Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Slaven Gujic
WAC delays start date for fall sports
7/15/2020 1:50:00 PM | General, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Volleyball
Vote postpones soccer, volleyball open dates by 3 weeks
The start dates for Western Athletic Conference women's soccer, men's soccer and women's volleyball seasons have been delayed by three weeks, the WAC announced Wednesday in a decision by its board of directors.
A delayed standardized start date across the conference, of which Grand Canyon is a member, is due to COVID-19 and was recommended by the WAC Medical Advisory Committee and Contingency Planning Group.
"Two WAC committees, the Medical Advisory Group and the Contingency Planning Group, have been meeting on a weekly basis to ensure the safest manner for member institutions to conduct to fall competition," WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. "Their recommendations, which include a strong testing policy as well as a requirement for each of our institutions to put together an Emergency Action Plan, were reviewed and approved by the Board."
The delay to the start of the season to mid-September is designed to allow all teams to safely re-acclimate to training and competition following the cancellation of most organized spring and summer conditioning programs.
The conference also implemented COVID-19 testing and screening standards to be implemented for nonconference games.
The WAC's conference schedules, WAC tournaments and NCAA Championships remain as scheduled.
The conference and GCU will continue to closely monitor conditions related to the pandemic and adjust plans as needed with the safety of student-athletes and staff as the highest priority.
A delayed standardized start date across the conference, of which Grand Canyon is a member, is due to COVID-19 and was recommended by the WAC Medical Advisory Committee and Contingency Planning Group.
| DELAYED FALL COMPETITION START DATES | ||
| Sport | Original date | New date |
| Women's soccer | Aug. 20 | Sep. 10 |
| Women's volleyball | Aug. 27 | Sep. 16 |
| Men's soccer | Aug. 27 | Sep. 16 |
"Two WAC committees, the Medical Advisory Group and the Contingency Planning Group, have been meeting on a weekly basis to ensure the safest manner for member institutions to conduct to fall competition," WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. "Their recommendations, which include a strong testing policy as well as a requirement for each of our institutions to put together an Emergency Action Plan, were reviewed and approved by the Board."
The delay to the start of the season to mid-September is designed to allow all teams to safely re-acclimate to training and competition following the cancellation of most organized spring and summer conditioning programs.
The conference also implemented COVID-19 testing and screening standards to be implemented for nonconference games.
The WAC's conference schedules, WAC tournaments and NCAA Championships remain as scheduled.
The conference and GCU will continue to closely monitor conditions related to the pandemic and adjust plans as needed with the safety of student-athletes and staff as the highest priority.
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