




































    

 American Journal of Medical and Physical Education 
Vol.6, Issue 5; September-October 2021; 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJMPE; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

  

 

 

1 | A m e r i c a n  J o u r n a l  o f  M e d i c a l  a n d  P h y s i c a l  E d u c a t i o n  

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DECISION-MAKING OF NCAA DIVISION II GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE SPRING 

SPORT STUDENT-ATHLETES IMPACTED BY COVID-19 IN 2020 

 

 
1David Anne Brown, 2Michael David Williams and 3Jane Charles Williams 
1Department of Physical Education, Wellness, and Sport, Union University. 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, 

Tennessee 38305. gjohnson@uu.edu, 731-661-5246 (phone), 731-661-5182 (fax)  
2Department of Physical Education, Wellness, and Sport, Union University. 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, 

Tennessee 38305  
3Department of Physical Education, Wellness, and Sport, Union University. 1050 Union University Drive, Jackson, 

Tennessee 38305 

 

 

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on collegiate student-athletes, many of whom were 

scheduled to use their final season of competition and/or academic eligibility during the spring 2020 semester. 

This study investigated the decision-making process of these student-athletes regarding whether to return to play 

in the spring 2021 season. The researchers surveyed all 13 member schools of the NCAA Division II Gulf South 

Conference and found that 68% of student-athletes returned to play. The decision to return was influenced by 

factors such as gender, sport type, and 2020 graduation status. 

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, NCAA Student-athletes, Decision-making, Return to play, Gender Sport type 

Graduation status 

 

 

Introduction  

Collegiate student-athletes were faced with an unprecedented experience during the spring semester of 2020. As 

the world was facing the COVID-19 global pandemic, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 

made the decisión on March 12, 2020 to cancel all remaining winter and spring sport championships (NCAA, 

2020c). This decisión left many student-athletes searching for the next step in their academic and Athletic careers. 

As the spring semester evolved, the NCAA began adopting new legislation that would allow studentathletes in 

spring sports to receive an additional season of competition and academic eligibility if they returned to school in 

2020-2021.  

The focus of this study was to investigate the decision-making process for student-athletes that were scheduled 

to use their final season of competition and/or academic eligibility during the spring 2020 semester. The 

researchers chose to survey all 13 member schools of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Each school 

provided data related to the number of student-athletes (N=305) who were scheduled to use their final season of 

competition and/or academic eligibility during the spring 2020 semester and what decisión each of those student-

athletes made regarding returning to play in the spring 2021 season of their sport. The researchers analyzed the 

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 American Journal of Medical and Physical Education 
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results to see if common choice factors influenced the decisión to return based on gender, sport type, and 2020 

graduation status.  

National Collegiate Athletic Association  

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was established in 1906 as the Intercollegiate Athletic 

Association of the United States (NCAA, 2010). The name change occurred in 1910 and has remained the same 

to this day. 

The NCAA is composed of 1,098 colleges and universities classified into 102 conferences spread across three 

divisions with distinctions based on size, number of Athletic scholarships awarded, and focus on academic and 

carácter development (NCAA, n.d.-b). There are currently 350 NCAA Division I schools with an average 

enrollment of 12,900 students and 170,000 student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics (NCAA, n.d.- 

a). Division II is the smallest división with 310 member schools (median enrollment of 2,428) and 120,000 

student-athletes (NCAA, n.d.-a). Division III is the largest división with 438 member schools (median enrollment 

of 1,740) and 195,000 student-athletes (NCAA, n.d.-a). One of the primary distinguishing factors between each 

división is the amount of Athletic aid student-athletes receive for their participation in intercollegiate athletics. 

Division I schools have the largest Athletic budgets and award more cost-of-attendance Athletic scholarships 

compared to Division II schools that primarily give partial Athletic scholarships and Division III schools which 

do not allow athletic scholarships (NCAA, n.d.-a). The NCAA is governed by a board of governors represented 

by college presidents and chancellors from each of the three divisions. 

The emerging COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 presented a challenge the NCAA had never faced before. As the 

COVID-19 pandemic expanded around the world, the NCAA was faced with making decisions regarding the 

safety of the coaches and student-athletes involved in winter and spring sports. The culmination of many meetings 

resulted in NCAA president Mark Emmert and the board of governors cancelling all remaining winter and spring 

championships on March 12, 2020 (NCAA, 2020c).  

As the situation with COVID-19 progressed throughout the spring and summer, the NCAA and board of 

governors developed policies regarding coaches and student-athletes impacted by the decisión to cancel winter 

and spring sports. On July 22, 2020, the NCAA (2020d) issued a policy related to Bylaw 14.2: Season of 

Competition Issues that:  

Allowed institutions to self-apply season of competition waivers for spring sport student-athletes for the 2020-

2021 academic year, provided all of the following criteria were met:   

(1) The student-athletes team participated in 50% or less of the sport’s Bylaw 17 maximum contests/dates of 

competition during the 2019-2020 season due to ongoing impact from COVID-19;  

(2) The student-athlete used a season of competition during the 2019-2020 academic year; and  

(3) The student-athlete was eligible for competition when he or she competed during the 2019-2020 academic 

year.  

(p. 3)   

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In addition, the NCAA (2020d) issued the following policy related to ByLaw 14.2: Season of Competition Issues 

that: Allowed institutions to self-apply an extension of eligibility waiver (two semesters/three quarters) for winter 

and spring student-athletes for the 2020-2021 academic year, as follows:  

(1) If the student-athlete qualified for the season of competition waiver;  

(2) For a student-athlete who was unable to participate due to a cancellation of the sport season; or  

(3) For a student-athlete who opted out of countable athletically related activities. (p. 4)  

The NCAA (2020d) added on August 21, 2020 that: In order to qualify for the self-applied extensión of eligibility 

waiver, the student-athlete must have been otherwise eligible for competition during the 2020-2021 academic 

year. This relief was aplicable to all eligible student-athletes, regardless of year in school or number of semesters 

previously used. (p. 4)  

The financial aid impact of these decisions was addressed by the NCAA (2020d) related toBylaw 15: Financial 

Aid Issues when they: Issued a blanket waiver to allow student-athletes who would have used their fourth season 

of competition or exhausted their 10 semester/15 quarter period of eligibility during the spring 2020 term to 

receive Athletics aid for the 2020-2021 academic year without counting toward team equivalency limits. This 

relief only applied if the student-athlete remained at their original institution. If the student-athlete transferred, 

the Athletics aid received at the new institution would count toward team equivalency limits.(pp. 9-10) Gulf 

South Conference  

The NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference (GSC) was established in 1970 as a football only conference 

(GSC, n.d.-a). The conference added men’s sports championships in 1971-72 for baseball, basketball, cross 

country, golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field (GSC, n.d.-c). Women’s sports championships were added in 

1982-83 for basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, and women’s volleyball (GSC, n.d.-c).  

The Gulf South Conference is currently made up of 13 member schools representing the states of Alabama, 

Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee (GSC, n.d.-a). The Gulf South Conference also allows associate 

membership to 5 schools for specific sports that include: Florida Tech and North Greenville for football; Young 

Harris and Lander for lacrosse; and Spring Hill for men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and women’s golf (GSC, n.d.-

a). The Gulf South Conference (n.d.-b) recognizes 19 annual conference championships in the sports of baseball, 

basketball (men and women), cross country (men and women), football, golf (men and women), women’s 

lacrosse, soccer (men and women), tennis (men and women), indoor track and field (men and women), outdoor 

track and field (men and women), and women’s volleyball. The Gulf South Conference member schools have 

won 52 NCAA Division II championships (GSC, n.d.-a). 

Academic Success Rate  

One of the key aspects the researchers focused on was the Academic Success Rate of student-athletes and how 

the COVID-19 waivers may Benefit student-athletes who need additional semesters to complete their 

undergraduate degree. NCAA Division II uses the Academic Success Rate based on the partial Athletic 

scholarship model more commonly used in Division II as compared to Division I student-athletes and Division 

III student-athletes.  

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In the Gulf South Conference, the four-year Rolling Academic Success Rate for all student-athletes in the 2010-

2013 reporting period was 69.5% compared to a national average of 74% (NCAA, 2020b). For this study, the 

researchers focused their attention on spring sport student-athletes (baseball, softball, men’s and women’s golf, 

men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s track and field). The four-year Rolling Academic Success 

Rate for Gulf South Conference student-athletes in the selected spring sports from 2010-2013 was 79.5% 

compared to the overall Division II average of 82.6% (NCAA, 2020a). One of the unintended consequences of 

the COVID-19 policy changes is that Academic Success Rates may show a short-term improvement based on 

student-athletes being allowed an additional two semesters/three quarters to complete their academic programs 

along with an additional year of athletic eligibility.   

COVID-19 Moving Forward  

The NCAA has continually met to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on intercollegiate athletics. 

On September 2, 2020, the NCAA board of governors made the decisión to cancel all fall sport national 

championships (NCAA, 2020d). The waivers provided to 2020 spring sport student-athletes were extended to fall 

sport student-athletes. The NCAA (2020e) declared on October 20, 2020 that Division II winter sport 

studentathletes would also receive a waiver for an additional year of competition and an extension of academic 

eligibility. Results from this study may help athletic administrators predict which student-athletes will most likely 

choose to return in 2021-2022 and the impact that will have on athletic budgets in coming years.   

Purpose of the Study  

The purpose of this study was to determine which factors (gender, sport type, 2020 graduation status) were most 

influential in the decision-making process of NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference spring sport student-

athletes that returned for an additional season of competition in 2020-2021. This information could provide insight 

to athletic administrators as they plan for the long-term impact of the NCAA guidelines for COVID-19 and how 

fall and winter sport student-athletes might use similar decision-making factors in future years. 

Methods  

The researchers began contacting athletic directors and compliance officers at the 13 NCAA Division II Gulf 

South Conference member schools in August of 2020. A ten-item survey was created that each institution was 

requested to complete providing the information related to 2020 spring sport student-athletes that were scheduled 

to use their final season of competition and/or academic eligibility in the spring 2020 semester.   

The researchers collected data specific to gender, sport type, 2020 graduation status, and enrollment status for 

2020-2021. All 13 institutions responded for a 100% response rate. The responses yielded 305 (N=305) total 

student-athletes that met the criteria to be included in the study. Data was entered into SPSS and descriptive 

statistics for the independent variables of gender, sport type, and 2020 graduation status were analyzed. Data was 

also produced to indicate student-athlete status for 2020-2021 as: taking undergraduate courses, completing 

undergraduate degree, or taking graduate courses. 

Data was also collected related to retention rate that indicated which student-athletes stayed at their spring 2020 

school versus transferring to another school for the additional season of competition and academic eligibility. A 

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 American Journal of Medical and Physical Education 
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https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJMPE; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

  

 

 

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binary logistic regression análisis was run on the data to determine which factor(s) had a significant impact on 

the decisión to return for an additional season of competition for the 2020-2021 year.  

Results  

Statistical results that identified the most important choice factors for 305 returning spring sport studentathletes 

from NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference institutions are reported in the following section. Results were 

obtained following the administration of a 10-item survey to athletic directors and compliance officers at all 13 

member institutions of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference.  

Statistical analyses were performed to produce demographic results, descriptive statistics related to the 151 

returning student-athletes, and a binary logistic regression. The results are organized by 1) demographics, 2) 

descriptive statistics, and 3) the binary logistic regression outcome.  

Demographics  

Demographic results are presented indicating the number of spring 2020 student-athletes (that were scheduled to 

use their final season of competition and/or academic eligibility) within each classification of independent 

variable and the percentage each group represents. Athletic directors and/or compliance officers provided 

demographic information related to gender, sport, and spring or summer 2020 graduation status. Each of the 

independent variables was categorical and required the administrators to indicatethe status of each studentathlete. 

Demographic results representing the 305 spring 2020 student-athletes are presented in Table 1.   

  

  

Table-1                  

Demographic Classification of S tude nt-Athletes Sch eduled to Comp lete Athletic Eligibility in the Spring 

Semester of 2020  

                    

                              

S tatus for 20202021  Returned  Did Not R eturn  Total   

        n  %  n  %  n  %  

                   

Gender                          

                   

 Male      106  70.2  91  59.1  197  64.6  

                   

 Female      45  29.8  63  40.9  108  35.4  

                   

S port Type                  

                   

 Team Sport    99  65.6  101  65.6  200  65.6  

                   

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 Individual/D ual Sport  52  34.4  53  34.4  105  34.4  

                   

2 020 Graduatio n Status              

          

 Graduated    42  27.8  111  72.1  153  50.2  

                   

 Did Not Gra duate    109  72.2  43  27.9  152  49.8  

                   

Note. N=305                 

  

Independent Variables  

Gender    

Male student-athletes represented 64.6% of the population for this study. Male student-athletes represented 70.2% 

of the returning spring sport student-athletes and 59.1% of the non-returning spring sport student-athletes for the 

2020-2021 academic year. The largest sport population for spring 2020 student-athletes came from the male sport 

of baseball (n=140). Female student-athletes represented 35.4% of the population for this study. Female student-

athletes represented 29.8% of the returning spring sport student-athletes and 40.9% of the non-returning spring 

sport student-athletes for the 2020-2021 academic year. The sport of softball (n=60) represented the largest sport 

population of female student-athletes that participated in this study.   

Sport Type    

For this study, baseball and softball were categorized as team sports while tennis, golf, and outdoor track and 

field were categorized as individual/dual sports. Team sport student-athletes represented 65.6% of the population 

for this study. Team sport student-athletes also represented 65.6% of the returning and non-returning student-

athletes for this study based on sport type. Team sport participants from baseball (n=140) and softball (n=60) 

represented nearly two-thirds of the participants for the study.   

The largest population for spring 2020 student-athletes in individual/dual sports came from women’s track and 

field (n=24), followed by men’s golf (n=20), men’s tennis (n=19), and men’s track and field (n=18).   

2020 Graduation Status    

For this study, 2020 graduation status was categorized as graduated spring or summer 2020 or did not graduate 

in spring or summer 2020. The graduation rate for spring and summer 2020 was 50.2% (n=153) for spring sport 

student-athletes using their final season of competition and/or academic eligibility. Of those returning to play for 

2020-2021, 72.2% (n=109) were reported as not graduated during the spring or summer of 2020 while 27.8% 

(n=42) did report graduating and were returning for an additional season of competition to pursue a graduate 

degree. Of those not returning to play, 72.1% (n=111) were reported as graduated during the spring or summer of 

2020. Male (n=57) and female (n=54) student-athletes were similarly represented in the group of spring sport 

student-athletes who chose not to return for an additional season of competition after completing their 

undergraduate degree.  

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Descriptive Statistics   

Returning Student-Athletes for 2020-2021    

The researchers included questions to determine the status of spring sport student-athletes that did return for the 

2020-2021 academic and sport year. The total number of spring sport student-athletes returning for an additional 

season of competition was 151, which represented 49.5% of the participants for this study. One of the follow up 

questions was designed to investigate the academic status for spring sport student-athletes that returned in 2020-

2021.  Institutions reported that 62.9% of returning spring sport student-athletes were completing an 

undergraduate degree with an additional 9.3% taking additional undergraduate courses. The remaining 27.8% 

were either starting a graduate program or continuing graduate studies. Institutions were also asked to report the 

retention data for the returning spring sport student-athletes. Institutions reported 98.0% of the returning 

studentathletes stayed at their current institution versus 2.0% that chose to transfer to another institution for the 

additional season of competition. Table 2 illustrates the academic status and retention rate of the 151 returning 

spring sport student-athletes.  

  

  

Table 2                  

Academic Status and Retention R ate for Retur ning StudentAthletes  

                    

                              

              n    %  

                    

Academ ic Status                 

                    

  Comple ting Underg raduate De gree    95    62.9  

                    

  Taking Undergraduate Classes    14    9.3  

                    

  Taking Graduate Cl asses    42    27.8  

                    

Retentio n Rate            

                    

  Stayed a t Spring 2020 Institution  148    98.0  

                    

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  Transfer red Institut ions for 20 20-2021  3    2.0  

                    

Note. N=151                 

 

Binary Logistic Regression    

SPSS version 26 was used to determine if any of the independent variables had a significant impact on the decision 

to return for an additional season of competition in 2020-2021. The results of the binary logistic regression showed 

that 2020 graduation status (p<.000) was a significant predictor of return status for the 20202021 academic year. 

Gender and sport type were not significant predictors of return status for the 2020-2021 academic year. Results 

of the binary logistic regression are illustrated in Table 3.  

Table 3                  

Impact of Gender, Sport Type, and 2020 Graduation Status on 2020-20 21 Enrollmen t of 

Stude nt-Athle tes for Spring  

Sports  

                    

                              

      B  S.E.  Wald  df  Sig.    Exp(B)  

                    

                              

Gender    0.268  0.268  1.006  1  0.316    1.308  

                    

Sport Ty pe    -0.118  0.267  0.195  1  0.659    0.889  

                    

Graduate d 2020    1.654  0.253  42.822  1  0.000  ***  5.226  

                    

***p<.001                 

 

Discussion   

Independent Variables     

The results of this study indicate that 2020 graduation status was the most significant predictor on the decisión of 

spring sport student-athletes to return in 2020-2021 for an additional season of competition following the 

cancellation of the spring 2020 sport seasons due to COVID-19. Gender and sport type did not show a significant 

influence on the decisión to return.    

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The results of this study indicate that spring sport student-athletes at NCAA Division II schools in the Gulf South 

Conference demonstrate a desire to earn their degree while participating in intercollegiate sports. The impact on 

Academic Success Rate over the next 4-5 years should be positively impacted by the additional season of 

competition and academic eligibility that is now granted to student-athletes in all fall and Winter sports along 

with the spring 2020 student-athletes (NCAA, 2020f).  

Challenges Moving Forward   

Colleges and universities are now faced with the task of funding additional Athletic scholarships to account for 

returning student-athletes along with incoming freshman student-athletes. Each institution Will have freedom to 

make the decisión to either continue offering Athletics aid to all returning student-athletes, only allow student-

athletes who need academic credits to complete an undergraduate degree to return, or not offer additional athletics 

aid beyond the four-year competition limit in place prior to COVID-19. How institutions fund these additional 

scholarships is outside of the influence of the NCAA and will be determined at the institutional level. The NCAA 

has provided the opportunity for these student-athletes to return for an additional year of competition and 

academic eligibility without counting toward the sport equivalencies for each sport impacted by COVID-19 

during 2020-2021 (NCAA, 2020f).   

The results of this study may Help institutions in predicting which student-athletes would most likely choose to 

return for an additional year of competition. The Gulf South Conference had over 400 student-athletes scheduled 

to use their final year of eligibility in fall 2020 and winter 2020-2021 sports. These student-athletes have been 

granted an additional year of competition and academic eligibility by the NCAA (2020f), but institutions will be 

faced with the task of funding these athletic scholarships while also recruiting new students and studentathletes. 

This will créate challenging times for institutions that are financially distressed and must choose between helping 

student-athletes return for an additional year of competition and academic eligibility or financially committing to 

the next class of incoming students. The researchers for this study plan to replicate this study for fall and winter 

sport student-athletes in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference in August 2021, when the enrollment 

status of those student-athletes will be known.  

Conclusion    

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a situation the NCAA had never experienced. As decisions were made, and 

policies created, the goal of the NCAA was to ensure the best outcome for the student-athletes impacted by the 

pandemic. Allowing student-athletes an additional year of competition and extending the academic eligibility 

presented a scenario that allowed student-athletes to complete athletic and academic goals without impacting 

sport equivalencies at each institution (NCAA, 2020f). The institutions were then challenged with funding 

additional athletics aid for student-athletes that chose to return while continuing to recruit freshman students and 

student-athletes. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NCAA sports is not finished, as of the writing of this 

article, and may continue to have an impact on policies until the pandemic is no longer a national health risk and 

collegiate sports return to a schedule more like what it was prior to 2020. The long-term impact on institutional 

finances, academic success rates, and student-athlete health will be áreas of study that researchers should consider 

in the comingyears. The researchers for this article hope that identifying which categories of student-athletes are 

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most likely to utilize an additional year of competition and academic eligibility Will assist institutions as they 

determine policy impacting student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Future Direction  

The following questions are áreas of research that should be addressed as the NCAA and its member institutions 

move forward making policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic:  

1. Would allowing student-athletes to transfer without counting athletics aid toward the equivalencies of the 

transfer institutions provide more portability for student-athletes?  

2. Should the NCAA allow student-athletes to return for an additional season of competition if they have 

completed an undergraduate degree?  

3. Which factors will be most significant to fall and winter sport student-athletes as they consider whether 

to return for an additional season of competition?  

4. What impact will the season of competition and academic eligibility waivers have on academic success 

rates in NCAA Division II? 

 

References 

Gulf South Conference. (n.d.-a). GSC quickfacts. Retrieved December 3, 2020, from  

https://gscsports.org/sports/2011/8/8/GEN_0808111016.aspx Gulf  South  Conference.  (n.d.-b).  GSC 

operating  manual.  Retrieved  December3,  2020,  from 

https://gscsports.org/sports/2011/7/27/GEN_0727111833.aspx?path=general  

Gulf South Conference. (n.d.-c). Gulf South Conference history of championships. Retrieved December 3, 2020, 

from https://gscsports.org/documents/2010/12/9/GSC_Championship_History.pdf  

National Collegiate Athletic Association. (n.d.-a). Our three divisions. Retrieved January 8, 2021, from 

http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/ncaa-101/our-three-divisions  

National Collegiate Athletic Association. (n.d.-b). What is the NCAA? Retrieved January 8, 2021, from 

http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/ncaa-101/what-ncaa  

National Collegiate Athletic Association. (2010). History of the NCAA? Retrieved January 8, 2021, from 

https://web.archive.org/web/20110807060521/http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/ 

about%2Bthe%2Bncaa/who%2Bwe%2Bare/about%2Bthe%2Bncaa%2Bhistory  

National Collegiate Athletic Association. (2020a). Division II academic success rate database. Retrieved 

December 3, 2020, from http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/division-ii-graduation-rates-

database  

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1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJMPE; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

  

 

 

11 | A m e r i c a n  J o u r n a l  o f  M e d i c a l  a n d  P h y s i c a l  E d u c a t i o n  

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