NESCAC cancels fall sports season
The NESCAC became the latest conference to cancel fall sports in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while the University of Bridgeport announced it would also cancel sports for the fall semester.
The NESCAC, a Division III conference which includes Wesleyan and Trinity, announced Friday that school presidents decided unanimously to cancel all fall sports, following the lead of the Ivy League. NESCAC members Williams, Amherst, and Bowdoin had already announced they would not be staging sports in the fall.
“Athletics remains an important part of the experience for our students,” the conference said in a statement. “Conference members will continue to work together to seek creative ways to provide meaningful athletic opportunities for our students during the upcoming academic year.
“To that end, the Presidents have agreed to modify some NESCAC rules to enable coaches and students to engage in practice and training opportunities outside the traditional season, in accordance with the rules of each member institution and local health directives.”
“As the pandemic evolves, we will continue to monitor changing federal, state, and local guidance, and we will consult with each other as well as public health authorities and the NCAA about the possibility of further changes to NESCAC rules.”
University of Bridgeport interim president Stephen Healey notified students, faculty and alumni through email of the decision Friday.
“Though we are understandably disappointed for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, University community, and fans, we believe that this decision is in the best interest of maintaining as safe and healthy an environment as possible on our campus,” Healey wrote in an email. “As always, the number one priority remains the safety and wellbeing of all members of our campus community.”
Healey wrote athletics aid for student-athletes for the upcoming 2020-21 year will be honored.
The Ivy League became the first conference to cancel fall sports with announcement Wednesday. On Thursday, the Big Ten announced it would only play conference opponents in football.
The NEC announced it would start fall competition on Sept. 10 for all sports but football.