COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOCUMENT

Last Updated: August 5, 2021

1. What are the conference's plans for athletics for the 2021-22 year?

Barring any unforeseen changes to local and community health standards at our member institutions, the Landmark Conference intends to have a full slate of conference competition and Championships across the league’s 22 sports this year.

Schools are currently preparing for preseason activities for our fall sports. Individuals are encouraged to reach out to their Head Coach for specific requirements each institution may have regarding move-in.

2. What health and safety protocols will be in effect for the season?

The Landmark continues to work with our Athletic Trainers and Team Physicians to establish health and safety protocols for competition and travel related to that competition. At minimum, the conference will follow the latest guidelines from the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute (SSI) as we consider policies on a return to play.

Individuals seeking more information can read the most recent guidelines from SSI here.

3. Will masks be mandated again for the 2021-22 season?

The Landmark Conference Presidents have lifted the conference masking mandate for competition. Individuals are still encouraged to use best judgment when traveling away from campus and during all extracurricular activities.

Each member of the Landmark Conference will have its own masking policy to share with student-athletes and their families upon request. Institutional policies may be more restrictive as it pertains to masking while on campus.

Individual students may still choose to wear masks during practice and/or competition based on personal preference.

4. Will spectators be permitted at Landmark contests?

The Landmark Conference will continue to defer to our institutions’ visitor policies as it pertains to spectators at conference contests. At this time, it is anticipated that spectators will be permitted to attend contests this fall. As our institutions finalize their health and safety protocols for the fall, we will update this page with any restrictions for each campus.

5. Will the conference require student-athletes to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

The Presidents of the Landmark Conference have adopted the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (“ACIP”), and the American College Health Association (“ACHA”) that all student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics events shall have a signed proof of vaccination for COVID-19 provided to their institution prior to any conference competition against a member institution.

Individual institutions will review and grant requests for standard medical and religious exemptions.

Each member of the Landmark Conference will have its own COVID-19 vaccination policy to share with student-athletes and their families upon request.

Student-athletes who do not comply with this policy may be prohibited from participating in Landmark intercollegiate athletic events or activities.

Questions about this policy should be directed to the Athletic Director of your institution.  

6. What if I have medical or religious concerns for not wanting to be vaccinated?

Each member institution will review and grant requests for standard medical and religious exemptions.

If you have concerns about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine please speak to your Primary Care Physician (PCP) or Team Physician to discuss a potential medical waiver.

7. Where can I get more information about the vaccination requirement?

Each Landmark member institution will have more information about your specific institution’s requirements and waiver process. Individuals seeking additional information are encouraged to reach out to the Athletic Director at your institution.

Compliance and Eligibility Questions related to COVID-19

1. How do I know how many seasons of eligibility and semesters I have remaining based on NCAA waivers from Spring of 2020 and the 2020-21 academic year?

Please click here for a link to a summary guide related to the various eligibility waivers that were granted by the NCAA dating back to March 2020.

2. What if I am a transfer student from an institution that is in a different NCAA division?

The waivers only apply to student-athletes that were DIII student-athletes during the 2020-21 academic year. However, blanket waivers provided by other divisions or organizations regarding the use of a season or 10 semester/15 quarter period of eligibility during the 2020-21 academic year would follow the student-athlete upon transfer to a Division III institution.

(Note: this is only applicable for undergraduate transfers. Graduate eligibility would be reviewed through the waiver process on a case-by-case basis.)

3. What if I transfer from an institution not associated with the NCAA?

See above. Waivers provided from other athletic organizations will follow student-athletes to their new institution.

4. Do I qualify for the 2021-22 NCAA blanket waiver for less than full-time participation?

Division III approved a blanket waiver for the 2021-22 academic year allowing a student-athlete to participate while enrolled less than full time.

• If a student-athlete has graduated, then they may be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours each semester in a second baccalaureate, graduate program or classes approved by an academic authority outside of athletics that progresses a professional or career goal.
• If not yet graduated, then a student-athlete would need to be in at a minimum of six (6) credit hours during the Fall 2021 semester and then satisfy the final term exception in the spring semester of 2022; or
• If a student-athlete graduates in the Fall 2021 semester, then they could participate while  enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours in the Spring 2022 semester in a second baccalaureate, graduate program or classes  approved by an academic authority outside of athletics that progresses a professional or career goal.

Please click here for a full Q&A Guide Regarding this waiver for less than full-time participation.

5. Is the NCAA’s 114-day Alternate Playing season model still in effect?

No, the NCAA 114-day waiver expired at the end of the 2020-21 academic year. All sports will revert back to legislation set forth in Bylaw 17 related to playing and practice seasons.

6. Am I permitted to virtually recruit student-athletes?

The Interpretations and Legislation Committee issued the following official interpretation: an institutional athletics staff member may view a "live stream" of an event involving prospective student-athletes that the staff member may otherwise permissibly attend. The opportunity to view the "live stream" must be available to all at the same cost. Similarly, an institutional athletics staff member may also view recordings of those same events provided the recordings are available to all at the same cost.