Competition cancelled for high-risk indoor sports
After careful thought, consideration, and dialogue, 27 of the 30 SUNY Community Colleges that are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) have collectively decided to cancel intercollegiate competition for 2020-2021 indoor sports that are considered “high risk” for COVID-19 exposure and spread of infection.
These sports include basketball, cheerleading, dance, volleyball, and wrestling. Campuses will have the option to hold on-campus workouts and training with student-athletes in a structured and monitored environment.
At Herkimer College, this decision affects the men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and the dance/cheer teams. The low-to-moderate indoor sports, including bowling and swimming & diving, may compete in a virtual setting and must adhere to COVID-19 protocols.
“NJCAA SUNY Community Colleges will continue planning for what we hope will be the safe resumption of intercollegiate athletics in Spring 2021,” said Donald Dutcher, who serves as the men’s director of Region III, as well as dean of students/director of athletics at Herkimer College.
An official announcement on the status of spring sports, as well as Fall 2020 sports that have been rescheduled for Spring 2021, will be made in January. Detailed sport-specific guidelines and protocols are currently in development, and Return to Play and Return to Competition plans will be informed by nationally recognized sport-specific agencies, along with NYS, CDC, DOH and governing athletic associations.
“NJCAA SUNY Community College decisions will continue to be guided by best practice and cautious adherence to health and safety protocols that will safeguard the well-being of our student-athletes, staff, campuses, and communities,” Dutcher said. “We are committed to ongoing collaborative efforts to develop cohesive safety plans to implement on our campuses in support of our student-athletes.”
Donald Dutcher
Dean of Students/Director of Athletics
For the most up-to-date information on Herkimer College's response to COVID-19, please go to herkimer.edu/restart.
