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The dawn of a new school year usually brings a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. This is not a normal year. The COVID-19 pandemic has vastly altered what this fall will look and feel like. 

“I don’t think anybody has a handbook for anything like this,” said Maryland men’s head coach John Tillman. 

After months during which their primary point of contact was Zoom calls, Tillman and the rest of the Maryland staff welcomed back the Terrapins (and SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt) to College Park this week. At Hofstra, Seth Tierney held the Pride’s first team meeting at midfield of James M. Stuart Stadium. Players fanned out around Tierney in a socially distanced circle and sat in blue Adirondack chairs. 

For every answer, there seems to be 50 questions regarding logistics and protocols. Last week, North Carolina moved all undergraduate courses online in response to a surge of cases after the first week of classes at Chapel Hill.

“The announcement, from one of the largest universities in the country to open its campus during the pandemic, demonstrated how difficult it may be for America’s institutions of higher learning to achieve even a modicum of normalcy in the fall semester,” The New York Times noted. 

Towson had students move in only to move them out not long after because of a surge of cases, too.

Here’s a snapshot of the “new normal” for several top programs this fall.

The Duke men have social distancing with social justice reform.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

We stand in solidarity for change #BlackLivesMatter

A post shared by Duke Men's Lacrosse (@dukemlax) on

The Duke women showcased what prescreening procedures look like on campus for student-athletes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Squad is back and feeling good

A post shared by Duke Women's Lacrosse (@dukewlax) on

At Syracuse, the men had their first (virtual) team meeting of the new year.

The women are back and ready for class.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

First day of school

A post shared by Syracuse Women’s Lacrosse (@cusewlax) on

At Navy, the men are working in small positional groups to get back on the field.

The Army women are also back on campus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Successful st day back for our Firsties! #beateveryone #newschoolyear

A post shared by Army Women's Lacrosse (@armywp_wlax) on

One of the most powerful early-season images comes from the Hofstra men, who positioned themselves six feet apart in blue Adirondack chairs — a staple of Tierney's program since he was an assistant coach on the US National Team that won gold at the 2018 FIL World Championships in Netanya, Israel.

Another powerful image comes from Air Force, as the men take in a team meeting while socially distancing.

At Ohio State, the men took pictures to honor the first day of classes.

Finally, the Notre Dame women are hydrating while staying a safe distance apart.

The new normal for fall lacrosse is here to stay for the time being. These safety measures could help ensure that there is lacrosse as we know it in the spring.