College Baseball Seniors Get Extra Season of Eligibility Back After Coronavirus Cancellations

The NCAA took the extreme step to cancel all winter and spring championship events this week, as the rest of the sports world readjusted their scheduling puzzle to combat the coronavirus epidemic. This impacts student-athletes all over the country in all disciplines, and effectively canceled the 2020 College World Series months before it was set to open competition.

The event wouldn't have taken place for several months, but the NCAA acted swiftly, and student-athletes in spring sports were left wondering if they had played their final game ever. Luckily, it seems the NCAA has announced a plan to do the right thing and grant everyone an extra year of eligibility.

Jeff Goodman notes that a decision still has to be made for those playing winter sports. Another year of eligibility for those athletes would seem to be the right thing to do as well, after their championship events were abruptly canceled, but it becomes a bit of a slippery slope -- after all, they completed a full regular season.

Of course, there's plenty more detail to be hashed out here, even following this hard-line decision.

It is not often the NCAA makes a proactive move. Allowing student-athletes to play another year was the right thing to do, and now we must wait and see if those playing in winter sports can still return for one more season.