Colleges send scholarships, limited equipment to athletes
With thousands of college athletes forced to evacuate universities across the country and return to their homes in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, athletic departments have been seeking ways to provide support for them.
Without access to weight rooms, training tables and nutrition centers, athletes are using anything available to help them maintain their fitness level and mental health during an uncertain time.
Many schools have figured out how to provide limited financial support and some modest athletic equipment.
“We’re able to give them their scholarship checks pro-rated for room and board,” UCF athletics director Danny White said. “So hopefully that helps them put better fuel in their bodies and make smart decisions on the way they’re eating.”
The University of Miami is also providing some financial relief to its student and athletes.
“When you look at our institution and credit the leadership at the University of Miami, for those
students living on campus and all student-athletes, they pro-rated their housing and sent checks out,” Miami athletics director Blake James said. “They’re in the process of and may have already
sent the checks out on prorated meal plans for those who have gone home and maybe need a little extra help.
“From a studying standpoint, whether it was laptops and ipads to provide our kids with the resources they need.”
What each university
can provide its athletes varies, but according to James, the NCAA has provided some leniency in terms of items schools can distribute.
The Pac-12 recently announced its schools could send off-campus athletes a limited number of nutritional products and sub
stances normally available on campus, including packaged vitamins, protein powder, shake mixes and protein bars.
Schools could also provide apparel and personal equipment that is regularly available to athletes when they are on campus for conditioning work
outs, including stretching bands and straps and foam rollers.
Other conferences such as the ACC and American Athletic Conference told the Orlando Sentinel they don’t have specific policies in place, instead deferring to the individual schools.