Friends –
What a fall semester we had! Thanks to our student-athletes, we successfully met the challenges of COVID-19 in creative, smart ways. I am extremely proud of the good work of our entire athletic staff and student-athletes. I am writing today to provide an update regarding Augustana athletics.
 
Our current public health situation continues to be a serious challenge. With increased knowledge about the virus, improved therapeutics and the recent approval of a highly effective vaccine, I remain hopeful and optimistic that the significant impact of COVID-19 will be in our collective rear view mirror soon. The guidance and recommendations from the various medical authorities are constantly changing as we attempt to co-exist with the virus while attempting to maintain some degree of normalcy and regular social interaction.
 
Augustana College and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) remain dedicated to the task of providing a meaningful and robust intercollegiate athletics experience for our
student-athletes while following—and exceeding—all of the health and safety protocols. Participation in athletics is a special privilege, and we expect our coaches, staff and student-athletes to set the standard for behavior and decision-making within the Augustana community.
 
Earlier today, the CCIW Council of Presidents (COP) announced that member schools are continuing to plan for winter sports competition, with practices to begin in early January and competition to start no sooner than January 23, 2021.
 
At this time, the COP has determined that if federal, state, local and campus conditions are at a point that student-athletes can return to competition safely and proper testing can be secured, then winter competition can commence. Competition schedules will be released at a later date.
 
Conference officials will continue to monitor public health conditions within Illinois and Wisconsin and local and campus communities. The COP will reconvene in early January to discuss if changes to the current plan are necessary.
 
The information that follows provides important details about our current COVID-19 testing and future competition plans at Augustana, and compliments the messaging to campus provided earlier this week by the Augie Strong Task Force.
 
I wish each of you a blessed Christmas and joyous New Year with your family. The entire Athletics staff looks forward to your return to campus in early January.
 
Go Augie!
 
 
 
Michael Zapolski
Director of Athletics
 
 
 
 
As we prepare to return to campus in early January, I want to remind everyone of our collective expectations for the upcoming J-Term and spring semester.
 

• Student-athletes who participate in men's and women's basketball, men's volleyball and wrestling should obtain a negative COVID-19 test result any time after December 27. All team members will be tested on Saturday, January 2 prior to beginning any practice or strength and conditioning activities. This will be a rapid-result deep nasal swab test.
   
• Student-athletes who participate in men's and women's swimming should obtain a negative COVID-19 test result any time after December 27. All team members will be tested on Monday, January 4 prior to beginning any practice or strength and conditioning activities. This will be a rapid-result deep nasal swab test.
   
• Student-athletes involved in ALL sports practicing during J-Term are encouraged to participate in the COVID-19 testing that will be available to all members of the Augustana community on January 9-10 prior to the start of J-Term classes. This will be a spit test, with results anticipated within 48-72 hours.
   
• All student-athletes should attempt to comply with the recent recommendations provided by the Augie Strong Task Force, particularly the concept of reducing close contacts for a period of 14 days prior to returning to campus.
   
• Facial coverings will continue to be required in all public areas on campus, including the Carver Center, Fairchild Family Strength Center, PepsiCo Recreation Center, athletic training room and in most practice and competition activities.
   
• Completion of daily health screenings and temperature checks will continue.

 

• Team training sessions will occur in smaller pods, especially for programs with larger rosters.
   
• Limited access to the athletic training room and team lockerroom spaces will continue.
   
• Minimizing "close contacts" away from team activities such as contests, practice and strength and conditioning sessions is highly encouraged.

 
 
Testing Plans
Augustana will be following the NCAA COVID-19 testing protocols outlined in the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport document updated on December 15.
 
Here is the link to the complete document:
https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/ssi/COVID/SSI_ResocializationDevelopingStandardsSecondEdition.pdf


Individual sports have been classified into three categories, with recommended
COVID-19 testing protocols.
 
Low-risk/transmission sports include women's bowling along with men's and women's cross country, golf, outdoor track and field, swimming and tennis. Student-athletes in these sports will participate in Augustana's voluntary surveillance testing program.
 
Intermediate-risk/transmission sports include baseball and softball along with men's and women's indoor track, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball. Between 25-50 percent of the student-athletes on the team rosters in these sports will be tested on a weekly basis once practice sessions begin and continue through the conclusion of the season.
 
High-risk/transmission sports include men's and women's basketball, football and wrestling. Between 25-50 percent of the student-athletes on the team rosters will be tested on a weekly basis once practice sessions begin. One week prior to the start of the competition schedule, and continuing through the conclusion of the season, the entire team roster will be tested at least one time a week depending upon the competition schedule. In the sport of wrestling, all participating team members will be tested three times a week during the competition schedule.
 
This will be a rapid-result deep nasal swab test.
 
Athletic trainers, coaches, student athletic trainers and team managers will also be part of the testing protocols outlined above.
 
Anyone who has previously tested positive for COVID-19 is exempt from testing protocols for a period of 90 days from their positive test date in accordance with current recommendations.
 
 
Competition Plans
The CCIW COP has determined that fall and winter sports programs will compete against conference opponents only and overnight travel is prohibited. Spring sports programs will be permitted to compete against non-conference opponents if it is deemed safe to do so. The status of overnight travel for spring sports will be evaluated in the coming months.
 
It should be noted that the NCAA has canceled all fall sports championships. The NCAA intends to sponsor winter and spring sports championships if there are enough member institutions competing at that time and health and safety conditions warrant hosting such events.
 
Here is a sport-by-sport breakdown of the current competition plans. All of these plans are subject to change.
 
Winter Sports – CCIW competition only
Men's and Women's Basketball – Abbreviated schedule beginning no earlier than January 23 and continuing through early March.
 
Women's Bowling – Abbreviated schedule beginning no earlier than January 23.
 
Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving – Abbreviated schedule beginning no earlier than January 23.
 
Men's and Women's Indoor Track – Abbreviated schedule beginning no earlier than January 23.
 
Wrestling – Abbreviated schedule beginning no earlier than January 23.
 
 
Fall Sports – CCIW competition only
Football – Abbreviated schedule beginning in late March.
 
Men's and Women's Soccer – Abbreviated schedule beginning in late March.
 
Women's Volleyball – Abbreviated schedule beginning in late February.
 
 
Spring Sports – CCIW competition and non-conference competition permitted if deemed safe.
 
Baseball – Schedule beginning in late February and continuing through early May.
 
Men's and Women's Golf – Schedule beginning in late March and continuing through early May.
 
Men's and Women's Lacrosse – Schedule beginning in late February and continuing through early May.
 
Softball – Schedule beginning in late February and continuing through early May.
 
Men's and Women's Tennis – Schedule beginning in mid-February and continuing through early May.
 
Men's and Women's Outdoor Track – Schedule beginning in late March and continuing through late May.
 
Men's Volleyball – Schedule beginning the fourth weekend of January and continuing through mid-April.
 
 
Eligibility Update
The NCAA issued a blanket eligibility waiver for all NCAA Division III student-athletes for the 2020-21 academic year. Whether a program competes or not in 2020-21, the season of participation and the semesters of enrollment will not count for eligibility purposes, meaning that all student-athletes are eligible for a fifth year.
 
I am happy to talk with student-athletes and parents about the process of considering a fifth year of eligibility so that families can make an informed decision about the potential costs involved.
 
 
Early January Move-In Plan
Men's basketball, women's basketball, men's volleyball and wrestling student-athletes will be returning to campus on Friday, January 1.
 
Student-athletes should report to the front desk at Swanson Commons on Friday, January 1 to
pick-up their room key.
 
10-11:30 a.m.: Last name A-G
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Last name H-M
1-3:30 p.m.: Last name N-Z
3:30-5 p.m.: Anyone who could not make their appointment time.
 
For student-athletes arriving on January 2 or 3, a Community Adviser will be on-call and available to provide room keys.
 
 
Spectator Policy
Due to the current public health situation, spectators will not be permitted at Augustana contests. The CCIW COP will be monitoring this situation during the months ahead and make adjustments as warranted.