PSAC cancels all winter sports competitions, championships

ThePennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s board of directors voted to cancel the conference’s mandated winter sports regular seasons and championships because of COVID-19 concerns.

“With careful consideration to health concerns and realistic abilities to conduct sport seasons amid this pandemic, our conference and our membership is forced to make some very difficult decisions,” PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray said. “With the time we have to continue weighing our options, we are fully committed to playing a spring sports season.

“We will remain supportive of any other decisions to play sports and host championship events should our membership view it as asafeandreasonableopportunity.”

Winter sports teams were not able to finish their NCAA championship competitions last year, and no spring sports were conducted because of COVID-19.

Wednesday’s announcement comes after the league last week canceled its fall sports seasons but allowed for league championship opportunities in those sports should six or more schools elect to participate.

All schools electing to play must abide by existing league rules and the NCAA guidelines that have been set due to the existing COVID-19 pandemic. The same requirements exist for the winter sports.

The PSAC also voted last week to proceed with the intent to play a full spring sports season including championships.

Should member institutions wish to compete in fall and winter sport championship seasons, they must declare their intent to the conference office by the end of Wednesday. The PSAC office then will announce if there is support to continue with a championship season in any of those sports.

Any cancellation of league schedules or championships does not preclude individual institutions from participating in countable athletically related activities or exploring competition outside of the previously mandated schedule.