ATHENS – The Southeast Conference announced that it will postpone the start of fall sports volleyball, soccer and cross country with no revenue until at least August 31.
According to the statement issued Tuesday by the SEC league office in Birmingham, Alabama:
“The decision will provide additional time to prepare for the safe return of the competition within a tight deadline. The delay in the competition includes all exhibition and non-conference related games. “
SEC athletic directors met in person Monday in Birmingham to discuss league affairs related to COVID-19.
College sports stopped on March 12, when the NCAA men’s basketball tournament was postponed and finally canceled as a result of the pandemic across the country.
The revenueless sports that have seen their seasons roll back were already grappling with canceled and altered events.
Big Ten and Pac-12 announced last week that they were going to conference-only events for all sports. In part, to provide better programming flexibility in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college football season, which generates the vast majority of revenue for most FBS-level programs, also has an uncertain future.
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity told DawgNation last week that the ADs would further discuss the possible schedule just for the conference, which had already been among several scenarios under consideration.
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SEC commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement Monday that the league continues to explore its options.
“We had a productive meeting on Monday and participated in discussions on a number of important issues that will contribute to the critical decisions that will be made in the coming weeks,” said Sankey. “The ability to interact personally over the course of an entire day contributed to the productivity of the meeting.”
Sankey made it clear that COVID-19 trends will continue to be closely monitored.
“It is clear that the current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve and we will continue to closely monitor the evolution of the virus on a daily basis,” said Sankey.
“In the coming weeks, we will continue to meet regularly with campus leaders through video conferences and gather relevant information as we are guided by medical advisers. We believe that the end of July will provide the best clarity for making the important decisions that lie ahead. ”
Sankey said last week that college football was running out of time to get it right.
The statement issued on Tuesday indicates “SEC institutions will continue to follow the guidance of the Conference Back-to-Activity and Medical Advisory Task Force and the NCAA College Sports Resocialization Guidelines as student athletes participate in preseason preparation for the back to competition. “
Cross Country, soccer and volleyball will begin their practices in August, as originally scheduled.
Georgia soccer players will continue to participate in individual trainings under the supervision of strength and conditioning personnel, as they have done since June 8.
Wednesday is the first day that Coach Kirby Smart and his soccer staff can monitor soccer practice.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams can begin supervised practice next Monday.
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