Intercollegiate Athletics Settle Into New Normal

Fall sports are back in action on most college campuses, despite the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

After an academic year in which some institutions and conferences chose not to compete at all and others played modified schedules, most colleges and universities in Divisions I, II and III are fielding teams in the typical fall sports like football, cross country, soccer, women’s volleyball and field hockey.

Heather MacCullochThere is undeniable excitement about sporting events, and student-athletes are motivated to get back into action, but nobody can play like it’s 2019. The pandemic rages on. There are ongoing debates about vaccines and mask mandates.  Despite this, most institutions are hopeful that, with careful precautions, a full slate of intercollegiate athletics can take place.

“The impact of not competing in sports during the 2020-21 academic year did take a toll on the mental and physical health of many of our student-athletes,” says Heather MacCulloch, director of athletics and recreation at Baruch College, a Division III institution in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. “The abruptness of the cancellation of sports brought stress, fear and depression into the minds of many.

“On a positive note, I do believe that due to the many challenges, a great deal of new skill sets were developed for student-athletes and staff alike — stress management, sharpened coping skills and perspective, just to name a few.”

Back in play