Two more college governing bodies, NAIA and NJCAA, shut down spring sports

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Junior College Athletic Association waited as long as they could to make a decision on their spring sports seasons.

But, like so many other organizations around the country, both were swept under the current caused by coronavirus.

The NAIA and NJCAA announced Monday they have canceled their spring sports seasons, effective immediately.

The NJCAA also wiped out its basketball championships.

With small crowds at events, the associations considered postponements and giving the games a shot in the near future, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement to limit gatherings of 50 or more people for up to eight weeks cemented the decisions.

Practices also are prohibited.

“All possible scenarios that would have supported a spring sports season were seriously considered by multiple NAIA governance groups,” NAIA president and CEO Jim Carr said in a news release. “The growing state of emergency due to COVID-19, as well as the (CDC’s) recommendation yesterday … meant we could not in good conscience move forward with the spring sports season and championships.”

Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA president and CEO, said his association did all it could to produce basketball finals and spring sports — baseball, softball, golf, track & field and men’s volleyball.

“As an association, the NJCAA exhausted all possible avenues to potentially postpone competition for both upcoming basketball championships and spring sport competition,” Parker said. “We believe following the recommendations of the CDC is in the best interest of our member colleges and our student-athletes.”

No spring student-athlete will be charged a season of eligibility by either the NAIA or NJCAA.

The NJCAA also made it clear that “no spring sport student-athlete who was enrolled at a member college in 2020 will be charged a year of participation. The NAIA will award full-time student-athletes two additional semesters, or the equivalent.