The NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference will limit its fall sports teams’ schedules to conference games only, a move announced by the league Tuesday.
All fall sports, except football, are looking at a start date of Sept. 1. Football teams are set to begin their nine-game schedules on Sept. 19.
“We’re grateful for the work in establishing conference protocols that we trust will maximize opportunities to compete for our student-athletes while minimizing the risks we face together in these challenging times,” said Dr. Calvin Troup, president of Geneva College and chair of the PAC Presidents’ Council.
The PAC has three advisory groups, consisting of conference executives and administrators, health professionals and coaches, that are working together to move the league forward and return to competition — with a watchful eye toward health and safety as the covid-19 pandemic looms.
PAC to adjust scheduling format for fallhttps://t.co/J5alVrxHhy
— Presidents’ Athletic Conference (@PAC_Athletics) July 7, 2020
“The covid-19 pandemic presents us with many unprecedented challenges as a conference … The PAC is doing everything in its power to provide a safe “Return to Sport” framework for the fall 2020 semester,” PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko said. “There are certainly aspects of this public health challenge that are clearly beyond our control. By focusing on what we can control, we hope to maximize the possibility of holding a legitimate, comprehensive fall sports season while protecting the health of our student-athletes to the best of our ability.”
PAC teams will be allowed to choose their own first practice dates in the fall. The NCAA Division III Administrative Committee approved lengthening preseasons for fall sports and there will be an unlimited number of administrative days for schools to conduct non-athletics activities.
Before, start dates were based on teams’ first game dates.
The Division III Administrative Committee in May decided to reduce the minimum number of contests required for sports sponsorship and championship selection by 33% in all sports for 2020-21.
