Covid-19 continues to wreck havoc upon our society. Athletics, both college and professional, are trying to find ways to either start, continue, or finish their seasons. Unfortunately, for the ACC’s fall Olympic sports, they will be delaying the starts of their seasons.
Today, the ACC announced that the start of the 2020 competition for sports such as men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, men’s and women’s cross country, and volleyball will all have to push back their scheduled starts to at least September 1st. With rising cases over a chunk of the country and the health and safety of the student-athletes and staff paramount, this is a cautionary step to try and make sure fall sports happen. This new start date is obviously subject to change as well.
The official press release from the ACC is below.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
ACC Delays Competition Prior to September 1
The move affects six exhibitions/scrimmages and seven regular season contests across four UofL sports.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2020
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that each of its fall Olympic Sports will delay the start of competition until at least September 1. The decision allows each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process.
The delay in competition includes all exhibition and non-conference games in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.
The move affects six exhibitions/scrimmages and seven regular season contests across four UofL sports.
The decision was unanimously approved by the ACC Board of Directors.
ACC institutions will continue with their respective return to competition protocols in anticipation of a fall season. Any rescheduling of contests will also be determined by each school.
The league continues to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fall schedules and competitions with the understanding that there may be future changes, and that the priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes.
