The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is suspending conference athletic events and championships through the fall semester because of the coronavirus pandemic. The suspension is expended to run through at least Dec. 31.
The Division II conference, with 18 member institutions announced the decision Wednesday morning. The conference's board of directors made the decision Tuesday.
PSAC Suspends NCAA Competition For Fall 2020
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— PSAC Sports (@PSACsports) July 15, 2020
The PSAC, whose Western Pennsylvania member schools are IUP, Cal (Pa.), Seton Hill, Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon, Mercyhurst, Pitt-Johnstown and Slippery Rock, is looking into shifting fall sports and the championships for those sports (cross country, football, soccer, golf, field hockey and women's volleyball) to the spring semester if a return to competition is considered safe at that time.
"The entire conference has worked hard these last few months to prepare for the return of sports to our campuses beginning this fall," PSAC commissioner Steve Murray said in a statement. "However, it has become apparent that the safe conduct of sports under the guidelines of social distancing is untenable for our members. We cannot place our student-athletes at greater risk than the general student body. Despite our planning and collective efforts, it has become clear that we are not able to do so."
A decision on when workouts and practices can begin for winter and spring sports will be determined at a later date. The conference and member schools plan to develop guidelines for teams to continue receiving individual instruction and strength and conditioning activities under social distancing protocols.
"We are committed to giving our student-athletes the chance to compete during this academic year," Cal (Pa.) president Geraldine Jones said in a statement. "Many institutions and conferences are facing the same circumstances as we are, and if it is safe to return to competition, we will work with them and the NCAA to provide our teams with a championship experience during the spring semester. We know this is a huge disappointment for our student-athletes who work so very hard in their sport. This decision was not taken lightly, and we feel saddened by having to do so."
The PSAC's decision is the latest in a recent wave of college sports being impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, the Big Ten opted for a conference-only model for fall sports; the ACC pushed back the start of fall sports to Sept.1, but will wait to make any further decisions and Division-III Carnegie Mellon canceled its fall sports seasons.
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