[Athletics] NAIA Announcement on Fall Championships

NAIA Members,

After reviewing feedback from conferences and committees, the Council of Presidents (COP) voted today to postpone the national championships in cross country, men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's volleyball to spring 2021. This decision still allows NAIA conferences to compete in the fall and winter, if they so choose. The timing of the football national championship will be determined at a subsequent COP meeting on Friday, July 31. Due to unique challenges surrounding football, COP members decided they needed more time to obtain feedback from their colleagues.

Given the fast-paced and constantly-changing nature of the current environment, the COP recognized that the likelihood of safely completing the fall sports season has decreased significantly. This decision allows conferences the autonomy to consider the regional impact of COVID-19 when determining the appropriate time for regular season competition. It also increases flexibility by permitting a current, split, or entirely postponed regular season, all of which can precede postseason play.

Prior to the COP's vote, 51 NAIA institutions have already opted to postpone fall competition until spring 2021.