[UPDATED: March 12, 2020]
NCAA Cancels Championships… Including, It Appears, the Women’s College World Series
According to an ESPN report, “The NCAA has called off its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as part of a complete cancellation of all remaining spring and winter championships.”
“This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities,” the NCAA said in a statement.
According to a CNN report:
“The NCAA announced Thursday it is canceling March Madness, the men’s Division I basketball tournament, and other winter and spring NCAA championships, due to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus… The decision appears to include the College World Series, which was scheduled for June.”
ACC & Pac-12 Suspend Spring Sports Indefinitely, Big Ten Through End of Academic Year
Following the lead of the SEC, which has suspended spring sports until at least March, 30, 2020, the ACC and Pac-12 Conference leaders announced Thursday afternoon that their respective conferences would do the same without listing an end date .
Here are their releases:
ACC Suspends All Athletic Related Activities
Statement from the Atlantic Coast Conference:
“The Atlantic Coast Conference has suspended all athletic related activities including all competition, formal and organized practice, recruiting and participation in NCAA championships until further notice. The decision was made following consultation with the league’s presidents and athletic directors to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19.”
Statement from ACC Commissioner John Swofford:
“This is uncharted territory and the health and safety of our student-athletes and institutions remains our top priority. This decision is aimed to protect from the further spread of COVID-19.”
Pac-12 statement on men’s basketball tournament, Pac-12 sport competitions and Pac-12 championship events
The Pac-12 Conference has made the decision to cancel the remainder of the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament and all Pac-12 sport competitions and Pac-12 Championship events, effective immediately, until further notice.
This decision has been made in consultation with our member universities in an effort to limit the spread of the virus and in the interest of the health and safety of our student-athletes, campus personnel, working and event personnel, and all those who attend Pac-12 events.
Big Ten Statement
The Big Ten Conference announced today that in addition to the Men’s Basketball Tournament it will be canceling all conference and non-conference competitions through the end of the academic year, including spring sports that compete beyond the academic year, and participation in all NCAA tournaments and competitions. In addition, the Conference has announced a moratorium on all on- and off-campus recruiting activities for the foreseeable future.
The Big Ten Conference will use this time to work with the appropriate medical experts and institutional leadership to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main priority of the Big Ten Conference continues to be the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and media as we continue to monitor all developing and relevant information on the COVID-19 virus.
The Big 12 Conference Announces Additional Measures
The Big 12 Conference announces that beginning Friday, March 13, it is suspending all regular-season competitions, on- and off-campus recruiting, and out-of-season practices until Sunday, March 29.
The suspension of these athletic-related activities does not include campus-based practices for in-season sports, strength and conditioning activities for all sports, and does not apply to teams and individuals participating in NCAA Championship competition.
Earlier today the Conference announced the cancellation of Big 12 Championship events through April 15.
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The SEC has updated its approach to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation by announcing the suspension of sporting events through March 30.
Here is what the conference had to say this morning, suspending games now as before the games would go on but without spectators…
[UPDATED: March 12, 2020]
Based on the latest developments and the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Southeastern Conference today announced the suspension of regular season competition for teams in all sports on SEC campuses, as well SEC championship events, until March 30.
This does not apply to teams and individuals in NCAA competition, at this time.
The SEC reminds everyone to be attentive to everyday preventive actions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov).
Full release on regular season competition: https://t.co/Ziv9xT3WxV
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 12, 2020
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[March 11, 2020]
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has become the latest organization to announce restrictions on who can attend events in an effort to restrict the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Earlier Wednesday, the NBA announced that it was suspending the season when a Utah Jazz player was diagnosed with the virus. And many NCAA basketball conference tournaments have now limited who can attend.
Here’s the announcement text by the SEC (underlined and bolded text added for emphasis)…
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The SEC announced on Thursday night that no fans would be allowed to attend tournament games in Nashville.
“The Southeastern Conference has announced it will conduct the 2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament with only essential staff, limited family and credentialed media in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for the remainder of the week beginning on Thursday following the recommendation of the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel related to conducting sporting events closed to the public,” the SEC said on Wednesday night.
“In addition, the SEC announced that all regular season contests in all sports on SEC campuses and SEC Championship events will be conducted with similar attendance restrictions effective Thursday, March 12 through at least March 30 at which time the conference and its member universities will re-evaluate conditions.”
The announcement came hours after the NCAA announced that there would be no fans allowed at NCAA tournament games with the exception of essential staff and limited family.
Statement from the SEC:https://t.co/XIDH44gXei
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 12, 2020
