Since our last update on July 13 announcing that Union College teams would not participate in fall sports competition due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen additional releases from leagues and the NCAA. The Liberty League's Presidents Council voted unanimously and announced on July 22 the cancellation of all Liberty League competition and championships through Dec. 31, 2020.

On August 5, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council canceled fall championships for the 2020-21 academic year and on August 20 the NCAA Division III Administrative Committee recommended that member schools not compete in the fall term to avoid potential increased health and safety risks. In addition, on September 10, the College Hockey Commissioners Association announced that the start of the college hockey season will be delayed and that each college hockey conference will announce plans for competition over the coming months. 

We have remained in continued conversations with ECAC Hockey and Liberty League institutions regarding winter and spring athletics seasons, and discussions around dates for NCAA winter championships continue as well. We are also exploring the potential for holding some fall-sport competitions in the spring season. We have prepared a number of scheduling models focused on league competition within the Liberty League and ECAC Hockey. We are focused on identifying plans to begin competition when we are confident it can be done safely for all members of the campus community. At this point our leagues have not arrived at a definitive date to finalize decisions on the upcoming seasons, but we will provide updates as they are finalized. 

We have been excited for students to return, and in just the short time they have been back we have enjoyed the energy they bring to campus. Student-athletes have engaged in strength training in week one of their return, and practices will begin in week two. We will follow the NCAA core principles of resocialization of collegiate sport to guide us in a phased approach to practices, starting in small pods and gradually increasing as the phases and our own guidelines permit. 

We have been encouraged by the resilience of all of our students through challenging times and we are committed to providing meaningful opportunities for student-athletes, coaches and community members to engage in throughout the coming months. In addition to strength and conditioning workouts and team training, our varsity teams will be engaging with our sport psychologist to develop strategies for peak performance. Also, our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be meeting by virtual platform regularly to plan and lead student-athlete events and initiatives for the year ahead.

We are also working diligently to offer safe and fun opportunities outside the classroom for students and the campus community in our Wellness, Intramurals and Recreation programs. We have opened Alumni Gym with reduced hours to enable us to monitor the use and flow within workout areas, ensure strict social distancing guidelines, and ensure proper cleaning of equipment and the facility. We hope to expand hours as the term progresses and as students and employees continue to abide by safety guidelines.

Wellness programs will be conducted outdoors as often as possible, and any classes held indoors are abiding by maximum occupancy rates provided by Environmental Health and Safety staff. The Breazzano Fitness Center is accepting online registration for peak usage hours, and students and employees must scan their ID and produce their daily emocha badge to gain entrance to Alumni Gym and many other campus facilities. While intramurals will not look the same as in the past, we are providing different types of socially distanced tournaments with games such as cornhole and frisbee golf. Daily recreation hours will be offered at both indoor and outdoor athletics venues, under staff supervision to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

Throughout the pandemic, the NCAA has maintained a website dedicated to updates and resources for all Divisions, including Question & Answer guides for each Division as rules change and blanket waivers are granted to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions. The website includes the latest news for all NCAA member institutions as well as each NCAA COVID-19 update. 

We are striving to provide meaningful competition, wellness and recreation opportunities for our students, alumni, fans and our community, but are mindful of the ever changing COVID-19 pandemic. The health, safety and well-being of all of our community members will be at the forefront of our decisions.

- Union College Department of Athletics