To all our CoSIDA members:
A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
-
Winston Churchill
As everyone crafts their own personal blueprints in adjusting to a rapidly changing work environment, we encourage you to keep Winston Churchill’s advice in mind.
We all can look at the events that are unfolding as an opportunity to be impactful with both our life and career.
Without question, CoSIDA members are among the most creative and resilient in college athletics. There is no sugar coating the issues that descended upon us with little warning a week ago, but how they affect our lives to a certain degree is up to each of us.
That’s been the directive for all elements of your CoSIDA leadership groups. As a result, we want to update you on our discussions as they relate to how the organization is responding in these troubled times.
We are still in the process of formulating answers and finalizing plans. But, briefly stated, here are a few updates of interest.
- Academic All-America® Program: In an effort to keep student-athletes at the forefront of our efforts during this time, both the Academic All-America Committee and the CoSIDA Board of Directors are discussing a strategy to determine how we continue the program and adjust the criteria that must now account for no competition during the spring. We don’t have all of those questions resolved yet, but our intention is to pursue a path that allows for a continuation of honoring student-athletes for academic and athletic achievement.
- 2020 CoSIDA Convention: Our convention has not been removed from the calendar. Clearly, there are unknowns impacting this final decision, but our intention is to press forward until conditions dictate that it’s not feasible.The CoSIDA Convention is a part of NACDA Convention & Affiliates Week so obviously NACDA’s decision will have a strong impact on our decision. If we are forced to cancel, we are discussing contingency plans related to aspects of what that means to everyone. We will keep you informed as new information related to the convention is available.
- NEW Listening and Leading Webinar Series- Beginning March 24: In response to these unsettled times, CoSIDA should be viewed as a resource for information and education to our members. As a result, we are developing a new CoSIDA webinar series – Listening and Learning, a live and on-demand webinar series that deals specifically with the issues that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 impact on college athletics. We are planning presentations that focus on topics as mental health, working from home, developing content, how a shortened or cancelled season impacts records and statistics. and an overview of CoSIDA resources in the weeks ahead. Please join us on Tuesday, March 24 as we begin the series with a Virtual Town Hall (3 pm Eastern). Registration information is HERE and below.
Finally, attached below you will find a message especially for our members as a source of important motivation and inspiration.
The authors are Dr. Joel Fish and Bob Delaney. Bob was a speaker at the 2019 CoSIDA Convention’s Leadership Forum and was also honored this year by the NCAA with the Theodore Roosevelt Award. Bob currently serves as a consultant for the SEC, is a former undercover trooper and NBA referee, and a frequent speaker on post-traumatic stress disorder to military groups and law enforcement officers. Dr. Fish is a nationally recognized expert in sport psychology. We encourage you to take a few moments to read it.
Thanks, stay safe and don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone on the CoSIDA Board of Directors or staff if you have thoughts, suggestions or questions in the days ahead.
Herb Vincent, CoSIDA President Doug Vance, CoSIDA Executive Director
