COVID-19 Update

Chicopee, MA

As many of you may already know, the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) has released a public statement indicating that all games are suspended during this upcoming fall semester due to the health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.  As a Conference member, Elms College supports this decision.  As always, we make every important decision with the well-being of students first and foremost.  The Conference also stated that if the spread of the virus is contained and safety can be assured, play will resume during the spring semester.

Elms College prides itself on providing a high-quality STUDENT-athlete experience.  The Athletic Family is currently working hard to deliver such an experience for ALL its participants in preparing for this particularly challenging year.  We are committed to providing non-traditional sport opportunities for all programs this fall in accordance with the COVID-related regulations and guidelines set forth by Elms College officials, by local authorities, by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and by the NCAA.  These opportunities will include training, conditioning, individual skill work, small group work, and large group work, if possible. 

Overarching goals include teambuilding, skill assessment, leadership development, and preparing all Blazer teams for a spring semester of intercollegiate competition.  This plan would allow fall sport teams to have their competitive season in the spring alongside spring sports.  All Conference championships will now be in the spring semester.  This will take an incredible amount of planning and leadership both from the Department and from the STUDENT-athletes.  Winter sports would start their seasons shortly after January 1. 

Many other colleges and conferences have already made this decision and many more will be doing the same in the next few weeks.  The rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rate, with no effective way to combat it currently, makes this decision the right one.  Please do not hesitate to contact your coach or me if you have any questions or concerns.  Coaches will be reaching out to connect with all of you.

We very much look forward to your arrival next month!  We will be constantly evaluating the COVID-19 landscape as it affects our Blazer Family.  This endeavor will be a unique challenge for all of us.  We need your assistance and leadership in putting this plan into place and executing it.  Our adherence to social distancing, facemasks, handwashing, etc. will be vital in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and allow us to have athletic competitions.  Remember, it is not the adversity that defines us, it is the way we HANDLE our adversity that defines us.  Let this be our time to shine.  It is a GREAT time to be a BLAZER!

Dr. Michael Theulen

Director of Athletics