Stonehill College, in conjunction with the Northeast-10 Conference, has announced that it has suspended all intercollegiate competition for its 22 varsity athletic programs through December 31, 2020.
Recognizing the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges, Stonehill has joined the NE10 in making this difficult decision in the best interest of maintaining the health and safety of its student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff and campus community. In addition, Stonehill has suspended all club sport competition until December 31.
Stonehill athletics is a key component of the College's core mission of educating the whole person and recognizes the impact this decision has on our student-athletes, coaches, alumni and community. However, the health and safety of our campus must be our highest priority and Stonehill remains committed to supporting the critical efforts of our community to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Stonehill, the NE10, and its fellow member institutions are striving to ensure a meaningful regular season and conference championship experience for all of its fall and winter sport student-athletes during the Spring 2021 semester, as long as a return to competition can be safely executed. Initial plans for spring semester competition will be provided at a later date.
Practice and other sport specific training opportunities for enrolled student-athletes will be developed by Stonehill and provided in accordance with established safety procedures and applicable College, local and federal government and NCAA regulations during the fall semester.
Stonehill is deeply sympathetic to the disappointment and impact this news brings. We are committed to honoring athletics aid agreements that have been issued to student-athletes for the 2020-21 academic year in accordance to the terms and conditions laid out in those agreements, and to safely return to competition for all sports during the spring semester.
Stonehill Athletics Q&A
To accompany Stonehill College's announcement that intercollegiate athletics competition during the fall semester will not be conducted, the athletic department has compiled this document to assist student-athletes, coaches and administrators in answering questions that may arrive as students make decisions about their enrollment and/or athletics participation options for the 2020-21 academic year. For more additional information, please also see the Q&A from the Northeast-10 as well as the Stonehill College general Q&A pages linked below.
Click to access more Q&A information from the NE10 |
Click Here to Access the Stonehill College Return to Campus Information & Q&As |
This document will be updated as additional questions or issues arise and as additional guidance is received from the College, NE10 and NCAA.
Q: What varsity fall sports does this decision impact?
A: This decision impacts Stonehill's 11 fall sports that it offers regular season and/or championship competition: Men's and Women's Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Men's and Women's Soccer and Volleyball. Additionally, Equestrian, Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Tennis have traditionally conducted seasons split between the fall and spring semesters. With this determination, those sports will not conduct regular season and/or championship competition this fall.
Q: What varsity winter sports does this decision impact?
A: This decision impacts regular season competition during the fall semester for Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Swimming and Men's and Women's Track & Field.
Q: There have been several institutions that have announced a reduction in sports recently. Does Stonehill have any plans to cut sports?
A: No, Stonehill remains fully committed to sponsoring its 22 intercollegiate varsity sports and providing the opportunity for our student-athletes to return to competition as soon as we can safely do so.
Q: Will my athletic scholarship be honored for the fall semester even though my team is not competing?
A: Yes. All athletic scholarships will be honored so long as the student-athlete maintains full-time student enrollment at Stonehill for the semester. Full time status requires a minimum of 12 credits.
Q: Will my sport be played in the spring semester?
A: Stonehill is committed to joining the NE10 and other member institutions in providing a safe return to competition and conference championships for all sports, including affected fall and winter programs, during the spring semester. Stonehill will now join the NE10 in turning its focus towards the feasibility of rescheduling affected fall and winter sports in the spring semester.
Q: I was planning on returning to on-campus learning for the fall due to my student-athlete status. Can I now opt for the remote learning option for the semester?
A: Yes. All student-athletes are encouraged to consider all athletic, academic and personal factors and determine which option is the best for their individual situation. Those who elect to commute or reside on campus will be able to participate in any in-person athletic activity offered, and all student-athletes who elect to learn remotely this fall will stay connected with their team activities remotely. Student-athletes who participate in remote learning will continue to remain a member of their athletic program in good standing, retain any athletic scholarship aid awarded, and have access to all athletic department remote support and resources. The College has extended the deadline for choosing between on-campus or remote learning to Monday, July 20.
Q: With the suspension of fall sports, when do student-athletes return to campus should they choose to do so?
A: Fall sport student-athletes will now return to the Stonehill campus along with all other students. Fall Orientation for first-year students is scheduled to start on August 20, with all returning students scheduled to arrive on campus on August 22 or 23. Stonehill will implement a phased move-in approach, whereby students will have the option to drop off their belongings over several weeks in August to avoid typical move-in crowding and then return home until their official move-in date. Residence Life will communicate additional details regarding this process at the end of July.
For more information on returning to residential living please follow this link: https://www.stonehill.edu/news/emergencies/updates/coronavirus/returning-to-campus/
Q: Can the student-athletes who return to campus participate in workouts with their coaches during the fall semester?
A: Stonehill intends to provide a meaningful team-based experience for the fall semester, including training and practice opportunities, in accordance with College, local and state, as well as NCAA guidelines. The training sessions may be modified to comply with such guidelines, as our number one priority remains protecting the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff and the college community. We will resume workouts when it is deemed safe to do so, and applicable NCAA playing, and practice season rules shall be followed.
Q: Will student-athletes who are on campus for the fall have access to the services and support provided through sports medicine, strength & conditioning and the equipment room?
A: Yes, Stonehill plans to have these areas open for student-athletes while adhering to appropriate departmental, institutional, local, state, and federal guidelines.
Sports Medicine: The facility will be open on an appointment-based system for student-athletes who have injury related needs through our online ATS system. Telehealth and home rehab programs will also be utilized during the pandemic as much as possible.
Strength & Conditioning: Sport-specific programming and training plans will be distributed to all athletes. We are currently working to create a plan for varsity weight room access that follows all social distancing, disinfecting, and occupancy guidelines.
Varsity Equipment Room: Yes, student-athletes who are on campus in the fall semester will have access to varsity equipment room services on a limited basis based on individual team needs.
