Mansfield, Mass. - Given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the region, the Northeast-10 Conference Council of Presidents approved a unanimous recommendation to cancel plans for the conference's seven traditional fall sports.

In a July 2020 press release, the NE10 and its member institutions were committed to providing a meaningful regular season and conference championship experience for its fall sport student-athletes during the Spring 2021 semester, before the NCAA announced the cancellation of Division II Fall Championships.

This decision will impact league competition for men's and women's soccer, cross country, football, field hockey and volleyball. 

"We continue to have to make heartbreaking decisions as we navigate the best way to keep our student-athletes, families, coaches and athletic staff safe during an ongoing public health crisis. My fellow NE10 Presidents and I realize this is another tremendous blow to our student-athletes' college experience," said Adelphi University President Christine M. Riordan.

The Conference remains unanimously committed to supporting a return to play for NE10 competition in its 10 spring sports (including tennis and golf), whose 2020 NCAA championship seasons were canceled at the outset of the pandemic. The Council of Presidents and the entire NE10 community continue to prioritize health and safety in its decision-making process in determining a return to competition for those sports.

"Once again, this is a very difficult decision to make, however, when all of the factors concerning health, safety and competition are looked at, this is the most prudent decision at this time," said Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Danny McCabe. 

"We look forward to one day being able to provide a full and robust experience for our fall sport athletes. At this time, though, this is the safest path to take."
 
While the Council has elected to cancel repositioned NE10 fall sport competition and championships, each NE10 member institution has the autonomy to determine if it will engage in team activities, practice and training, and contests against outside competition. In deciding, each member institution shall adhere to NCAA policies and state public health regulations. Division II National Championships in these fall sports had previously been canceled by the NCAA last fall and will not be rescheduled.