Kean Athletics Sets Returning to Play Process in Covid Talks Episode

 

By Steven Merrill | Published by April 8, 2021

With spring rapidly approaching, Covid-19 protocols are changing and shifting as Kean’s student-athletes continue to return to the court and field.

Kean student-athletes are starting to compete against other schools now, mainly thanks to the efforts of the university and athletic department. A long process of setting up a plan to return to play finally came to fruition on Feb. 6 when Kean hosted its first NCAA sporting event in 333 days.

“It was an unbelievable experience to see the student-athletes run around and compete and once again have that gleam in their eyes,” Kean Athletic Director Kelly Williams said as part of Kean’s Covid Talks series. “That was very rewarding. It wasn’t about the outcome, it was about the fact they had an opportunity to compete. That’s what it was really about.”

As part of “Kean Covid Talks”, the University held a “Returning to Play for New Jersey’s Student-Athletes” panel on the school’s YouTube channel that included President Dr. Lamont Repollet, athletic director Kelly Williams, and director of sports medicine Denise Wujciak. Also on the zoom were Kean football player Leo Cruz and Kean soccer/lacrosse player Emily Bretschneider.

The panelists said the process began last year in September when the NCAA sent resocialization guidelines. Kean went with the pod systems within teams where small groups of players stay together during activities. This was phase one, restarting slowly but surely. This included limiting contact drills and making sure players and coaches were getting tested for Covid-19.

The teams never went near the maximum numbers of gatherings when practicing. Williams said they kept the numbers at 25 or 30, even if they were allowed to have 50 athletes together outdoors at once. It was a cautious, safe approach but it paid off as 2021 got underway. Phase two came in January when competing against other schools was allowed to take place.

“We are managing 14 sports at this moment and trying to have an abbreviated season in 90 days,” Williams said. “We’re doing an unbelievable job as an administrative team as well as student-athletes and coaches making sure that safety message is a daily conversation throughout our department.”

Kean athletics are not using locker rooms for games, and visiting teams have to go to a designated area when they arrive on campus for a game. Players have to sit six feet away from each other. There are many other protocols in place, whether it be from the state, NCAA, NJAC, or Kean.

Transportation to and from away games is another challenge, Williams said. Eating and drinking on buses are not allowed and there is only a certain capacity you can have on a bus.

Denise Wujciak, who was an athletic trainer at Kean for almost 20 years before being promoted to Director of Sports Medicine last fall, saw her responsibilities change quickly with the advent of Covid-19.

Wujciak became as educated as possible on the virus by becoming a contact-tracer, learning more about testing, and sitting on bi-weekly meetings with the chief medical officer of the NCAA. Wujciak was able to play a big role in helping Kean’s athletes return safely and still is hands-on.

“The student-athletes have been wonderful,” Wujciak said. “Dr. Repollet is very much about making sure the athletes are as safe as possible. We are testing above the recommendation of the NCAA.”

The athletes have all signed a pledge that they won’t have social gatherings and will do whatever they can to keep their teammates safe. Protocols for the athletes include being tested once a week, daily screenings, temperature checks, other readings, and getting wristbands to show they are clear for the day.

“They (the student-athletes) come in and do everything that is required of them,” Wujciak said. “All of the stress and anxiety that I have had to get them to this point has been so worth it to see them out there playing.”

The men’s and women’s basketball programs are currently going about their seasons. There are NJAC tournament games to be played for both. Men’s volleyball is in the midst of an 11-game season plus postseason tournaments while women’s volleyball has a five-game season scheduled for March.

Last month it was announced Kean’s football team would be playing three games this spring, replacing their usual fall season. Men’s and women’s lacrosse, field hockey, and men’s and women’s soccer all have a schedule set to begin this month. Games for all sports will be against schools in New Jersey.

Baseball and softball seasons are underway at Kean, starting a month later than usual. Williams had a positive approach and thinks Kean Athletics will come out better because of this experience.

“I’m so excited to say that the message on every level has been consistent of making sure the overall goal is that we’re dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s as it relates to the safety and well being of our student-athletes, our coaches, and more importantly just making sure they have an opportunity,” he said. “It has done wonders for the morale of the students as well as the coaches.”

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