The COVID-19 pandemic is lowering the chances of obtaining scholarship opportunities for community college athletes wanting to transfer to four-year schools.
Some student-athletes are unable to compete with their schools opting out of the California Community College Athletic Association’s (CCCAA) 2021 competitive season, making it harder for them to get noticed by coaches from higher education programs.
“The opportunities for athletic scholarships may be impacted,” said CCCAA Director of Communications Mike Robles. “Without competition, recruiting student-athletes is more difficult because there are no games or video for four-year coaches to scout.”
Some sophomores may stay at their colleges longer to showcase themselves.
Mustangs women’s basketball player Alicia Jones said she’s thinking about staying at Delta for another year of competition.
“There’s a possibility I could stay another year,” said Jones. “I didn’t plan on staying another year, but it’s an opportunity for me to get better athletically. I’m not in a hurry to transfer.”
Other athletes, however, have decided to leave their current community colleges to compete elsewhere.
In a March 18 press release from Delta’s athletics department, Mustangs baseball head coach Reed Peters said players have left California to improve their chances for recruitment at a four-year college, and not depend on an opt-in decision for Spring II.
“Some guys couldn’t afford to miss this season so they moved to other states,” said Peters.
In an effort to support student-athletes, the CCCAA modified its eligibility guidelines in response to the pandemic.
On March 2, the CCCAA published the updates on its website, which state that students can apply for waivers that will allow them to not get charged with a season of competition upon transfer.
“CCCAA student-athletes who compete during the 2020-21 academic year are not being charged a season of competition in our system due to a blanket approval granted by our board of directors in 2020,” said Robles.
The waivers for all athletes in the CCCAA are currently honored by Division II and Division III schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and colleges within the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Division I colleges have yet to honor waivers for athletes in spring disciplines.
“Division I is honoring it for our athletes in NCAA fall and winter sports. Spring sports are not included at the moment, as they have not waived the season of competition for their own student-athletes yet, no less ours,” said Robles.
Although the waivers could still allow CCCAA student-athletes to transfer with no difficulties, finding their way into a higher education program could still be more challenging.
“The waivers that the NCAA and the NAIA have provided their own student-athletes could mean finding opportunities at the next level might be a little bit more difficult,” said Robles. “There are still only five people on a basketball court or six people on a volleyball court, meaning there are only so many spots.”
Robles said the CCCAA is trying to help student-athletes as much as it can with finding opportunities, but still keeps in mind their health and safety.
“Whether it’s been with limited regular season competition or expanded practice opportunities, we want to give our student-athletes the best chances to market themselves for the next level. However, we also need to do it in a way that is safe and in the best interest of their health,” said Robles.