NJCAA ANNOUNCES RETURN TO PLAY PLAN

REGION XIX - MON, JUL. 13, 2020 AT 6:00 PM

The National Junior College Athletic Association today released revisions to the upcoming calendar which will have an impact on NJCAA Region XIX compeition.

Throughout this pandemic, Region XIX has strived to stay connected and provide leadership that will give our student-athletes the best chance to return to play in 2020-21. In addition to athletics directors and coaches, we have also received input from student-athletes by way of a panel presentation and also via a survey. Over 475 Region XIX student-athletes completed our survey and their input helped up to guide our decisions as we voted to affirm the NJCAA changes to the calendar.

"Region XIX is supportive of the NJCAA's Return to Play Plan," stated Executive Director Troy Tucker, "it provides the opportunity for non-contact sports to compete in the Fall, allows other sports the opportunity to practice during the Fall semester and provides playing seasons for contact sports to compete in the Spring for championships, all while keeping the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and communities as the highest priority." 

All NJCAA Region XIX colleges will make their own institutional decisions on participation in the fall and spring semesters. The NJCAA has set July 27th as the declaration date for colleges for fall sport participation.

Please see statement from the NJCAA National Office below. All NJCAA Region XIX Directors of Athletics have received the formal update and changes from the NJCAA.

Charlotte, NC – Following the recommendations from the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA has announced its official plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents' vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester.

The plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include football, men's and women's soccer, and court volleyball. The NJCAA cross country championships for all three divisions and half marathon championships will remain as their originally scheduled dates in the fall as well as Division III women's tennis.

All winter sports competition will begin in January with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. These sports include men's and women's basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving.

Spring sports competition remains intact with minor adjustments to dates. These sports include baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, track and field, and men's and women's tennis.

Along with the adjustments to competition season and championship dates, the NJCAA has provided information as it relates to scrimmage and practice dates in the fall.

Championship dates are subject to change based on championship facility availability.

Click HERE for the NJCAA Official Guidance