March 18, 2021

Rise to the Occasion: Return of Sports this Spring

Dr. Christopher J. Parker

President & CEO / National Junior College Athletic Association

Our association recently passed the one-year mark of closing athletics facilities, canceling winter and spring games, and walking away from competition. While this period of uncertainty was frustrating and heartbreaking for the NJCAA and its members, the desire to return to competition never ceased. What have we learned from the pandemic and why does this spring season mean so much to everyone involved? It is a simple, yet complex idea.

The simplicity is that we are moving in the right direction towards a normal routine, which means games are taking place and student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and athletic staff are back to doing what they love. On the other hand, complexity strikes when we begin to evaluate the logistics of travel, practice, and spectators, all while maintaining safety. The challenges and an atypical year at hand make triumphs more valuable because of the willingness of the association to adapt for the betterment of its student-athletes.

If there is anything that COVID-19 has taught us, it is that winning comes in many different shapes and sizes; winning is special and sometimes hard to come by. Whether it is lacing up shoes, practicing with teammates, competing in a gym without fans, or earning all-academic recognition, there are things worth celebrating even in the most difficult times. Soon, more national championships will take place, student-athletes will play for titles, and life may begin to feel more normal.

Sacrifice, angst, concern, sorrow, and emotional depletion was shared around the nation, yet the comradery towards one another helps everyone rise to the occasion. The feeling of exhaustion while pushing through the last leg of the race to the finish line is finally in sight. There's a new understanding that this commitment has been made by people of all backgrounds, job statuses, and campuses, one that has been made not with normal blood, sweat, and tears, but rather with a one-of-a-kind mentality that zeroes in on the safe return of sports.

To everyone in the storm, I share the words of Maya Angelou "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."

We thank you for your leadership and steadfast mentality to help everyone compete this spring – it truly does mean the world to so many.

Respectfully,