In recognition of the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Presidents’ Council has approved the following principles, which will guide fall competition for NCAC members.

• NCAC members will commit to consistent baseline health & safety protocols, as determined by public health professionals and institutional medical professionals;
• NCAC members will commit to follow the NCAC adopted phased-in approach to athletic participation and gatherings, or the local, state or federal guidance, whichever is more restrictive.
• NCAC members will play conference-only schedules, based on geographical groupings that eliminate overnight travel;
• NCAC members will adopt Friday, Sept. 18 as the first permissible contest date;
• NCAC members recognize and respect the institutional autonomy to make more restrictive decisions on competition for their respective campuses. Each campus is developing its own reopening plan; and,
• NCAC members recognize that our plans are fluid and subject to change as conditions evolve in order to responsibly protect our communities. Decisions for the winter and spring championships seasons will be made in early fall.

This framework enabling our commitment is the result of the efforts of a conference wide COVID steering committee, as well as working groups, made up of NCAC academic leaders, administrators, faculty representatives, health care professionals, legal counsel and coaches that have been meeting since this past spring. This work has resulted in truly collaborative strategies, best practices and risk mitigation guidelines for the upcoming academic year.

Even though athletics may look different this coming fall, the NCAC is committed to building an academic and athletic experience for our student-athletes that is as safe and robust as possible.

More information and resources can be found on Denison’s Guide to Fall 2020 website.