In a move designed to allow “each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process,” the Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Thursday (July 9) that the start of fall Olympic Sports competition has been delayed through at least September 1. Impacted sports include cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball.
Below is the full release from the ACC.
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 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.
2020 schedules for the included sports have not yet been released. For an idea of the impact, last year Virginia had the following events during the month of August.
Cross Country (Men’s & Women’s) – Liberty Challenge (August 30)
Field Hockey – Exhibitions vs. American (Aug. 18), William & Mary (Aug. 24); Season opener vs. Old Dominion (Aug. 30)
Men’s Soccer – Season opener vs. Pacific (Aug. 30)
Women’s Soccer – Exhibition vs. Illinois (Aug. 15); Regular season games vs. UC Irvine (Aug. 23), Liberty (Aug. 25), East Carolina (Aug. 30)
Women’s Volleyball – Cavalier Classic – Furman (Aug. 30), Loyola (Aug. 31) and Coastal Carolina (Aug. 31)
Report: ACC Football May Have Conference-Only Schedule For All Fall Sports In 2020
The Big Ten Conference announced Thursday that it will move to conference-only schedules for all fall sports this year, including football. Brett McMurphy of Watch Stadium reports the ACC may not be far behind with a similar announcement.
No “official” decision has been reached by ACC, sources said, but likely outcome will be league only games based on Big Ten’s announcement https://t.co/DkCZi7W2E1
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 9, 2020
