By: Cee DeeCee

This past week, the state of New York and commissioners of various collegiate athletic leagues came together to discuss and implement three new COVID-19 protocols for spring-athletes whose programs are continuing this season. Having a 2021 spring season was heavily debated due to the cancellation of both fall 2020 and winter 2021 seasons but the league remains confident in their decision. The alterations, which are listed below, were created with serious and thoughtful consideration for the health and wellness of student-athletes and University communities. 

1. Due to many prominent and trustworthy studies showing that masks limited oxygen intake, student-athletes will no longer need to wear masks while playing. However, all on-field players will need to hold their breath during play. Out of play, they must run to the sideline and breath all air into a bag, and then play can resume. Each team will have a designated breathing bag that athletic trainers are responsible for emptying after each game.
2. Student-athletes will no longer have to be tested for COVID-19. Coaches and athletic trainers will simply ask, “How are you feeling today?” and have them point to a range of faces from frowning to smiling to best describe their pain level. The league writes, “We trust that our players will give honest answers and that the excitement of playing won’t change their answers.” Students have to pinky promise after the fact to confirm they are in fact giving honest answers.
3. All spring athletes will be permitted and recommended to host and attend parties thrown by other spring athletes. The rationale behind this is that alcohol is known for killing germs, so as alcohol is present, we feel that COVID-19 won’t be an issue. Teams will be allotted a budget for hard alcohol to be consumed by athletes.

We caught up with spring athletes to discuss these new protocols. Names have been changed due to HIPAA regulations. Our first interviewee, Clark Johnson ‘21 stated, “I really like that they are trusting us with this. We finally feel like we will be treated like real adults. I personally can only see this going well and I know my friends would never lie to be able to party. I mean play. Play first, party second.” Jane Smith ‘23 however was not pleased with these new rules saying, “I just don’t think it’s very fair that they are only providing hard alcohol. Tequila and I never get along. Why can’t they just provide White Claws?”

These new rules clearly allow for safe play to occur on college campuses all across the state. Hopefully, our student-athletes are able to succeed on and off the field, and our campus remains open. Who knows, maybe the breathing bags will be universally used next academic year!