Video meetings, face coverings and physical distancing have become the normal for the world since the COVID-19 pandemic began. For Chaminade Athletics, it now involves virtual practices.
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Starting Thursday, Aug. 27, the NCAA will allow coaches and players to begin Countable Athletically Related Activities (CARA) which may include, but not limited to, practices and team meetings. The NCAA has allowed each conference and athletic programs across the country to decide how they will handle their operations. Recently, several major Division I schools suspended their programs due to the coronavirus infiltrating their teams.
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Chaminade Athletics has decided to conduct virtual-only activities instead of the traditional in-person activities in order to protect and maintain the health of its student-athletes, coaches, staff and the Chaminade community in general. Athletics will reevaluate the situation and make another decision regarding activities on Thursday, Sept. 3.
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Last month, the Pacific West Conference announced of postponement of fall 2020 competition to Jan. 1, 2021 and will make a decision on winter 2020-21 sports by Oct. 1. Chaminade University also began online classes instead of conducting them in-person when classes began on Monday and will do so until Friday, Sept. 11.
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"A lot of steps went into making this decision," said Chaminade Director of Athletics
Dr. Tom Buning. "Those steps included balancing NCAA Division II and PacWest protocols, acting per the most recent Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and the State of Hawai'i and City and County of Honolulu declaration on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and consulting local and regional medical and public health professionals."
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With Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell bringing back the "Stay-at-Home/Work-from-Home" orders for the island of O'ahu for two weeks starting midnight Thursday, the 'Swords and athletic staff will help do their part in helping to lower the recent spiking COVID-19 numbers in Hawai'i.
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