NCAA Championships Limit Attendance to ‘Essential Staff and Limited Family’ Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

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The NCAA has announced that future 2020 winter NCAA championships will be limited to essential staff and limited family in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

That includes the men’s and women’s swimming championships as well as basketball tournaments.

NCAA President Mark Emmert released this statement:

The NCAA continues to assess the impact of COVID-19 in consultation with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel. Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance. While I understand how disappointing this is for all fans of our sports, my decision is based on the current understanding of how COVID-19 is progressing in the United States. This decision is in the best interest of public health, including that of coaches, administrators, fans and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We recognize the opportunity to compete in an NCAA national championship is an experience of a lifetime for the students and their families. Today, we will move forward and conduct championships consistent with the current information and will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin March 18 in Athens, Georgia.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin March 25 in Indianapolis.

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Here is a statement on the NCAA Championships from the NCAA Advisory Panel:

The NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel recognizes the fluidity of COVID-19 and its impact on hosting events in a public space. COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the United States, and behavioral risk mitigation strategies are the best option for slowing the spread of this disease. This is especially important because mildly symptomatic individuals can transmit COVID-19. Given these considerations, coupled with a more unfavorable outcome of COVID-19 in older adults – especially those with underlying chronic medical conditions – we recommend against sporting events open to the public. We do believe sport events can take place with only essential personnel and limited family attendance, and this protects the players, employees, and fans.

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Sharon Brian
4 years ago

Katrina Schlicht

Katrina Schlicht
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Brian

Sharon Brian ? trying to work out what limited family means

Stephen Moloney
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Brian

Katrina Schlicht entry to a limited family or are the numbers of family members limited to particular immediate family, perhaps defined ?

Sharon Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Brian

Stephen Moloney Katrina Schlicht is there anything I can do for you from here?

Stephen Moloney
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Brian

Sharon Brian or me ?

Sharon Brian
4 years ago
Reply to  Sharon Brian

Talk this morning if potentially closing out borders ?
St Caths senior school trialling remote schooling from Monday. Kids will log into classes from home ?

Michelle P Nicholos
4 years ago

Better than March Madness playing without any in attendance!!!

Heather York DiFulvio
4 years ago

Michelle P Nicholos That’s what this means. March Madness tournaments will not include large crowds. All NCAA championships are affected.

Michelle P Nicholos
4 years ago

Heather York DiFulvio the title reads “limited family” – the post for March Madness read “no one admitted for attendance”. I considered “some family” to be different from “no one”

Paula Hammond Probstfeld

What about D2 which is currently taking place?

Amy Kathleen
4 years ago

My son and friends are there and there’s been no mention. FIngers crossed.

Paula Hammond Probstfeld

Amy Kathleen My son in law is swimming there as well. Just want to make sure that we aren’t driving there for nothing.

Amy Kathleen
4 years ago

Paula Hammond Probstfeld I suppose that could all change at any moment but hoping it doesn’t.

Rhonda Horton Miller
4 years ago

Here in the stands and Day 1 of Finals ready to start in a few minutes.

Amy Kathleen
4 years ago

So my son and his teammates got in to watch finals, but we’re just told tomorrow it’s essential family only. Uggh. They drove 9 hours today to get there.

Paula Hammond Probstfeld

Amy Kathleen sooooo I wonder what essential family means?

Amy Kathleen
4 years ago

Paula Hammond Probstfeld He thinks it’s basically parents only.

Amy Kathleen
4 years ago

Paula Hammond Probstfeld Now they are waiting to hear if an athlete can pull in a teammate as “essential family”.

Irene Theders
4 years ago

Better then without any fans ?

Karin Knudson O'Connell

will this be in affect for the mens and women’s NCAA meets the next few weeks as well?

Dick Beaver
4 years ago

MORE STUPIDITY

Jamie Johnson Hampton
4 years ago

Thank you for not canceling this event and using common sense!

Lisa Jacobs Miller
4 years ago

Jamie Johnson Hampton , exactly!

Kara Muscillo
4 years ago

Just feel terrible for all these athletes

Maudjah Henriquez Francis
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Kara Muscillo it’s so tricky! I feel bad for the athletes but will feel worse if we get sick!

Maudjah Henriquez Francis
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

So far, Y Nats is canceled.

Kara Muscillo
4 years ago
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Maudjah Henriquez Francis .so trying to stay positive that things will subside and people will take the obvious precautions

Kara Muscillo
4 years ago
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Maudjah Henriquez Francis yup saw that… I’m so glad luc has many more opportunities to show his skill!

Maudjah Henriquez Francis
Reply to  Kara Muscillo

Kara Muscillo well other countries took a few weeks after full shutdowns. I feel like it hasn’t even peaked yet here. Let’s see….

Shawn Cowper Daniels
4 years ago

Jack Beachboard

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