This is going to be one of those article that might upset the powers that be!!
In a confusing press release the Patriot League has announced a blended plan for all sports to open in the fall. If there was real thought put into this, I failed to comprehend it. Here is the essence, and it applies to all sports.
1. Athletes will return to campus the same time as all other students
2. Non-League games cannot be played before Sept 4
3. No flying to games and on rare exceptions no overnight
4. No League games until the end of Sept.
5. All games completed by the end of November.
I can see real problems. Lafayette Field Hockey has a game scheduled at home last week in August..that’s gone. Football has a game with Sacred Heart on Sept 4, after two weeks practice and then plays a game with Navy the following week. It is unclear when orientation for freshmen will occur , in any case, there will be no two a day practices since they are forbidden while class is in session..
Colgate Field Hockey has published its schedule and it is posted on the PL website. On Oct 17 Lafayette will play Colgate at noon. So will the team travel by bus leaving at 5:30 am to make and prepare for the game?? Colgate was to play Rider on Aug 28…is that game now gone. They play American on Sept 19 is game which now has to be rescheduled and they were to play at 11 am…really after a 5-7 hour bus trip??
Will games that were scheduled near other games be rescheduled in order to reach a normal year 16 game target!!! Will there have to be games midweek, and will athletes have to miss class???!! (11 games are needed to meet NCAA div 1 minimum and are allowed a max of 20) Accordingly, the fall structure was made with the health and safety of student athletes in mind. Preparation is key to health and safety. I see a lot of cost saving but very little health and safety initiatives.
Holy Cross is to start classes on Sept 1 which leaves no team at the school will have adequate prep time. I am stunned at the lack of thought. Maybe I’m wrong…maybe there’s more to come. I hope so!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 