Ivy League, Big 10 Make Headlines with Big Decisions

July 10, 2020 / Athletic Administration
Two NCAA Division 1 conferences made some bold decisions this week in regards to its plans for athletics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Ivy League — consisting of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, and Columbia — announced that there will be no competition in the fall semester.

Practice and other athletic training activities for enrolled student-athletes will be allowed to continue, provided they are adhering to each school’s and region’s procedures.

“With the safety and well-being of students as their highest priority, Ivy League institutions are implementing campus-wide policies including restrictions on student and staff travel, requirements for social distancing, limits on group gatherings, and regulations for visitors to campus,” the Ivy League said in an issued press release. “As athletics is expected to operate consistent with campus policies, it will not be possible for Ivy League teams to participate in intercollegiate athletics competition prior to the end of the fall semester.”

ivyStudent-athletes who play a fall sport will not use a season of Ivy League or NCAA eligibility, according to the release.

A decision on the remaining winter and spring sports competition calendar, and on whether fall sports competition would be feasible in the spring, will be determined at a later date.

On Thursday, July 9, the Big 10 Conference announced that all fall sports — if they are allowed to take place — will compete in a conference-only schedule. The conference’s fall sports consist of men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball.

The conference said in an issued press release that the sports not listed above will be decided on a later date.

“By limiting competition to other Big Ten institutions, the Conference will have the greatest flexibility to adjust its own operations throughout the season and make quick decisions in real-time based on the most current evolving medical advice and the fluid nature of the pandemic,” the conference said in the release.

Additionally, the Big 10 announced that summer activities will continue on a voluntary basis in all sports that are currently permitted to participate in said activities.

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“Furthermore, Big Ten student-athletes who choose not to participate in intercollegiate athletics at any time during the summer and/or the 2020-21 academic year due to concerns about COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarship honored by their institution and will remain in good standing with their team,” the press release read.

To read the full statement from the Ivy League, click here. And to read the state from the Big 10, click here