Corsairs Women’s Basketball and Softball Teams Continue to Train Despite Cancelled Seasons

Santa Monica College cancelled seasons for two women’s sports teams as of the beginning of the 2023 Spring semester.

Santa Monica College (SMC) decided to cancel the 2023 Spring seasons for its women’s basketball and softball teams this spring season.

SMC Corsairs women’s basketball was able to assemble a 12-player team, consisting mainly of freshmen athletes, during Fall 2022. The team played 12 games between November 2022 and early January 2023, winning two. However, they were forced to forfeit the remaining 13 games this spring after several players became unable to play. This is the second year in a row that SMC has cancelled the women’s basketball team.

SMC Athletic Director Reggie Ellis said that one player had gotten injured and five others became ineligible after the Fall semester due to their academic performance. SMC requires student athletes to be enrolled in at least 12 course units and pass at least six of those units with a minimum GPA of 2.0 each semester in order to participate on athletic teams. Director Ellis added that “last year’s team was mostly sophomore,” many of whom transferred to other schools this year.

"Some of the players are still practicing, and we are active recruiting," he said. "Our plan is to fill a team for the next season.”

The team’s head coach, Lydia Strong, declined to interview.

In regards to the Corsairs softball team, Ellis said that the team had a limited number of players due to injuries, including the pitcher and catcher. Head softball coach Chris Druckman, who coached SMC’s best-performing softball team ever in her first year, explained that the team “all had a bit of a conversation.” Although they could have played a few games with the able players, they ultimately decided to “put it on hold, train, and then all of the girls keep their eligibility for two more years.”

Community college students are allowed two years of eligibility for sports at any time that they are enrolled in classes full time, so by choosing not to compete this season, all of the athletes — including current seniors and injured players, as long as they stay enrolled in classes — will be able to play together next season. Druckman said the main challenge is keeping the team motivated in spite of not being able to play games.

“The girls are really working hard, and it’s tough, because when you practice for such a long time and then there’s no games... it can mess with your mind, so we’re trying to keep it a little light, a little fun,” she said.

To prevent player burnout, softball training is scheduled differently this season: four days a week for eight weeks instead of twice a week for 16 weeks. The team sometimes practices in the batting cages or scrimmages to keep practice exciting.

Although their seasons have been cancelled, many of the Corsair’s women’s basketball and softball athletes are continuing to train this spring. Both teams hope to be well prepared next year for a strong 2023-2024 season.