By: Steven Blatto
On Oct. 8, the East Coast Conference released a statement regarding the postponement of fall sports and competition: a select group of sports will be returning to competition starting Jan. 9, 2021.
The sports included in this announcement were women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s soccer. These are not all the fall and winter sports in the ECC.
Many found this announcement to be surprising, but not the head coach of women’s soccer, Daniel Dolan.
“There have been talks since July. [The announcement] wasn’t really a surprise, but it was exciting to hear the good news,” he said.
The exact limitations to rules and regulations of these sports were not included in the announcement, but it was mentioned that changes have been made.
This announcement marks the return of collegiate athletics in the ECC since the postponement of sports in mid-March of this year.
A possible problem that was not mentioned was how student athletes will have to adapt to playing their sport in the spring semester rather than the fall. Many believe that the spring semester is more difficult than the fall semester, so it could be tougher to incorporate sports into the tougher schedule.
“Fall is not as hectic [as spring], it is an easier semester. I am interested to see how they [student athletes] manage their academics in the spring semester. They must be proactive and be smart,” Dolan said.
Volleyball teams and soccer teams return to action during the week of March 8, with ECC Championships taking place during mid-April.
Sports not included in this announcement were men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s and women’s bowling.
ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff, made it clear that many adjustments have been made and more sports will be added eventually.
“We will keep planning to move forward for winter and spring sports and to provide limited schedules for volleyball and soccer, but also know that we have to be prepared to adjust if we are required to do so,” Danoff said.