Winter Sports Competition Cancelled
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. – The Finger Lakes Community College Athletics Department announces that the winter sports seasons for the 2020-21 school year will be cancelled. Please see the below message from NJCAA Region III and Region XV:
After careful thought, consideration, and dialogue, SUNY Community Colleges (27 of 30) that are members of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), have collectively decided to cancel intercollegiate competition for the 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, should the institution allow it in a structured and monitored environment.
The low-to-moderate indoor sports, including bowling and swimming and 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 the spring 2021 semester. Traditional spring sports and several traditional fall sports have been moved to the spring, per the NJCAA 2021 Sports Guidelines. An official announcement on the status of spring sports 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. We are committed to ongoing collaborative efforts to develop cohesive safety plans to implement on our campuses in support of our student-athletes.
At FLCC, the high-risk indoor sports that will not hold competitive seasons this year are men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. Administration and coaches will be working over the next couple of days to develop a plan for the spring semester. Practices and team activities will continue to be allowed. Depending on how the pandemic progresses, other engagement activities can be explored.
In closing, Dr. Robert Nye, FLCC President, provides the following perspective:
“Dear FLCC Coaches and Student-Athletes,
We live in very difficult and challenging times. Due to the current risks associated with the pandemic, it is very unfortunate that we will not be able to hold our winter sports competitions. It was a very difficult decision to make. We will, however, support continued Return to Play/practices for winter sports after February 1st. FLCC and approximately nine other community colleges are committed to providing an opportunity to keep your competitive spirit going.
The SUNY Community College leadership will convene in mid-January to address spring sports. I want our spring sports’ student-athletes to know that, if the pandemic environment allows for safe competition in the spring, I will strongly support all of our spring sports competitions, as they are not high-risk category sports. Again, this depends on where the pandemic takes us, as there are so many unknowns at this time. I do want you to know I am fully committed to supporting our Director of Athletics and Coaches in helping to provide our student-athletes the best possible athletic experience despite the challenges we face.”
For more information regarding this decision, visit https://www.njcaaregion3.org/landing/index