CSU Pueblo's campus (basketball, swimming and diving, wrestling), and fans will not be allowed at RMAC championships in winter sports. For fall and spring sports that are competing during the Spring 2021 semester, CSU Pueblo has developed fan attendance limits based upon Colorado's COVID-19 dial. For more information, please review the color-coded COVID-19 Dial Operations Plans for our campus on https://www.csupueblo.edu/coronavirus/index.html.
OPTING OUT
What is opting out?
Opting out is a choice that student-athletes may make that means that they will not participate in athletically-related activities. Student-athletes who opt out are required to complete a form. Student-athletes who opt out will not participate in practice, team meetings, competition, or other athletically-related activities. These students will continue to have access to athletic training services and academic services provided by the athletics department. Student-athletes interested in opting out should contact Jackie Wallgren via email to request the form (jackie.wallgren@csupueblo.edu).
What happens if I opt out?
Pack Athletics' #1 commitment is to the health and well-being of our student-athletes. If any student-athlete chooses to opt out in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 concerns, they will not lose their scholarship, there will be no retribution or punishment, and per the NCAA they will not lose a season of eligibility. We ask that any student-athlete considering this talk with Jackie Wallgren about their options and eligibility issues.
Can I opt back in later?
It is possible for student-athletes to change their minds and opt back in to participation. However, this is at the discretion of the athletics department and coaching staff. Student-athletes desiring to opt back in to participation are required to meet with Jackie Wallgren to determine whether there are impacts to their eligibility prior to opting back in. Additionally, there are several approvals that must be obtained.
What about my scholarship?
The NCAA has prohibited institutions from canceling/reducing the 2020-21 athletic scholarship of a student-athlete who opts out by October 1, 2020. CSU Pueblo has committed to maintaining 2020-21 athletic scholarships for all athletes regardless of whether they meet the October 1 deadline, as long as student-athletes opt out within a reasonable timeframe. 2021-22 athletic scholarships will be renewed at the discretion of the coaching staff and athletic department at the end of the Spring 2021 semester. Pack Athletics is committed to retaining scholarships for student-athletes who return in 2021-22, unless there are mitigating circumstances. These circumstances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
ELIGIBILITY
What happens if my sport doesn't play at all, or we start competition but can't finish a season? (Updated 10/23/2020)
In fall and winter sports (basketball, football, soccer, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, volleyball, wrestling), no student-athlete will use one of their four seasons of competition – this will be considered a redshirt year, regardless of whether we compete or not. As long as the fall/winter sport student-athletes are eligible for competition (e.g., academically eligible, enrolled fulltime, etc.), these athletes will receive two extra semesters to complete their eligibility. This means that they will have a total of 12 fulltime semesters to complete their four seasons of competition in their sport.
In spring sports, student-athletes will not use one of their four seasons of competition if CSU Pueblo does not complete more than 50% of the maximum permissible number of competitions. A chart with the maximums for each sport can be found
here. In this situation, student-athletes who have competed will also receive a two-semester extension of eligibility, for a new total of 12 semesters.
If sport seasons are canceled entirely (no games played), then all student-athletes on that team redshirt for that academic year. Additionally, the student-athletes receive two extra semesters to complete their eligibility (total of 12 semesters).
What about recruiting?
On-campus recruiting is ongoing. Visitors must be screened for symptoms upon arrival to campus. Visitors must abide by all campus health and safety guidelines.
Recruits should contact a coach for more information.
Would incoming freshmen be able to "double redshirt" in 2020-21 and 2021-22?
In most cases, yes, a “double redshirt” is possible. Student-athletes must be academically eligible to compete while they redshirt and meet the criteria of an automatic extension of eligibility waiver. Student-athletes should work with their coaches to determine their redshirting plans and map out their future participation plans for their athletic careers inthe future.
What if my fall sport gets moved to the spring, and I'm scheduled to graduate in December?
If a sport gets moved to the spring, a student-athlete must still be enrolled full-time (either 12 hours for undergraduate or 9 hours for graduate classes) to be eligible to compete. Student-athletes can elect to graduate on schedule in December and enroll in Spring 2021 as a degree plus (second bachelor’s) or graduate student. Student-athletes could also add a second major or adjust their course schedules to allow for delayed graduation to Spring 2021. Student-athletes with questions about course scheduling should contact Shawn Devine, coordinator for student-athlete services.
Are there any changes to undergraduate Progress Toward Degree requirements if sports shift seasons?
No. All PTD requirements must be met as normal, regardless of what happens with sport seasons.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
What is the COVID-19 testing plan around athletics?
In-season (when teams are competing against other teams), the RMAC has established testing requirements for sports, based upon the NCAA's classification of contact risk. These requirements were created based upon the recommendations in the
NCAA’s Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition and the
Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition, Second Edition. Testing is only required by the RMAC when student-athletes will compete. During segments where no outside competition occurs (i.e., practice only), COVID-19 testing will not be required by the RMAC.
CSU Pueblo has implemented a rigorous and comprehensive COVID-19 testing protocol for all student-athletes for the Spring 2021 semester. All student-athletes will be tested weekly (at minimum). Some sports will require testing more often, depending on the sport's testing requirements for competition and championship participation.
What can we do if someone, either a student-athlete or staff member, is not following health and safety procedures, or if we observe something that is unsafe or could be safer?
Please let Paul Plinske, Jackie Wallgren, or any athletic trainer know immediately. Additionally, CSU Pueblo has established a COVID-19 Hotline, which can be reached at 719-420-0002 or
covid@csupueblo.edu. Further, the
NCAA has established a COVID-19 hotline if someone has concerns that CSU Pueblo is not following the NCAA’s COVID-19 requirements (833-661-2819 or
covidconcerns@ncaa.org)
