After more than a year of canceled practices and tournaments due to COVID-19, USC club sports are eager to practice on campus. However, the ever-changing protocols are causing frustrations amongst players as many teams still face uncertainties in their season. Lara Prakash has more.
USC Recreational Sports and Student Affairs have implemented strict COVID-19 guidelines for club teams, especially the USC Club Swim team. Although members are vaccinated and have not had a positive COVID-19 case this semester, their practices have been canceled and the season schedule is unclear.
The sudden shift in protocol prompted frustrations among members as to how USC is handling its safety protocol. The guidelines are inconsistent, which led the team to cancel all practices and confused members, says senior Ryan Cantrell.
“Unfortunately with the USC restrictions, we were originally practicing in the dive pool but that was restricted to only 7 people per practice which unfortunately is not conducive to a team environment at all and we can’t even pay our dues. So we had to cancel practice for a month while we tried to figure that out.”
Club swim returned to practice one month later with a changed practice schedule. The team had to reduce practices from four times a week to twice a week. Cantrell feels that the team’s needs were not being heard by the Recreational Club Council, or RCC.
Annenberg Radio reached out to RCC for comment but did not hear back.
“It didn’t feel like we were being met in the middle and we were kind of just told no and they weren’t hearing any of the problems we were having. We couldn’t charge dues if only seven people were coming or we didn’t have a pool at all and we weren’t being heard. It felt like the pool was its own separate entity that wasn’t being addressed.”
Initial restrictions only allowed twenty members per practice but weeks later, members continued to be confused as to why swim was more restricted than other club teams. Senior team member Katie Thomson feels that these restrictions were harsh especially since swimming is not a contact sport.
“I have classes where we’re meeting with tons of people in classrooms and I’m sitting very close to people. So I’m like, if I can go to class and be inside with all these people, I don’t know why I can’t swim outside in a pool with like one other person in my lane.”
USC club tennis president is Albert Tan. He heard about the restrictions placed on the swim team and found it unfortunate. Club tennis’ protocol includes wearing masks during practice, showing Trojan Check, and having the RCC check in during practice.
“In the end, I think RCC could have been a little bit more relaxed because I know, like at football games and other events, they don’t even check for a mask or Trojan Check or whatever. But then with club sports they do all of that so I think it’s a weird dynamic.”
Things seem to be looking up as several club teams, such as swim, will begin to compete later this semester. The club is now allowed to practice on Sundays, but still only with a limited number of swimmers.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Lara Prakash.