Amid the surge in the coronavirus, Grand Canyon University announced that it won’t start in-person classes until Sept. 28, pushed back from Aug. 24.

GCU, however, in the statement, said that student-athletes are still reporting to campus in the next month to begin workouts for the upcoming athletic seasons.

The Medical Advisory Group and the Contingency Planning Group have been meeting to ensure the safest ways to conduct the fall competition, according to Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Jeff Hurd.

“Their recommendations, which include a strong testing policy, as well as a requirement for each of our institutions to put together an Emergency Action Plan, were reviewed and approved by the Board,” Hurd said in a statement released by the conference.

GCU will follow the direction of the WAC for the start of the fall sports season.

Women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer and cross country are played in the fall.

The WAC Board of Directors announced this week that the conference is postponing the start of the fall season to no earlier than Sept. 10 for women’s soccer and Sept. 16 for volleyball and men’s soccer.

Those are the dates when the GCU teams will open their seasons.

Delaying the season allows teams to safely acclimate to competition after the cancellation of most of the organized spring and summer conditioning programs, the WAC said.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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