CCCAA restores eligibility for all athletes, moves forward with 2021 plans
Regardless of what happens this winter and spring, Bakersfield College student athletes have been assured they will have futures within their respective programs beyond 2020-21.
In a Board of Directors meeting Friday, the California Community College Athletic Association approved a motion that will allow all athletes to retain the eligibility they would have used during this school year, even if they are able to return to competition this spring.
After being forced to postpone their seasons due to COVID-19, the CCCAA initially voted in July that fall sports could return to practice on Jan 18. Football would be able to begin game action on Feb. 13, with all other sports set to start on Feb. 5.
However, after being forced to condense all seasons, the CCCAA also stated they wouldn’t be hosting state tournaments during the 2020-21 school year.
Without the possibility of winning a state title, BC Interim Athletic Director Reggie Bolton says many athletes didn’t want to use up eligibility.
With that problem out of the way, he expects full participation when play resumes.
“That was a big decision,” Bolton said. “Some kids were like ‘If I’m not going to get my year back ... why play?’ Now that they’re goforward or to cancel a have more non-contact ing to give them their year season is “a local decision sports in spring than we do back ... why not play?” based on your institution in the fall. Fall has higher
When, or if they’ll be and your county.” risk and they get tested allowed to play this spring Bakersfield College has more because they have remains to be seen. put its own protocols in more contact.”
On Friday, the board place for athletes who’ve Bolton expects decisions announced it was moving returned to campus to will be easier when students forward with the previous workout. are allowed to return to plan that would allow fall Bolton and BC President campus for classes, which sports to begin Jan. 18. And Sonya Christian are said they are not yet allowed to whiledo.themotionwasunan-tobeworkingonaplanto imously passed, it came determine the feasibility of Even if it didn’t offer 100 with multiple caveats. spring sports. percent clarity, Bolton did
Currently, the board is With a short window say he was mostly encourlooking to establish a date in to figure everything out, aged by Friday’s ruling. which schools could choose Bolton admits getting ev“I’m just as encouraged to opt out of the season. erything in place by January as I was when we heard Board Interim Executive could be a tall order. back in July that we were Director Jennifer Cardone “I’m more confident going to have a season,” he expected that date would be that the spring’s going to said. “And I’m still encourestablished “within the next go right now than I am the aged we’re going to have a week or two.” fall,” he said. “I think the season. I think everybody’s
Cardone also stressed spring has a better possiexcited because they didn’t that any decision to move bility of going because we say no.”