The Southland Conference has announced that league competitions will be postponed for the fall.
Competition in the sports of football, volleyball, women's soccer and cross country will be postponed with the intent to explore competition in the spring.
The conference says that institutions may choose to participate in limited fall competition.
McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of New Orleans are part of the Southland Conference.
"After thoughtful consideration, the Southland Conference Board of Directors reached consensus in postponing league competition for our fall semester sports," Dr. Houston Davis, Board Chair and President of the University of Central Arkansas said in a press release. "Protecting competitive opportunities in a safe manner for our student-athletes was paramount in the review, and a delay to the spring allows campuses and athletic departments to get a better handle on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic."
"The Board concluded that an entire fall sports season is not likely, and that a postponement to spring can provide the important opportunities our teams annually seek," Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett added. "While disappointed that we won't be playing these sports in the Southland's 58th year of fall competition, we look forward to a unique spring season of athletics that also includes NCAA postseason opportunities."
The conference says that Southland athletic directors will immediately begin work with the Southland staff to determine spring competitive planning and other issues.
The University of New Orleans says that fall sports affected for the Privateers are men's and women's cross country and volleyball. The preseason fall competitions for golf and men’s and women’s tennis have also been canceled. No decisions have been made regarding winter sports.
Read more from the Conference, here.
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