BVU Joins League in Postponing Winter Sports Competition
Buena Vista University, in accordance with the American Rivers Conference, will postpone the start of winter sports competition until Jan. 1, 2021 due to COVID-19.
Buena Vista University, in accordance with members of the American Rivers Conference, will postpone the start of winter sports seasons until Jan. 1, 2021.
This decision, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, will result in a later regular season start for women’s basketball, men’s basketball, and wrestling.
An announcement from the American Rivers Conference is expected later this (Monday) morning.
“It is always our intent to look out for what is best for our student/athletes, their safety and well-being.”
Jack Denholm, Director of Athletics
“Moving winter start dates pretty much aligns with the rest of the other NCAA Division III conferences,” says BVU Director of Athletics Jack Denholm. “We are essentially not playing a non-conference schedule and will start with conference play after January 1. It is always our intent to look out for what is best for our student/athletes, their safety and well-being. Athletic directors throughout the conference join with members of the American Rivers Conference’s Presidents’ Council in our belief that this is a correct step.”
The decision allows coaches and administrators to work with student-athletes at BVU and other schools to further focus on ensuring return-to-competition protocols are in place before safely resuming competition.
BVU will still have the autonomy to conduct practices for these sports prior to Jan. 1, in accordance with NCAA rules. The practice start date for women’s basketball, men’s basketball, and wrestling is Oct. 1, and the 114-day season remains in place. Indoor track and field may practice immediately, as may dance and cheer teams.
Competition schedules will be developed based on NCAA decisions regarding winter championships, which will be rendered at a later date.
The American Rivers Conference in August postponed the traditional fall seasons of football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and volleyball, a response to help mitigate spread of COVID-19. The seasons for those contact sports are likely to begin at some point during the second semester with an announcement concerning schedules for those sports to come from the American Rivers Conference in the approaching days.