LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Following recent decisions to cancel mandated schedules and championships for all fall and winter sports, the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is now permitting league championship opportunities in women's and men's swimming and women's and men's cross country.
 
Over the past week, the Board voted to cancel all mandated regular-season schedules and championship events for the fall and winter sports.  The Board left an option open to continue championship opportunities should six or more institutions elect to compete in a championship season.
 
The collection of votes has indicated six or more schools have committed to having a championship season in swimming and cross country.  Both swimming and cross country have been delegated as "low-risk" sports according to the guidelines set forth by the NCAA COVID-19 Advisory Panel.
 
The PSAC and its member institutions also remain committed to previously intended regular-season and championship seasons for all spring sports in 2021.
 
The league will finalize details for cross country and swimming.  Anticipated championship dates will fall over weekends in late March and late April, respectively.  
 
The PSAC will announce any other changes to projected 2021 schedules as soon as they become available.

Despite recent PSAC announcements, Gannon University reinforced its intent to facilitate seasons for its fall and winter athletic teams if conditions and the availability of willing PSAC institutions and non-conference contests are conducive to play.
 
Gannon student-athletes have practiced and conditioned throughout the fall semester under University guidelines created for a safe return to play, including a rigid COVID-19 testing protocol. The women's and men's golf teams competed in six combined events during the fall. Gannon's winter athletic teams are currently practicing during the championship segment of their season while the fall and spring teams had the ability to conduct non-championship segments during the fall semester.
 
Gannon administrators created protocols last summer for the safe resumption of athletics. The University began classes on August 10 and is scheduled to conclude finals next week. The return to play plan included:

• COVID-19 testing
• Daily health screenings
• Smaller "pod" systems for athletics activities
• Virtual team meetings when applicable
• Reduced room capacity and social distancing procedures when in-person meetings are needed
• Office meetings by appointment only with a maximum of two people with masks and social distancing
• Isolation and contact tracing procedures if someone tested positive
• Increased cleaning and sanitation of athletic facilities, vans and buses
• Traffic flow patterns for athletic facilities
• PPE equipment for athletic training personnel and athletic personnel
• Additional hand sanitizer throughout athletic facilities and on sidelines
• Individual items for student-athletes such as face coverings and water bottles
• Laundry service for athletic-related clothing
• Reduced capacity in the athletic training room, aided by an online system for appointments
• Social distancing at practice where applicable
• Masks being worn at all times where applicable

 
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) still plans to conduct national championship tournaments for winter and spring championships.
 
Current NCAA legislation allows all fall and winter student-athletes to regain their season of competition in 2020-21. Gannon students participating in those sports will not be charged with a season of eligibility regardless of how many contests they compete in.
 
Further updates regarding possible fall and winter schedules, as well as complete spring schedules, will be announced at a later date at gannonsports.com. Be sure to follow Gannon Athletics updates via Twitter (@GUKnights), Facebook (@gannonsports) and Instagram (@gannongoldenknights).