The 2020 athletic campaign for winter and spring sports came to abrupt end when the NCAA halted all athletic related activities on March 12. The Grand Valley State winter sports teams were involved in post season championship action, while the spring athletic teams were in the early portion of their schedules. In a very short period of time the daily bustle of practices and events were replaced with isolation and stay at place orders. Students and staff were sent home to finish the semester remotely and a new form of communication (Zoom) emerged. 
 
"Our student-athletes, coaches and staff ended 2019-20 with an empty feeling," said GVSU Director of Athletics Keri Becker. "We had no sense of closure to a season, no chance to say good bye to team members and staff. It was a strange feeling in a strange circumstance," added Becker. 
   
After a turbulent summer, students and staff were welcomed back to campus and the year began August 29^th with baseline testing of all 600 student-athletes plus staff, followed by  a 14-day resocialization period where no physical athletic activity could occur. This allowed for the student-athletes to re-acclimate to a new campus and classroom experience, receive important education on new protocols and allow them to establish new routines around a mixed delivery of classes. 
 
 "Student-athletes are used to a summer break, but being off for five months in the COVID environment was obviously a longer break than normal and while everyone was more than ready to get back to playing, we knew it was important to physically and mentally ease back onto campus and into their sport," said Becker. 
 
Student-athletes welcomed a September 14^th  return to participate and the excitement could be felt during each and every practice as student-athletes desperately needed to get back to doing the sport they love. 
 
The Ottawa County order went public just two days later and appeared it might shut down Laker athletics again.  As part of the order, intercollegiate athletic practices could only continue if a licensed physician was present to ensure COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols were being followed. Staff and coaches went to work and secured a number of doctors that allowed practices to continue. 
 
"While I understand and respect the intent of Ottawa County's order, our coaches saw it as a challenge and quickly determined we needed to go find doctors. The response was nothing short of amazing as so many have stepped forward to assist. I am deeply appreciative of the time they have given to our student-athletes." said Becker. 

The Lakers are still in search of a few more doctors to cover practices through October 1, 2020  that range from 7am – 6pm daily. If you would like to assist, please email the athletic director, Keri Becker at beckeker@gvsu.edu. 
 
While COVID-19 has shut down competitions since March 12th, the athletic department has remained extremely busy. Coaches continued to recruit and engaged their student-athletes through virtual workouts, meetings and other team activities. The medical staff continued injury rehabilitation efforts virtually and began work on new COVID-19 protocols and education that would become vitally important to the communication efforts as the beginning of classes approached. The external relations staff was creative with promoting the great work of the student-athletes, as well as keeping Laker Nation engaged through the internet, video and social media efforts. 
 
Like many athletic departments across the nation, GVSU athletics was not immune to the impact COVID-19 has had on campus budgets. With the NCAA DII's decision to postpone fall 2020-21 sports, the athletic department is facing a projected loss of revenue of approximately $1 million this fiscal year on top of the lost revenue from the inability to run camps and clinics. GVSU Athletics has instituted both operational and personnel cost saving measures to ensure the long-term health of the day-to-day athletic operations. A combination of not filling vacant positions, furloughs and position eliminations have been instituted that will be coupled with alternative revenue generation initiatives as part of its personnel cost-reduction plan.  Most of the operational cost savings are related to the reduced playing  schedules during the 2020-21 academic year. Despite the need for belt tightening, the goal is for it to have little impact on the student-athletes.  In the end, these  measures are to ensure the loss of revenue from this year will not affect 2021-22 when the Lakers  are back to operating on a full athletics schedule.
 
The impact of GVSU athletics has not changed during this time, to deliver the best student-athlete experience. STUDENT-ATHLETE SUCCESS is achieved  academically, athletically and socially. Grand Valley State athletics wants to CREATE CHAMPIONSHIP EXCELLENCE through implementing best practices, seeking collaboration, being inclusive and innovative, continuing personal & professional development efforts, while honoring old traditions and creating new ones alike – with integrity as the foundation for this culture.  Athletics is a part of the fabric of the institution so we must ENGAGE OUR CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY to secure resources, manage the brand, develop a fan base and build relationships. If we do this, then our student-athletes will be champions in all aspects of their life. While the athletic piece will look different this fall, the ability for student-athletes to achieve academically and socially has never been greater. The faculty has worked hard all summer to ensure quality teaching will occur no matter the mode of delivery. Coaches have prepared a slate of team activities that ensure our student-athletes develop beyond the game. While these types of activities were always inherent in the participation in athletics, there is more time now to do some things there simply was never enough time to do. Championship excellence is the culture our coaches and staff create, while the engagement of our campus and community will be evident by the work we do to be a part of Lakers Together initiatives. 
 
As part of GVSU Student Outreach effort earlier this summer, most of the athletic department staff volunteered to make phone calls to GV students, completing almost 6000 calls in late April. Laker student-athletes assisted in the reorganization of our classrooms, staff members assisted with move-in and convocation. 
 
"It was important that the athletic department step forward and help wherever and whenever they could with our campus partners," said Becker. We wanted to be a part of the effort  to create a safe environment for our students to return to learning, so our student-athletes would have a chance to return to playing."
 
Laker athletic teams will continue to practice throughout the fall with a January return to play scheduled. Stay tuned to GVSUlakers.com and all of the Laker social media platforms for information. 
 
ATTENTION: 
Sign up for the Fall GVSU Athletics Fundraising Golf Outing
Friday, October 16
The Meadows
7:30 registration/donuts
8:30 shotgun start

Golf Outing Sign Up