CLC Fall Sports Return With Special Protocols In Place

GRAYSLAKE, IL — The College of Lake County will be following National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IV protocol for returning to athletic competition this fall. Student athletes will return for non-contact and low-risk competitive sports, including men's and women's cross-country, men's golf and women's tennis, in August, according to a statement from the College of Lake County.

“Providing a safe environment for our student athletes is our highest priority,” said athletics director Bradley Unger. “For most of our students and coaches, COVID-19 has presented the largest challenge in their careers. We want to do everything we can to provide a safe pathway for all athletic programs to return and have competitive seasons this academic year.”

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Per the NJCAA’s announcement on July 13, men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, will move to the spring semester. The college will re-evaluate the local and regional landscape in late fall to determine if options exist for fall sports programs to safely resume competition in the spring with traditional spring sports programs, according to a news release.

The plan will permit all athletes to begin practice and training sessions in accordance with NJCAA guidelines on campus this fall. The physical education building will be open to student athletes only starting August 24, according to the news release.

Enhanced safety protocols will be in place for screening, testing, sanitizing for practice and competition of low-risk sports, athletic facilities and transportation vehicles.

“I am excited our student athletes will get to play safely this fall,” said Jim Love, head tennis coach. “The members of the tennis team are looking forward to playing. It will require several changes from a normal season, but we are all ready to do what we need to keep everyone safe.”

As always, this decision is pending the current health climate and remains flexible. Consideration for spring sports will be determined at a later date based on the forthcoming guidelines from the governor, Illinois Department of Health, Lake County Health Department and Illinois Community College Board.