Mansfield, Mass. – Given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the region, the Northeast-10 Conference Council of Presidents voted on Tuesday December 15 to cancel formal regular season and championship competition in the Conference's seven winter sports. Impacted sports involve competition for both men and women in basketball, indoor track & field, and swimming & diving as well as men's ice hockey.
While the Council has elected to cancel formal NE10 winter competition and championships in 2021, each NE10 member institution shall retain the autonomy to determine if it will engage in independent athletic contests this winter. Team activities, practice and training opportunities and contests against outside competition will be determined and defined by each member institution but shall adhere to NCAA policies and state public health regulations.
The Council of Presidents and the entire NE10 community continue to work extensively in its prioritization of health and safety in its decision-making process in determining a return to competition. The Conference remains committed to supporting a return to play for NE10 competition in its 10 spring sports, whose 2020 seasons were cancelled at the outset of the pandemic. No decision has yet been made regarding the resumption of fall sports. A determination will be made in January.
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Le Moyne College, which continues to prioritize the health and safety of our College community, has made the decision to postpone intercollegiate athletic competition for its six winter sports teams and thus will not be participating in NCAA Championship opportunities. Any athletic competition opportunities for the impacted programs will be determined at a later date based on the ever-changing direction of the virus.
The College has notified impacted student-athletes regarding eligibility and waivers for future seasons. Athletic aid will not be impacted for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year.
As approved earlier this Fall, Division II winter-sport student-athletes will receive an additional season of competition through a waiver from the NCAA Division II Management Council. In addition, student-athletes eligible for this waiver will also receive an extension of eligibility, according to a waiver previously approved by the NCAA Division II Administrative Committee. The same flexibility was provided to spring-sport student-athletes after their 2020 seasons were cancelled and to fall-sport student-athletes after the Fall 2020 NCAA Division II Championships were cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, the NCAA Division II Administrative Committee, which is comprised of the chairs and vice chairs of the Division II Presidents Council, approved a pair of waivers permitting all student-athletes who competed during the 2020-21 academic year an additional year of eligibility and season-of-competition opportunities if their team completed 50 percent or less of their sport's maximum contests/dates of competition. That flexibility still applies for spring-sport student-athletes in the 2021 season.
Le Moyne College Department of Athletics Question & Answer Guide
1. Will there be intercollegiate competition for Le Moyne Winter sports during Spring 2021?
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the overall focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of the NE10 Conference student-athletes and college communities, the NE10 Conference Council of Presidents have voted to cancel formal regular season and championship competition in the Conference's seven winter sports for the Spring 2021 semester. Winter sport competition at Le Moyne will continue to be postponed on our campus and the determination of competition opportunities will be decided at a later date based on the direction of the virus and impact on the health, safety and wellness of our campus community. Le Moyne's winter sports teams include: men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming & diving and men's and women's indoor track and field.
2. Will there be intercollegiate competition for Fall and Spring sports during Spring 2021?
At this time, the College is still planning and preparing to participate in intercollegiate competition for both Fall and Spring sports during the Spring 2021 semester. The NCAA is still planning on conducting NCAA Championship opportunities for Spring sport teams. Le Moyne College's spring sport teams include: baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track and field and men's and women's tennis. Earlier this Fall, the NCAA canceled NCAA Championship opportunities for Fall Sports. Le Moyne College Fall sports teams include men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country and volleyball. There will be no championship season for men's and women's cross country during the 20-21 academic year. A final decision on formal NE10 regular season competition and championships for men's and women's soccer and volleyball will be made in January.
3. Will any teams and/or student-athletes return early?
No, all student-athletes will return to campus at the start of the Spring semester with the student body.
4. How will potential participation in competition impact Fall and Winter sport student-athletes' NCAA seasons-of-competition eligibility?
Due to a NCAA Season-of-Competition Waiver granted to both Winter and Fall sports, Winter and Fall sport student-athletes will not be charged a season of competition for the 2020-21 academic year. Student-athletes who are enrolled full-time will still use a semester within the permissible 10 semesters allowed by the NCAA. However, a blanket extension waiver has been granted by the NCAA to provide relief to the 10 semester rule due to circumstances beyond control.
5. Will my athletic scholarship be impacted if there is no intercollegiate competition or if I choose not to participate or limit my participation due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns?
Non-participation and/or limited participation due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 will not negatively impact a student-athlete's athletic financial aid or good standing with the team. Every student-athlete will be afforded the opportunity to make informed decisions and will be protected regardless of those decisions. The Department of Athletics and its staff members will work diligently to address and mitigate concerns related to athletic participation raised by our student-athletes.
6. Has there been any relief granted for the NCAA transfer requirements due to Le Moyne not participating in Winter sports?
The NCAA has not granted any blanket waivers for transfer requirements to student-athletes whose institutions have opted out of participation in intercollegiate competition. For more information regarding transfer legislation, please contact Le Moyne's Office of NCAA Compliance.
7. Has relief been granted for the 2020-21 academic year for the NCAA Division II Sports Sponsorship requirements?
Yes, the NCAA has issued blanket waivers for the sports sponsorship requirements and the five-sport/three-season requirement for the 2020-21 academic year.
