VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – The NAIA Council of Presidents announced several changes to the 2020 fall sports season Thursday due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including a return to play “threshold”, a short delay to starting the season, and a reduction in the number of contests allowed.
“We’re grateful to have a plan in place from our national office that allows us to move forward and make our own plans for the fall season,” said VCSU athletic director Jill DeVries. “This will require several changes to our football and volleyball schedules, which we will be announcing at a later date.”
- Return to Play Threshold
Upon recommendation from the NAIA National Office, the COP Executive Committee approved a Return to Play Threshold to determine when fall sports can begin. NAIA fall sports will be authorized to start when about half of the schools have received clearance from local authorities to begin competition. For example, NAIA football has 95 participating institutions. When half (47) of these programs gain clearance from local authorities to play, the NAIA football season will be authorized to begin.
- Delayed Start Dates
Assuming the Return to Play Threshold has been met, the earliest start date for football games will be Sept. 12, while all other fall sports can start competition on Sept. 5.
All sports can begin team practices on Aug. 15.
“The rationale behind the selection of these dates is to provide an adequate acclimatization, conditioning and practice period prior to competition for each sport, while minimizing the need for student-athletes to return to campus early,” the NAIA stated in its announcement. “Establishing start dates also creates a more level playing field for all institutions that are able to compete this fall.”
Currently, the NAIA intends to host all fall national championship events as scheduled.
Valley City State University had two football games scheduled prior to Sept. 12, and several volleyball matches and a golf meet scheduled prior to Sept. 5.
- Maximum Number of Contest Allowed
With the delayed start dates, the maximum number of football games allowed has been reduced from 11 to 9; volleyball has been reduced from 28 matches to 22; and cross country has been reduced from 8 meets to 7.
The new NAIA guidelines for a shorter, delayed season means that VCSU, the North Star Athletic Association and schools around the country will be reworking their fall schedules in the coming weeks.
