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The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) approved a plan on Monday to move a majority of fall sports to the spring semester of the 2020-21 school year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Northwest College, this affects volleyball and soccer, which were slated to begin practice in the coming weeks. The plan also affects winter sports, like basketball and wrestling, which are now set to begin competition in late January, rather than the late fall.
Rodeo does not fall under the umbrella of the NJCAA, instead being governed by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, which reportedly plans to move forward with a fall season.
Northwest College President Stefani Hicswa said she expects the school’s specific plan with full details to be released in the coming days.
“Now that we have the plan of action from NJCAA we will be folding the directives into our COVID response plan for athletics at NWC,” Hicswa said Monday night. “We are committed to giving our student athletes an opportunity to participate in their sports while doing everything possible to keep the students and fans safe.”
The NJCAA is allowing volleyball and soccer teams to practice and scrimmage this fall. Teams can do so for 60 consecutive days between Aug. 15 and Nov. 15. Volleyball is permitted to begin competition on Jan. 29, 2021, while soccer can begin competition on April 2, 2021.
Wrestling and basketball teams can similarly practice and scrimmage between Sept. 15 and Dec. 15, with competitions starting as soon as Jan. 20 and 22, respectively.
“... our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place,” NJCAA President and CEO Christopher Parker said in a Monday statement announcing the updated plan. “As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”