Upstate SC News

For Eddie Radwanski, head coach of Clemson University women’s soccer, the big question of 2020 was not whether the team would have a winning season or a losing season but whether it would have a season at all.

In March, as COVID-19 cases were rising, the remainder of winter college sports and all spring sports were canceled.

“We got two spring games in,” Radwanski told Upstate SC News. “The following weekend we got the official word on the virus. The season ended there.”

Head coach of Clemson University women’s soccer Eddie Radwanski | Clemson University

His players did not return to campus until the end of June for the summer program. The pre-season started in August and the Tigers played nine games in the fall. They participated in the ACC conference tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before losing 1-0 to Duke. The team finished 6-4 overall, and five Clemson players were named to All-ACC teams, the most since 2015.

But the real victory was in taking the field, the coach said.

“I’m super competitive, I want to win everything,” Radwanski said. “But I said to myself, 'Win, lose or draw, it’s just great to be out here.'”

Better yet, no Clemson players tested positive for the virus.

“I give our team a big pat on the back for that,” the coach said. “They are with us for a certain period of time but they are their own for the rest of the time. We just tried to have good dialogue with our players.”

In discussing the safety protocols, such as wearing masks, testing and social distancing, the coach stressed to the players, “We are doing this so we can play.”

There were time during trips to away games that players wore not only masks but face shields. They were spaced apart on buses and were tested for COVID-19 three times a week.

“When we were travelling and had to stay at a hotel, we typically had players stay in a room with people that they were closest with, so you could control any potential contact tracing issues,” he said. “We didn’t go to restaurants and sit down and have meals. It was always delivered.”

Players were not required to wear masks during the actual games, which were played outside.

European soccer teams last spring already had demonstrated that outdoor soccer could be played safely, the coach said.

“One of the things that European football showed us is that you can play,” Radwanski said. “There’s not been one case where somebody has contracted the virus from any of our games and, part of it, was because it was outdoors.”

Clemson limited fans to 1,000 per game. Some colleges did not allow any fans, Radwanski said. The coach also tried to limit time spent in the locker room, adding, “And when the players were in there, they were wearing masks.” 

Recruiting, however, was challenging, particularly for teams like Clemson, which attracts players nationally.

During the pandemic, NCAA rules have prohibit coaches from traveling to watch recruits play, and recruits can’t be invited to visit campus. Normally recruits visit campus a minimum of two times, the coach said.

“My heart goes out to the kids out there,” Radwanski said. “They can’t even take a tour of the campus with the coach. We can talk to them on the phone, you can do video calls. But there’s still something about coming to the game, having interaction. Our sport and the college experience is about people and relationships.”

Technology has helped somewhat to fill the void of no personal recruiting, Radwanski said. For example, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) youth soccer league filmed every game at a recent event which are available for coaches to watch on demand.

“At least you can do some form of recruiting,” he said. “It’s way better than doing nothing. I really appreciate that they went the extra mile to set that up.”

This coming spring will effectively be an extension of the fall season, with Clemson playing from late February to April when the NCAA tournament will begin.

“I’m excited for the kids because I think it was good for their mental health to play,” Radwanski said. “I think we should be thankful and have a lot of gratitude for this opportunity. A lot of us had friends, colleagues, and maybe they didn’t get this opportunity to play.”