2021 / 2022 USCSA Winter Operations
The health and wellbeing of our membership is our top priority. To that end, the USCSA COVID-19 Task Force is meeting regularly and continues to stay abreast of the ever changing landscape. Our goal is to provide athletes, institutions and volunteers with the best information possible so they can make informed decisions.
Look for continued information throughout the fall and into the winter. If you have any questions, please contact the COVID-19 TF (covid@uscsa.org) or your Conference Coordinator.
Look for continued information throughout the fall and into the winter. If you have any questions, please contact the COVID-19 TF (covid@uscsa.org) or your Conference Coordinator.
USCSA 2021-2022 COVID-19 Guidance and Policy
The USCSA values the health and safety of its USCSA event participants and area partners. We strongly recommend all members receive the COVID-19 vaccination prior to the start of the competitive season.
Our COVID-19 Task Force has been meeting regularly since June 2020. The current guidance and policy of the USCSA is as follows:
If you have any questions on our COVID-19 Policy, please contact covid19@uscsa.org.
**This and all COVID-19 Protocols are subject to changes**
The COVID-19 Task Force has issued an updated COVID-19 Resource Guide. This guide includes information for Conference Coordinators, athletes, parents and institution administrations. We have collaborated with other industry partners to ensure our guide is comprehensive and inline with industry standards.
Our COVID-19 Task Force has been meeting regularly since June 2020. The current guidance and policy of the USCSA is as follows:
- Event Organizers will follow the US Ski & Snowboard Domestic Comp Guide (10/2021)
- USCSA event participants must comply with any additional requirements put in place by a governmental agency or host venue.
- USCSA Conferences may add additional requirements, with approval of the USCSA Board of Directors.
- Face coverings are required for all members indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
- If you are not feeling well or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home.
If you have any questions on our COVID-19 Policy, please contact covid19@uscsa.org.
**This and all COVID-19 Protocols are subject to changes**
The COVID-19 Task Force has issued an updated COVID-19 Resource Guide. This guide includes information for Conference Coordinators, athletes, parents and institution administrations. We have collaborated with other industry partners to ensure our guide is comprehensive and inline with industry standards.
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.
FAQs
General
Will the USCSA have a 2021 / 2022 season?
Yes, USCSA is actively planning for the 2021 / 2022 season and will continue to ensure that COVID-related protocols and safety measures are addressed.
WILL THERE STILL BE POST-SEASON COMPETITION?
Yes, we are planning for post-season competitions. Safety protocols for Regional and National Championships will be released prior to opening of event registration. Current COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines for Whiteface can be found here.
I’VE REGISTERED, BUT MY SCHOOL CANCELLED Winter and/or SPRING SPORTS. AM I ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND?
The USCSA will refund any Competitor or Team registration through January 12, 2022 or the start of their home Conference's competitive season, whichever is sooner. Competitors or Teams may request a refund by contacting the National Office and completing the application. The Membership Committee will review all submitted applications.
DOES THE USCSA HAVE HEALTH SCREENING PROTOCOLS?
Yes, the USCSA has health screening protocols, which can be shared with any interested party. The protocols will be in the 2021-2022 COVID-19 Resource Guide, or you can contact the COVID-19 Task Force at covid@uscsa.org to obtain a copy. Every athlete agrees to self-report positive tests AND suspected symptoms through their team leaders to their Conference Coordinator when they register for and throughout the competition season. Willing dishonesty not only puts fellow teammates in danger, but potentially all other event participants. This is a breach of USCSA's Principles of Conduct (see Section 2.7 of the USCSA Bylaws) and will be sanctioned accordingly.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF HEALTH SCREENINGS? WILL USCSA OFFER PRE-EVENT TESTING?
The USCSA has established 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 that athletes and leaders take advantage of in-university testing if available.
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 the 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.
Eligibility & Participation
IF I’M NOT ON CAMPUS, HOW WILL I SUBMIT ACADEMIC PAPERWORK?
USCSA provides a virtual signature platform for academic paperwork, allowing students and teams to submit approved academic transcripts without the need to obtain a physical “wet” signature. Your Team Captain or main Team Contact will provide this Individual Academic Eligibility Release Form to you.
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 they cannot. 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 fewer 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?
MY SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE A SEASON LAST YEAR AND/OR WILL NOT HAVE A SEASON THIS YEAR DUE TO COVID-19. DOES THAT AFFECT MY TOTAL YEARS OF ELIGIBILITY?
No. 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. You do not need to submit an appeal request to USCSA to enact this waiver.
Updated 12.8.21