In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the West Coast Conference announced Thursday that it was putting most sports on hold until at least Sept. 24.

The decision was made by the 10-school conference’s Presidents’ Council and announced in a statement.

“While difficult, this is a necessary move to ensure we are providing the safest environment for our programs to compete,” WCC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in the statement. “We have worked on plans for a variety of circumstances and believe, with our actions guided by information and science, this is the responsible decision at this time. We will continue to evaluate our best path moving forward with the health and safety of everyone involved as the guiding principle of our discussions.”

Affected fall sports include men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball.

In addition, sports that might practice during the fall — baseball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, women’s rowing, softball and men’s and women’s tennis — will not be allowed to do so during the lockout period.

Men’s and women’s basketball are not affected by the decision, nor are sports not sponsored by the WCC — including BYU and San Diego football.

The WCC includes three Bay Area schools: St. Mary’s, USF and Santa Clara.

The statement added that “In-person voluntary and mandatory athletically related activities outside of competition, including training and practices, may be conducted at the institution’s discretion in accordance with NCAA regulations and local health and safety guidelines.”