Villanova Univeristy Athletics

The BIG EAST Conference Board of Directors announced on Wednesday, August 12 the cancelation of the league’s entire Fall 2020 sports schedule due to the continuing COVID-19 global pandemic. The conference and its member institutions are continuing to evaluate the options for moving Fall sports competition to the Spring. Further updates will be communicated at a later date as the situation surrounding a return to collegiate sports becomes clearer. 

The August 12 announcement affects all 11 Villanova varsity sports programs who compete during the Fall season, including six sports who play the championship segments of their seasons in the BIG EAST (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, volleyball). The BIG EAST cancelation coincides with Villanova’s decision to postpone its football season, in alignment with CAA Football suspending conference competition in Fall 2020 and examining the possibility of conducting a football season in Spring 2021. Villanova Athletics has also canceled the Fall non-championship schedules for golf, rowing, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.

On Wednesday, August 5th the NCAA Board of Governors implemented an August 21st deadline for Division I to determine whether the respective Fall sports seasons and NCAA Championships should occur this year. Coinciding with the deadline, the NCAA issued updated guidelines associated with returning to athletic competition regarding testing, tracking and contact tracing protocols and how these procedures must align with state and local guidelines. 

Following the implementation of the August 21 deadline by the NCAA Board of Governors, the BIG EAST Board of Directors convened to discuss its options. The decision does not impact the current plan at Villanova as it relates to a return to campus, onboarding and initial intake procedures, training and practice regimens, and allowing student-athletes to proceed with all campus protocols.

The BIG EAST Conference and its member institutions are continuing to evaluate the options for moving Fall sports competition to the Spring. Further updates will be communicated at a later date as the situation surrounding a return to collegiate sports becomes clearer. 

The current situation regarding a return to athletic competition on college campuses remains fluid and we simply do not have all of the answers at this time. We are continuing to evaluate the opportunities for student-athletes to interact with their coaches and receive athletic instruction upon returning to campus. A timeline for decision making on Winter and Spring sports competition will be announced at a later date.

All students will be subject to University protocols for transitioning to campus living. The initial intake and related onboarding processes, including physicals, have been modified for social distancing and will take longer than normal. Student-athletes must have medical clearance prior to participating in any athletics activity, and in-person or physical athletics activities will not be permitted until a team has been medically cleared.

Fall sports will be permitted to phase in activity beginning on or after the first day of classes, starting with conditioning, moving to small group skill instruction, and advancing to group practices as conditions and campus policies permit.

Exact start dates for practices and team activities are still being finalized and will be communicated at a later date. All athletic activities will be aligned with campus policies and adhere to necessary social distancing protocols, as well as in compliance with any NCAA guidelines that are issued.

Winter and Spring sports will similarly be permitted to phase in activity beginning on or after the first day of classes, starting with conditioning, moving to small group skill instruction, and advancing to group practices as conditions and campus policies permit. 

Exact start dates for practices and team activities are still being finalized and will be communicated at a later date. All athletic activities will be aligned with campus policies and adhere to necessary social distancing protocols, as well as in compliance with any NCAA guidelines that are issued.

The resumption of organized team activities will adhere to the NCAA resocialization of sport guidelines, which call for a three-phased return to sports activity. Teams will start with conditioning and advance to small group skill instruction, advancing to group practices as conditions and campus policies permit. 

It is important to note that the specific details for each sport will be unique to the sport. Team-specific plans are still being finalized and will be communicated at a later date.