ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Valley Conference Presidents Council announced Monday (July 27) it will delay the start of competition in MVC fall sports until Friday, Sept. 18, and the league will conduct conference-only competition in men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball.
This decision does not include football-playing institutions that compete in leagues with separate governing bodies– specifically members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and Pioneer Football League.
Fall competitive schedules for men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s tennis will also be delayed until Sept. 18, as will the non-championship fall seasons for baseball and softball. Additionally, the start of fall practice for all MVC-sponsored sports may not start before Aug. 17. Beginning with Sept. 18, student-athletes in those sports may compete against non-conference competition, provided that non-MVC institutions meet the necessary safety specifications as outlined in the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines.
At this time, schedules for winter and spring sports are not impacted. MVC championship models for fall sports as previously announced are also not impacted.
MVC institutions may continue with permissible athletics activities at their discretion under approved safety protocols established in the NCAA’s Resocialization of College Sports Guidelines, while following state, local and institutional policies.
In a separate announcement Monday, the Missouri Valley Football Conference Presidents Council determined patience is warranted regarding any decision to modify the 2020 fall football season, seeing merit in delaying as long as there remains a possibility to provide a safe competitive opportunity for MVFC student-athletes.
With their announcements, the MVC, MVFC and their Presidents Councils noted they will continue to monitor national developments and, if necessary, consider additional action as dictated by circumstances.
