The Board of Regents of the National Athletic Association of Junior College on Monday approved a plan to move most fall and winter sports to spring for the 2020-21 academic year as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Only the men’s and women’s cross country will run during the season scheduled according to the plan, which alters the athletic landscape of 20 Michigan universities competing at the NJCAA level.
Under the plan, NJCAA volleyball teams will be limited to 21 competition dates and can host games starting Jan. 29, 2021, while men’s and women’s soccer teams can play up to 14 games beginning April 2.
When it comes to winter sports, the men’s and women’s basketball teams can start playing their maximum of 22 regular-season games on January 22, with national championship rounds in late April.
Other affected Michigan junior college programs include winter wrestling, bowling, swimming and diving, and indoor athletics.
The spring sports competition remains intact, with minor adjustments to the dates.
For a complete list of start dates and competition limits for each sport, click here.
“Our greatest focus is and always has been to provide the best opportunities for our student athletes,” NJCAA President and CEO Dr. Christopher Parker said in a press release. “Through a unified effort by our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our latest action plan provides a pathway that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with appropriate safety measures. A As we move forward, as a partnership, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful. “
The best teams in the state affected by the changes nationwide include the men’s basketball teams Muskegon Community College and Schoolcraft College, which took top five in the NJCAA tournament, the undefeated women’s basketball team Macomb Community College and the Grand Rapids Community College, nationally classified. volleyball team.
“We want our student athletes to be able to compete in the safest environment possible,” said GRCC President Bill Pink in a press release. “This is an unprecedented movement, but we are living in extraordinary times. We respect the NJCAA decision and will continue to plan with fresh guidance while keeping the academic success, safety, and health of our student athletes as the top priority. “
The new schedule will also have ramifications at the Division I level, as fall sports programs seeking to recruit the ranks of junior college will have to wait until well after National Signature Day in February to see a full season of Featured tapes of potential prospects.
While there is no NJCAA soccer program in Michigan, there are several Division I college programs in the state that recruit the JUCO ranks, and it will be interesting to see how the change from fall to spring affects that recruiting front.
Michigan universities participating in athletics at the NJCAA level are:
– Alpena Community College
– Delta College
– Glen Oaks Community College
– Gogebic Community College
– Grand Rapids Community College
– Henry Ford Community College
– Jackson Community College
– Kalamazoo Valley Community College
– Kellogg Community College
– Kirtland Community College
– Lake Michigan College
– Lansing Community College
– Macomb Community College
– Mid Michigan Community College
– Mott Community College
– Muskegon Community College
– Oakland Community College
– Schoolcraft College
– St. Clair County Community College
– Wayne County Community College
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