Lee to offer extension waivers amid GSC athletic cancellations
Photo courtesy of Lee Flames.
As the COVID-19 virus continues to impact the country, the Gulf South Conference has officially canceled all athletic competition and championships for the 2020 spring season. The decision brings a close to the 2020 spring seasons for Lee University’s baseball, softball, lacrosse, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s outdoor track programs.
In the wake of these cancellations, the NCAA is allowing institutions to issue extensions on eligibility to the athletes who are losing a season of play. According to the NCAA, for athletes to be eligible to receive an extension, they have to meet three criteria:
The student-athlete used a season of competition in a spring sport during the 2019-20 academic year;
The student-athlete was eligible for competition when he or she competed during the 2019-20 academic year; and
The student-athlete’s season was canceled for reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The NCAA is leaving it up to each institution to self-apply these extension waivers. Waivers will not be offered to winter athletes whose tournaments were canceled.
“Any student-athlete at Lee who meets the requirements and wants an extension will receive one,” said Larry Carpenter, Athletic Director of Lee University. “Any senior who receives an extension will retain his or her scholarship.”
It will be up to the athletes to decide if they want to accept an extra year of eligibility. Their decisions could have implications on roster sizes and scholarship allocations for next season, but Carpenter feels Lee is prepared to deal with any challenges that may be presented.
