Greenville, SC (8/5/20):  The NCCAA is moving forward with its Fall 2020 National Championships while allowing its diverse membership to make the best decisions for their campuses and programs. This decision comes after the Administration Committee reviewed the results of a membership survey. The results of that process revealed the following:

1.  80% of Division II members plan to conduct their Fall sport offerings with the application of the NCCAA’s COVID-19 policies and requirements.
2.  33-50% of Division I members plan to conduct their Fall sport offerings and participate in NCCAA Championships regardless of what their primary affiliation (NAIA or NCAA II/III) decided to do with Fall sports. These members would also move forward with the application of the NCCAA’s COVID-19 policies and requirements OR with their primary affiliation’s COVID-19 guidelines.
3.  Several DI members prefer and/or urged the NCCAA to look at conducting post-Thanksgiving championships prior to Thanksgiving week to align with newly developed academic calendars for Fall 2020.

NCCAA Declaration to Intent forms are due no later than Monday, August 31, and will be reviewed to confirm or allow for additional review of the championship calendar. With the first 2020-21 National Championships (Men’s & Women’s Golf) scheduled for October 19-21, the Administration Committee was unanimous that any changes in COVID-19 implications or host site issues could be addressed and current plans amended, if necessary. Discussion was also had relative to the State of Florida and its current COVID-19 numbers, which will be monitored by National Office staff weekly through Labor Day weekend. Change of venues, formats, and/or dates would be addressed as deemed necessary in a timely manner so as to allow participants and host ample time to prepare.

“The NCCAA is unique in that the event portion of our program of work focuses more on postseason championships than the regular season contest management that other associations are addressing,” stated NCCAA Executive Director, Dan Wood. “Our Division II membership made their collective desire very clear while Division I membership, our more diverse group of institutions, are still in process with their plans,” added Wood. The committee further expects that Division I members will be reviewing their Fall plans daily to create best practices and the safest environments for the student-athletes they hope to retain and attract. With registration and class start dates taking place over the next 3 weeks, a much clearer picture should develop.

The committee did address a number of changes to championship events including COVID-19 derived Christian Service Projects, cancellation of large group functions such as banquets, and the issue of no spectators or limited spectators. Participant safety will guide all such decisions with significant input to come from host sites.