The whirlwind that has been caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) leading to the cancellations of the Women’s College World Series and the rest of the 2020 season in many conferences has taken another twist today.
After lobbying from influential softball figures such as Heather Tarr, the head coach of the University of Washington and even heavily supported online petitions (see our article earlier today titled “Softball & the Coronavirus: Where Are We After the Last Two Days?”), it looks like the NCAA is willing to give an extra year of eligibility to athletes in spring sports, including softball.
Within the hour, the NCAA tweeted the following:
Division I Council Coordination Committee agrees eligibility relief is appropriate for spring sports: pic.twitter.com/u7hwYOyTDV
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) March 13, 2020
Additionally, the NCAA reported on its site today the following:
NCAA to allow eligibility relief for Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports
The NCAA released the following statement Friday, announcing eligibility relief was found to be appropriate for student-athletes who participated in spring sports this year:
Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports. Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time. Additional issues with NCAA rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks.
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Widely-esteemed basketball writer Jeff Goodman tweeted today that it’s going to happen (and also that the NCAA could release a 68-team 2020 Men’s Basketball Championship bracket).
Players in spring sports get another year of eligibility.
NCAA looking into what to do with those who played winter sports. https://t.co/7YXwFpV4pM
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2020
Jenna West of Sports Illustrated has also confirmed the report in her piece today:
The NCAA reportedly plans to grant spring student athletes relief for a season of eligibility after canceling winter and spring championships due to coronavirus https://t.co/3rCmjOVIPc
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 13, 2020
More to come on this breaking story…
