The America East, Colonial Athletic Association, Northeast-10 and East Coast Conference postponed its 2020 Fall Sports slate over the last day. The announcements come in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adelphi: The Adelphi Athletics Department will postpone running interconference fall sports this year. The NE-10 Council of Presidents unanimously voted to postpone 2020 conference action on Thursday, July 16.
“The NE10 considers the health and safety of its student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff and wider campus communities to be of paramount importance,” the conference stated in a press release. “Despite each institutions’ planning over the past few months and the Conference’s collective efforts to forge a path forward, it has become clear that we are not able to conduct outside competition at this time in a manner that is consistent with the prioritization of our campus’ collective well-being”
The conference announced it is looking to run fall sports in the Spring 2021 semester, ‘as long as it can safely be excecuted.’
Adelphi athletic programs impacted include cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. Adelphi has not postponed non-conference competion as of the time of publication.
Hofstra: The Hofstra Athletics Department announced it will suspend all intercollegiate athletics for the fall, Friday afternoon.
“We understand today’s announcement is difficult for our Hofstra community and particularly our student-athletes, coaches, and staff,” Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr said in a press release.”While our fall sports teams will not be competing, we will continue to plan for the return of our athletic teams to their respective fields of play. Under the guidelines of CDC, local, state, and Hofstra University, we will pursue a safe return to sports when the situation dictates.”
Hofstra still plans on having winter and spring seasons. It also did not rule out playing fall sports in the spring. Teams impacted will still be able to hold practices and workout sessions as long as they follow school and state guidelines. Athletic programs impacted include cross country, women’s field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.
UPDATE: Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr discussed his decision and the future of Hofstra Athletics with WRHU Radio on Monday, July 20th. Check it out here.
LIU: The Long Island University Athletics Department announced the postponment of its 2020 Fall Season return, on Thursday July 9. The NEC set Thursday, September 10 as the first day its teams can play.
“With so many unknown factors at this point in the NEC has elected to delay the start of competition and take advantage of the extra time to continue to evaluate the local, regional and national landscape relative to COVID-19,” NEC Comissioner Noreen Morris said in a press release.
LIU Fall Sports impacted include cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.
UPDATE: The Northeast Conference officially postponed its Fall 2020 Season on Wednesday, July 29th. The NEC Council agreed to re-evaluate what steps it will take to restart the season on October 1st
“We understand and support this decision as a necessary measure for the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff,” LIU Athletic Director Dr. William E. Martinov Jr. said in a press release. “I am confident that our Sharks will continue to excel in all of their endeavors as students, athletes and as leaders of our campus community. Although we are disappointed to see competition for the fall season postponed, we are looking forward to welcoming back our student-athletes to campus this fall to pursue their academic programs, and continuing their respective sports training.”
Athletic programs impacted include cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball
Molloy and NYIT: The Molloy and NYIT Athletic Departments announced it will postpone intercollegiate action for Fall sports. They announced it in conjunction with the ECC Friday morning. Both departments plans starting its fall and winter sports seasons after January 1, 2021. Programs impacted include cross country, men and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, and volleyball.
Stony Brook: The Stony Brook Athletics Department announce it will postpone sports scheduled for the Fall 2020 season, Friday afternoon.
“This was not an easy conclusion for our membership to reach,” America East Conference Commissioner Amy Hutchausen said in a press release. “[B]ut it was made with care and diligence and with health and safety as the highest priority. . . We have remained optimistic that we could safely conduct a fall sports season, however, there are several external factors outside of our institutions’ control that will limit and disrupt our ability to deliver our student‐athletes an experience they deserve.”
The America East cited it would cancel all athletic competitions and not just conference games this fall. Stony Brook announced it would make any further announcements regarding winter sports ‘as necessary.’ Stony Brook programs impacted include cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball.
The CAA Football Board of Directors announced they are suspending conference action this fall. They affirmed its teams would have the option to participate in an independent football schedule in 2020. James Madison announced it is ‘committed‘ towards exploring every option, including rebuilding its Fall season schedule. Stony Brook Football head coach Chuck Priore said the team would not play in the fall, but is looking towards playing again in the spring.
UPDATE: Stony Brook Athletic Director Shaun Heilbron recounted his decision to postpone the Fall season in a blog post released on Thursday, July 23rd. Read it here.
Check back for more updates- LAST UPDATE: JULY 30 1:00 P.M.
Photo Credit: Adelphi Athletics
