Photo Courtesy Of Camel Athletics
While almost every other conference in the NCAA, regardless of division, are allowed to hold year-round practices with their coach on the field, court, or deck, the NESCAC has a long-standing tradition of setting up hard start and end dates to the fall, winter and spring seasons so that their student-athletes are able to spend enough time focusing on academics. In previous years, this date for winter sports has been Nov. 1. However, due to the pandemic, which led to the cancelation of almost all Division 3 seasons during the 2020-2021 academic year, a vote was held at the recurring meeting involving all 11 schools’ presidents and athletic directors.
They came to the decision that to make sure their athletes were able to compete at the same level of competition as other non-conference schools , they would test moving up the arbitrary start date of Nov. 1. up to Oct. 15.
Although this change might have little effect on some sports such as cross country and track and field, whose season spans from the fall through the spring, meaning that they don’t have an official start date for the winter season, this decision is sure to have an impact on other sports this coming season. Team sports, such as basketball and squash, will now be allowed to hold training with their coaches at an earlier date, which could prove vital in the ongoing progression of a given team, and in preparing for the season ahead.
Women’s Basketball Guard/ Forward Jaycie Rojik ‘23 is getting ready for her season starting up next week rather than next month “because we will be able to work out with our coach for more time. [We were] definitely at a disadvantage in previous years because we would start our season playing out of league teams who have practice and sometimes a couple of games under their belt.”
Coaches are also looking forward to this earlier start. Marc Benvenuti, head coach of both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving team, has faith that his athletes are in shape regardless of when the season starts, but says that being able to be on pool deck earlier in the fall semester “allows us to pay more attention to the rate at which we’re ramping up training. Now we can control that better and offer a safer and better experience overall.” Despite all the positives that come with moving up the start date, some are getting worried about the season starting early, as Rojik “knows people are getting nervous about (their) fitness testing day getting moved up,” especially considering that all sports and practices were shut down for ten days following the Covid-19 outbreak that took place at the beginning of the semester.
While sports like basketball and swimming are using this time to hit the ground running, other sports like squash are planning on using these extra two weeks to “either serve as an adjustment period entering the season or a chance to make improvements in our game before the season starts” according to Tyler Maguire ‘23. Regardless of what teams might use their extra time for both over fall break as well as the rest of October, one thing is for certain: after not having a season last year, the potential for injury is a lot higher, but having your coach overlooking practice can only help in the long term as we move into a new era of NESCAC athletics.
Conn winter sports are ready for a banner season; Go Camels!
