The Hope and Calvin rivalry will have to wait until 2021.

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Presidents’ Council met on Friday, September 4, to determine the plan for fall sports playing in the spring semester and conference sponsored athletic events for the remainder of 2020.

The Presidents’ Council voted unanimously to postpone all conference sponsored athletic events until January 2021. The delay in competition will grant institutions, staff, and students additional time to adjust to new safety protocols on campus in the COVID-19 era while also allowing for continued testing and treatment developments, which remain a key factor for the return of athletics across the nation. Sports affected are men’s and women’s basketball and swimming and diving. Wrestling and indoor track and field were not scheduled to compete in any MIAA events prior to January 2021.

Each member has institutional autonomy to participate in non-conference events as they deem appropriate for their student-athletes. Development of revised schedules will begin immediately. There are several factors under consideration: the dates of the NCAA Championships, the need for each institution to undergo the NCAA recommended resocialization practices, and when each member school can return student-athletes to campus. All of these factors are a moving target at this time.

The Presidents’ Council also approved a plan for fall sports to be played in the spring semester. It was agreed by the Presidents’ Council to preserve the season of eligibility of our fall student-athletes, while still providing them with a schedule that would determine an MIAA Champion and a season-ending tournament in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s golf, and women’s golf; with no tournament for football. Cross country will not have a championship event since there is not adequate training time and conditions to prepare those student-athletes for a championship event between indoor and outdoor track and field. Those institutions with only cross country will be allowed to compete in the MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Football

The conference will play a 5 game spring season that will begin the weekend of March 20. The final games are scheduled to be played the weekend of April 17.

Men’s Soccer

The conference will play 8 games with a single round, plus one non-counting game that will start the season. Play is planned to begin the week of March 22. The season will conclude with an 8 team flighted tournament the week of April 12.

Women’s Soccer

The conference schedule will be a 9 game round robin format to begin the week of March 22. The season will conclude with a 9 team flighted tournament with a play-in game between the 8th and 9th seeded teams. The tournament will be played the week of April 12.

Volleyball

The conference will play an 8 match round robin format with play beginning as early as March 8. The season will be completed no later than the week of April 12 with an 8 team consolations style tournament.

Men’s and Women’s Golf

The conference schedule has eliminated the 3-round AQ tournament. Instead there will be 8 rounds of golf hosted by 8 of the conference member’s home courses to determine both the MIAA Champion and the team that will receive the AQ for the NCAA National Championship Tournament in the spring.

All spring schedule plans for the fall sports are subject to changes. Every effort will be made to ensure a competitive experience for all MIAA student-athletes.