Covid Impacts on Upcoming Season

[WUPHF]

There is so much that is unknown and unknowable at this point, but I cannot imagine how it is possible.

Washington University, as an example, already plays three CCIW teams this season and assuming they play UChicago, is it possible to add 6 games at this point?

I could see the soccer season moved to the Spring, but more likely, I would say part of the schedule is played in the Fall and part in the Spring.

[Flying Weasel]

Temporary members of conferences within the individual schools regions? 

How is that even possible on any level?

It doesn't sound possible or feasible to me to me either. Perhaps "temporary members" was not the correct wording. More accurately, rather, would be that the UAA schools mostly populate their schedules with teams from conferences in their geographic region.

Why is it impossible?  Take WashU, for example.  They're already CCIW members for football, and they've posted a 2020 schedule for soccer that already includes three CCIW teams.  So, to implement this plan, they'd only need to replace six UAA opponents (keeping Chicago on the schedule, since that's a day trip) with the other six CCIW teams. and presto!  No overnight travel!  I'm sure there would be some logistical challenges that I'm not appreciating, but I don't see that as impossible.  They wouldn't be eligible for the autobid to the NCAA tournament, but I don't think there would be a tournament anyway. 

If the UAA team would not be eligible for the automatic berth from their "temporary" conference, would games against them count in the standings/seedings and would they participate in that conference's tournament?  If not, then why bother to call them "temporary members"?  It would be more of an arrangement of convenience and mutual benefit to work together to help fill out each other's schedules.  The UAA team would get replacement opponents for most or all of the cancelled UAA games and the teams in the other conference would each get one replacement opponent for one of their originally schedule non-conference games that now needs to be cancelled due to travel/budget restrictions.

The next question is, if a conference like the UAA does not play a conference schedule, but their teams still play games, would they be considered independent (Pool B) this season for the proposes of NCAA tournament selection (if there is a tournament)?

This could very well be a purely academic/theoretical discussion if the season and/or the NCAA tournament gets cancelled. But attempts to have a season could force some creative and flexible solutions for this one season.

[Flying Weasel]

It's been commented something to this affect that if there is no NCAA tournament and championship to play for, what is the motivation for the top programs, and how much would the schools, the programs, and the players want to play some sort of a regular season if there is no post-season to be working toward and championships available to be won.  This surprised me.  I'm sure the season would lose some of its edge and motivation would be affected, but how often do we hear players mention when they advance to the next weekend of the tournament how much they love that they'll get to practice and be together as a team for another week (and conversely, when being eliminated, the disappointment of not just losing but also not being able to continue being together as a team).  I don't know, I never played intercollegiate sports, much less on a top tier team with championship aspirations.  But it seems to me, the players that would make up these sorts of teams really love playing soccer (beyond and besides the results and the championships).  These players like practicing and the brotherhood, etc.  I would think they'd still want to play as much as possible, even if there was no prize at the end.  It wouldn't be the same.  And it might not bring out the absolute best in them.  But I would think those players comfortable playing this fall would still want to play even without a national tournament at the end.  I could be wrong.  Others would have better insight than me.

[PaulNewman]

It's been commented something to this affect that if there is no NCAA tournament and championship to play for, what is the motivation for the top programs, and how much would the schools, the programs, and the players want to play some sort of a regular season if there is no post-season to be working toward and championships available to be won.  This surprised me.  I'm sure the season would lose some of its edge and motivation would be affected, but how often do we hear players mention when they advance to the next weekend of the tournament how much they love that they'll get to practice and be together as a team for another week (and conversely, when being eliminated, the disappointment of not just losing but also not being able to continue being together as a team).  I don't know, I never played intercollegiate sports, much less on a top tier team with championship aspirations.  But it seems to me, the players that would make up these sorts of teams really love playing soccer (beyond and besides the results and the championships).  These players like practicing and the brotherhood, etc.  I would think they'd still want to play as much as possible, even if there was no prize at the end.  It wouldn't be the same.  And it might not bring out the absolute best in them.  But I would think those players comfortable playing this fall would still want to play even without a national tournament at the end.  I could be wrong.  Others would have better insight than me.

IMO, there are interaction effects between being part of a competitive team or team with aspirations of becoming competitive, the fraternity of the team developing in that context, a known structure that you are primed to participate in (conference opponents, rivals, tournament play), and love of the game. 

Think of it this way.  Would you as a player feel deflated if you were going into your senior year at Messiah and were told that the NCAA D3 powerhouse program had been downgraded to a club or intramural program?  You might still like hanging out with your buddies, and you might still like kicking the ball around, but the enthusiasm level likely would be super-low.  And perhaps similar to how students and parents are feeling about paying for a 70K a year education to only get a partial residential experience or no residential experience at all.   I could see Messiah kids deciding that this might be a great time to do a mission year....and at other places they might prefer hanging with their buddies playing FIFA along with drinking games.

[Flying Weasel]

Sure, if the choice was between
  (a) an club/intramural season, and
  (b) no season at all,
I can see how players at top programs might prefer no season at all. 

But if the choice is between
  (a) playing a D-III schedule (maybe a few less regular season games than normal), with a conference tournament, but no national tournament, and
  (b) no season at all,
I would have a harder time imagining most would simple prefer not to play.  It would be a lost season unless the player wanted to extend his college studies an extra semester/year. I'm not saying the motivation and drive would be the same: it wouldn't. But is nothing better than something if you are already there at school completing another semester of course work?

But then again, I've never been in their shoes.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

TCNJ has joined Bowdoin in canceling fall sports ... others likely to join them, but I'm not sure we will see all sports canceled by the NCAA. Members know they can't cut the knees out from under colleges that need students to come to school or they will never open their doors.

[PaulNewman]

Sure, if the choice was between
  (a) an club/intramural season, and
  (b) no season at all,
I can see how players at top programs might prefer no season at all. 

But if the choice is between
  (a) playing a D-III schedule (maybe a few less regular season games than normal), with a conference tournament, but no national tournament, and
  (b) no season at all,
I would have a harder time imagining most would simple prefer not to play.  It would be a lost season unless the player wanted to extend his college studies an extra semester/year. I'm not saying the motivation and drive would be the same: it wouldn't. But is nothing better than something if you are already there at school completing another semester of course work?

But then again, I've never been in their shoes.

I think we're basically agreeing.  I meant that your scenario might feel like the downgrade I described, not that it literally would be that.  Maybe it would be more akin to a spring season or a preseason exhibition type of deal.  And yes, many might decide to go ahead and play but not necessarily with gusto or in a way that the "love of the game" slogan might suggest.

[WUPHF]

I feel confident that students will understand that any season is better than no season at all. 

Especially after an extended period of lock down and isolation.

[PaulNewman]

"...how often do we hear players mention when they advance to the next weekend of the tournament how much they love that they'll get to practice and be together as a team for another week (and conversely, when being eliminated, the disappointment of not just losing but also not being able to continue being together as a team)."

I think responding to this specifically above will better explain my earlier response.

Have you ever heard that line about getting another week together from an average team?  I recall Shapiro saying this, McCarty, Souders, Bianco when CWRU made their nice run, etc.  They always say something like "real happy with the win, but even more happy that I get to spend another week with these guys."  I think that's what you're referring to.  Or, that you don't get another week your with guys because you dropped out in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8.

Anyway, my memory is that when Kenyon had relatively mediocre years my kid's first two seasons they weren't that excited about getting two more weeks to practice under the rules.  They still wanted to hang out together but they were ready for a break from the soccer stuff (at least in terms of formal practice time).  The last two years when they had good runs were different.  Even after exiting the tournament, they had a certain amount of adrenaline from exciting, successful seasons, and especially after the junior year ended on your field lol, they were motivated to maximize their time and looked forward to the short spring season in a different way in anticipation of "trying to go all the way" that last year.  The same energy of course was there between the first and second weekends.  Having another week together really meant that they were still alive in the tournament, and at least to a significant degree I think not getting another week is really a downer precisely because you have been eliminated and "it's over."  I just think there is a difference between getting to be together another week when anticipating the next round versus getting to be together when there's nothing particular to be excited about aspiration-wise.

[PaulNewman]

Sorry, a little hypomanic today.

I remember exactly when I knew this virus crisis was real, and I'm guessing the same is true for at least some of you.

The night the NBA shut down.  March 11, 2020.  The Gobert testing + story emerged...and while waiting to watch the nightcap game with Zion the season was was suspended.  Learning about Tom Hanks was an extra jolt the same evening I think.

Anyway, I think there is a very good chance that the NBA -- what I consider the best-run professional league in the world -- will lead again.  They will either follow through with their plan and clear the way for other leagues in this country, OR, and I think the more likely outcome, abandon their plan and then other leagues and the NCAA will follow again just as they did in March.  We should know within the next 2-3 weeks.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/if-the-nba-cant-finish-season-safely-no-us-league-can-162318903.html

[Ron Boerger]

I feel confident that students will understand that any season is better than no season at all. 

Especially after an extended period of lock down and isolation.

With the current meltdown underway in Texas I doubt anyone here (at least in D3) is going to be talking about college athletics in the fall.  Nobody has pulled the plug yet but it would seem to be only a matter of time until they do. 

[WUPHF]

I think the postseason will be cancelled for.

But, I still think we will get a condensed regular season.

There are so many institutions that are going to open the doors (and dorms, fields, arenas) or close for good.

[PaulNewman]

And there goes Williams...

[College Soccer Observer]

Will be very interesting to see the number of varsity athletes who decide to take a year or a semester off.  With all of the positive tests among D-I football players, there has been very little news about hospitalizations required, if any. 

[jknezek]

Will be very interesting to see the number of varsity athletes who decide to take a year or a semester off.  With all of the positive tests among D-I football players, there has been very little news about hospitalizations required, if any.

Probably because there are very few if any. The issue isn't the athletes themselves, though statistically a few could have problems requiring hospitalization, the issue is spreading it to the older coaching staff, University and Athletic Department Support Staff, and Professors as athletes pass it around to each other or other campus residents.