Bryant University Fall Sports Postponed Due To Coronavirus

SMITHFIELD, RI — Bryant University football, soccer, field hockey and other fall sports became the latest to be canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus when the Northeast Conference announced it was postponing the fall conference athletic season.

The postponement applies to NEC-sponsored sports, also including cross country and women's volleyball.

Unlike the Ivy League, which canceled or postponed all events through the end of 2020, the NEC said in a statement that the Council of Presidents will reconvene on Oct. 1 to determine an update for the next step. The statement did not address the possibility of moving some or all of the fall sports to the winter or spring seasons.

"While this decision was exceedingly difficult and will be incredibly heartbreaking for our NEC student-athletes, coaches and administrators, the NEC Council of Presidents focused on the importance of the health and safety and well-being of our entire campus communities," said NEC
Commissioner Noreen Morris. "This pandemic has challenged us all in ways we could never have imagined, and I applaud our student-athletes and coaches for handling this difficult time with grace and courage."

Morris said practice and training activities will be allowed in accordance with campus, local and state guidelines of the respective schools.

"The Council of Presidents exhausted every option to develop policies and protocols that would support a safe return to play progression this fall prior to making this decision," the NEC said in a statement. "Ultimately, the persistence of the virus and the potential for exposure among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, support staff, fans and local communities, coupled with the need to safely reopen NEC campuses this fall, made it impossible to execute a return to competition at this time without undue risk."

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