PENN STATE RELEASE | NEAC STATEMENT

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has determined that it is in the best interests of its student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans to cancel all fall sports competition. Penn State Harrisburg, along with Penn State Abington and Penn State Berks compete as members of the NEAC.

Penn State University has established a Commonwealth Campus Athletics Safety Subcommittee that continues to monitor University, national organization, state and local guidelines relative to the resocialization of sports on our campuses. Decisions specific to competition are driven by campus' respective conferences.

The NEAC will continue to explore opportunities for campuses to engage student-athletes through the fall semester and a decision regarding winter and spring sports competition will be made at a later date.

FAQs

Question 1: Will the NEAC conduct fall championship sports during the spring semester?

Answer: At this time, the NEAC will not be conducting fall championship sports during the spring semester. The NEAC will continue to rely on NCAA recommendations, CDC guidelines, and federal, state, local, and campus regulations as it develops all future plans for student-athletes and any potential return to play.

Question 2: Will the NCAA move fall sport championships to the spring semester?

Answer: At this point, the NCAA has made no decisions regarding moving fall championships to the spring semester or cancellation.

Question 3: When will fall championship sports be able to start participating in countable athletically-related activities?

Answer: Campuses are developing guidelines for a health and safety plan and return to operations that will allow for countable athletically-related activities. Campuses are working toward allowing skill instruction, strength and conditioning, and small group practices to create meaningful interaction among student-athletes and coaches if public health conditions permit. The decision to allow countable athletically-related activities will be determined and defined on an institutional basis depending on institutional, local, and state public health guidelines. All applicable NCAA competition and practice season rules shall be followed.

Question 4: When will winter championship sports be able to start participating in countable athletically-related activities?

Answer: The decision to allow countable athletically-related activities will be determined and defined on an institutional basis depending on institutional, local, and state public health guidelines. All applicable NCAA competition and practice season rules shall be followed.

Question 5: The NEAC announced it is cancelling fall sports, what about the other Penn State Commonwealth campuses that sponsor intercollegiate athletics?

Answer: The University has established a Commonwealth Campus Athletics Safety Subcommittee that continues to monitor University, national organization, state, and local guidelines relative to resocialization of sports on our campuses. Decisions specific to competition are driven by campus' respective conferences.