ECC Suspends Intercollegiate Competition for Fall Semester
West Babylon, N.Y. - The East Coast Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to suspend all intercollegiate competition during the fall 2020 semester due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Dear Firebird Athletics Family,
The East Coast Conference released the announcement below regarding the suspension of fall conference sports due to the unprecedented and continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. We will work closely following District of Columbia, University, NCAA and Conference guidelines to provide meaningful experiences for all of our student-athletes during the spring semester. Coaches will continue to communicate with all student-athletes. The health and safety of everyone is of paramount importance during this time. We remain bonded together and will rise stronger than ever. Please take good care of yourselves and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Patricia Thomas
Director of Athletics
The ECC is committed to providing meaningful seasons of competition for all impacted teams and their student-athletes during the spring semester with plans to begin competition after January 1, 2021.
The ECC Council of Presidents issued the following statement: "In the best tradition of NCAA Division II, the presidents of the East Coast Conference always make the health and safety of our student-athletes our highest priority, and this is why we unanimously chose to make this unprecedented change in this year's schedule."
ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff added, "Along with many of our colleagues in intercollegiate athletics, after a great deal of consideration and discussion with our presidents and athletic leadership, we find ourselves having to make this very difficult decision of suspending fall 2020 sports competition. Challenging times like the COVID-19 Pandemic bring with them challenging decisions and we must focus on protecting the health and welfare of student-athletes and all those who support them on our campuses."
Dranoff continued, "While there may not be athletic competition in the fall, we will continue our efforts to plan for Winter and Spring sports and support our institutions in providing the best possible experience for all student-athletes."
Affected by the decision are the conference's fall sports of men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, and women's volleyball. The sport of women's tennis had previously been moved to the spring season in a vote by the league's athletic directors last month.
Efforts to plan schedules and championship opportunities for fall sports will begin at once.
The conference's winter sports — men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, and women's bowling — are also affected by the decision as the sports will not start their season of competition until the beginning of 2021. Conference championship dates for the winter sports will remain intact.
In addition, training, workout, and practice activities during the fall semester will be left to the discretion of each institution based on facilities, staffing, and in accordance with school, local, and state regulations.