CCCAA Board of Directors adopts athletics plan for 2020-2021

SACRAMENTO - The CCCAA Board of Directors unanimously approved a three-part plan on Friday to allow the state's community colleges a return to intercollegiate athletics for the 2020-21 academic year while being directed by health guidelines from the state of California.

The adopted action calls for immediate implementation of the "Conventional Plan", which keeps sports in their traditional fall and spring seasons, except for men's and women's basketball which move to the spring.  On July 17, if it is still unsafe to execute athletics within the Conventional Plan framework, the CCCAA will move to either the Contact/Non-Contact Plan or the Contingency Plan.

The Contact/Non-Contact Plan places men's and women's cross country, women's golf, men's and women's swimming and diving, and women's volleyblal into the fall while the remaining sports - including football - will start competing in either February.  If not able to enact that plan, the CCCAA will fall back into the Contingency Plan, which keeps cross country and women's golf in the fall and places the remainder of the sports in the spring.

Sport seasons are reduced from their current lengths in each of the plans. the maximum number of contests are reduced to either 70% or 75% of their current totals, and post-conference competition will be limited to regional championships.

Fans will not be permitted until California moves into Phase 4 of its reopening plan, although once the state permits fans, districts and/or institutions may make their own decisions regarding other at their events.

The Board of Directors adpoted plans that were formulated by the COVID-19 Working Group with input and feedback from stakeholders throughout the CCCAA. The Working Group was directed by six guiding principles:

1. Health, Safety and Mitigation
2. Student Opportunity
3. Budget and Financial Consideration
4. Equity
5. Elements of Uncertainty
6. Informed Decision-Making

"There were no easy decisions during this process, but everyone had our 24,000 student-athletes' best interest i nmind," said Jennifer Cardone Interim Executive Director.  "Unfortunately, we couldn't peer into a crystal ball and see what lies down the road.  However, the plans give us a flexible roadmap that we believe provides the best opportunity for ust to get back to providing opportunities for our student-athletes."

MiraCosta athletic director Patrick Conahan is optimistic.  "The plans that the CCCAA have provided give us the path to getting our teams competing again. We know that their are some factors beyond our control but are excited to get going."

The MiraCosta College teams will train remotely, or online, at plan to return to campus in some fashion when the fall semester begins.

For more information please reach out directly to pconahan@miracosta.edu.