2020 USCSA Winter Operations Information Session
All of us at USCSA hope you and your family are staying safe during these difficult times. The safety & peace of mind of our members continues to be our top priority.
The National Office is currently planning our competition season for 2020 / 2021. A COVID-19 Task Force, consisting of USCSA Board Members, Medical Professionals, Conference Coordinators and Student Representatives, continues to meet regularly through the summer and fall, to discuss how events can be held in a safe and fair manner, for any athletes willing and able to participate.
COVID-19 Task Force Winter Operations Guide v3
COVID-19 General Eligibility Waiver |
COVID-19 Exceptions. Any student enrolled in a minimum full-time program of studies at a collegiate institution during the 2020-2021 academic year, regardless of if they have participated in USCSA competition, will be granted an additional year of academic eligibility, for circumstances beyond their control due to the negative impacts associated with logistics and competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No waiver of NCAA Division II rule 14.2 Seasons of Competition: 10-Semester/15-Quarter Rule would be required to be submitted for any athlete who seeks to participate in a 5th year of competition within the first 10 semesters or 15 quarters in which the student is enrolled in a collegiate institution in at least a minimum full-time program of studies.
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Registration Protection |
Understanding the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USCSA is offering a Registration Protection Program for the 20-21 Competition Season. Athletes and teams can request a full refund of National Office registration dues for any reason until January 4th, 2021. Requests made after January 4th will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
If requesting refunds for multiple registrations and/or team members, please make a single request with all listed registrations to refund for faster processing. Refunded registrations will be marked inactive for the duration of the 20-21 season. Reinstatements may be permitted on a case-by-case basis if circumstances around original refund request can be shown to have been resolved. Registrations this applies to:
To request a refund, contact the National Office at registration@uscsa.org with a cover letter outlining:
AIG Insurance Offered through Sports Engine vs. Payment Protection Program
Optional AIG Registration Insurance primarily covers general refund requests after registration, and through the competition season. This is not provided by or managed by the USCSA with claims submitted through AIG separately. Members are recommended to review and understand those terms and conditions before purchasing. The USCSA Registration Protection Plan is a unique policy to the 20-21 season, and provides a simple refund process for unused registrations up until Jan 4th or until the start of competition under extenuating circumstances. These requests must be submitted to the USCSA National Office. More details including the claims process can be found on the USCSA website. Please be aware that refunded competitor registrations will be marked inactive for the 20-21 season and will not eligible for member benefits or discounts through equipment partners. |
FAQs
General
Will the USCSA have a 2020/21 season?
Yes, USCSA is actively planning how such a season can be held in a safe and fair manner for any athletes who are willing and able to participate.
WILL THERE STILL BE POST-SEASON COMPETITION?
Yes, there we are planning for post-season competitions. They will follow the same safety protocols as our regular season events.
I’VE REGISTERED, BUT MY SCHOOL CANCELLED SPRING SPORTS. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND?
Yes, this season USCSA is offering a Registration Protection Program, allowing athletes and teams to request a refund of their fees for any reason up until January 4th, 2021.
HOW IS THE USCSA HANDLING SAFETY AROUND COVID-19?
USCSA has established a COVID-19 Task Force consisting of USCSA Board Members, Medical Professionals, Conference Coordinators and Student Representatives which is meeting regularly to plan for the upcoming season. We will follow all applicable CDC, WHO, State and Local guidance at our events and will communicate the specifics of these new and frequently changing requirements ahead of all competitions.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE REGISTRATION PROCESS?
The majority of our registration process remains the same and full details are available on the Registration section of our website. See below for more information about academic eligibility verification.
WILL THERE BE A USCSA DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN BRING TO OUR COLLEGE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE HEALTH SCREENINGS IF OUR INSTITUTION WAS NOT ORIGINALLY PLANNING ON TESTING US?
The USCSA has established a Health Screening protocol which can be shared with any interested party.
IF THERE ARE LIMITS TO COMPETITORS ON VENUE AND TEAMS CAN ONLY BRING CERTAIN ATHLETES, HOW DO OUR NEW/BEGINNER ATHLETES GET TIME IN COMPETITION? WILL THERE BE A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE OR HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM?
Potential limits to number of starting athletes per team and/or per event will be a conference decision, so team leaders should stay in regular communication with their coordinators. Additionally, team leaders might consider creative solutions based on the needs of their membership; switching up start lists or scheduling training sessions midweek when resorts have less capacity issues are some ideas.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF HEALTH SCREENINGS? WILL USCSA OFFER PRE-EVENT TESTING?
The USCSA has established a Health Screening protocols following CDC recommendations. Teams will be required to report of any potential illness to their conference coordinators. If an athlete, volunteer or coach feels sick they should remove themselves from the venue and report it to their leadership. The USCSA does not have the capacity to provide testing, but strongly recommends athletes and leaders take advantage of in-university testing if available.
IS THERE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ATHLETE TO SELF REPORT A POSITIVE TEST RESULT TO USCSA?
Yes, every athlete agrees to self-report positive tests AND suspected symptoms through their team leaders to their conference coordinator when they register for the competition season. Willing dishonesty not only puts fellow teammates in danger, but potentially all other event participants. This is a breach of USCSA Codes of Conduct and will be sanctioned accordingly.
Eligibility & Participation
IF I’M NOT ON CAMPUS, HOW WILL I SUBMIT ACADEMIC PAPERWORK?
USCSA will introduce a new virtual signature platform for academic paperwork, allowing students and teams to submit approved academic transcripts without the need to obtain a physical “wet” signature. The details of this program will be communicated in the coming weeks before registration opens.
If a student takes a voluntary leave of absence and is not enrolled during the fall semester, but re-enrolls during the spring semester, are they eligible to compete in the spring? Can they register in the fall for the spring?
Likely, yes. They can register in the fall, but would not be able to confirm eligibility until they can show full-time course load for the spring.
If a student is part-time in the spring either from personal choice or from institution recommendation, can they still compete?
Athletes must be full time students to compete, so unfortunately not. The caveat would be if the institution changes their definition of “full-time course load” to be more lenient, and can show this through the eligibility certification process.
If our university is completely online come spring semester, what does that mean for our teams eligibility?
Any student enrolled full time in a college or university that meets academic eligibility can compete with USCSA, even if their classes are only conducted virtually.
Will eligibility requirements to Regionals / Nationals change?
The National Office maintains a baseline eligibility requirement of competing in at least 50% of conference events to be eligible. If there are less events offered, this would lower the threshold, being flexible with changes in conference scheduling.
Should a university not offer enrollment during this academic year, are you and your team members eligible to still compete within the USCSA?
Unfortunately, No. - You must be enrolled in university, meeting proper NCAA DII Academic Status, as defined by the NCAA Academic Eligibility Rules. There is no sponsoring institution in this scenario. In a scenario where this would impact eligibility in future years, granting hardship for the missed period of time would be granted. (Since the student-athlete is not enrolled in school, it does not impact their years of eligibility, unless they are freshman and this impacts the number of years between high school and starting university.)
MY UNIVERSITY IS NOT IN SESSION FOR THE FALL, BUT IT WILL BE IN SESSION FOR WINTER/SPRING TERM (DURING COMPETITION). I WOULD LIKE TO COMPETE, BUT THE ELIGIBILITY RULES REFERENCE THAT I NEEDED TO BE ENROLLED IN THE FALL. WILL I BE ABLE TO COMPETE?
Yes, if you are a full-time student during the spring term. NCAA DII does offer an exception to this rule when you are not enrolled in full-time session during the Fall Term of the academic year. The USCSA Academic Affairs Committee acts as the “Management Council” to make this determination. This exception should be granted unilaterally for any student-athlete where this impacts eligibility - no waiver request would be required for the 2020-2021 season of competition.
MY UNIVERSITY IS NOT IN SESSION FOR THE WINTER/SPRING TERM (DURING COMPETITION), BUT I STILL
WANT TO COMPETE. AM I ELIGIBLE/IS MY TEAM ELIGIBLE?
WANT TO COMPETE. AM I ELIGIBLE/IS MY TEAM ELIGIBLE?
Unfortunately, No. You must be enrolled in university, meeting proper NCAA DII Academic Status, as defined by the NCAA Academic Eligibility Rules. There is no sponsoring institution in this scenario.
My university is in session for the Winter/Spring but has decided to not permit any intercollegiate competition. Can I ski as an individual within the USCSA?
Unfortunately, No. While the USCSA really would like for every athlete to be able to compete, the USCSA does need to abide by the policies of each member institution. If the institution specifically is not allowing intercollegiate competition, the athletes are therefore no longer representing their university. Choosing to permit student-athletes to participate, even if the institution does not permit competition could open the USCSA to undue risk/liability and therefore the USCSA must abide by the policies of each member institution.
My university is in session for virtual learning only and I am now living geographically
in another conference. Am I permitted to compete in another conference?
in another conference. Am I permitted to compete in another conference?
Unfortunately, No. This goes against the USCSA "team" mission, potentially creates a “First Team” and “Second Team” structure, and the institution would need to allow for students to compete in multiple geographic areas. If there are multiple athletes from the same institution competing in multiple conferences, it is no longer a team sport. There are also issues with which sub-set of that team’s athletes would be eligible for Regional and National Championships? Would it be the conference where the university normally participates? Would it be the conference where the team performs the best in the ranking of teams?
Updated 9.17.20