Coaches,
As I’ve observed the opening weeks of the college basketball season and spoken directly with many of you, I continue to be encouraged by our sport’s willingness to adapt to difficult circumstances. Prior to the season, I wrote to you that it would take all of us working together to achieve the goal of providing meaningful experiences for our student-athletes amidst a pandemic. And indeed, that is happening.
On one issue, however, I believe we as a profession have much room for improvement. When watching games, I far too often see coaches frequently removing face coverings or not wearing them at all.
It’s time we get serious about masking up.
Wearing a mask is a simple yet effective method of reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. If our primary concern is the health and safety of our players and staff – and I’m confident we are all aligned on that priority – proper mask wearing should be non-negotiable.
Masking up is about much more than protecting our basketball programs. As coaches, we are role models to the watching world. The message we send with our sideline decorum has the potential to inspire safe behavior from others and reinforce that coaches are committed to the fight against COVID-19.
And beyond the optics, we should be doing everything in our power to improve the likelihood of completing a regular season and staging postseason competition. We owe it to our players, our colleagues and our fans to do nothing less.
So let’s be leaders. Let’s send the right message. Let’s mask up.
Sincerely,
Craig Robinson
NABC Executive Director
