Big West Conference officials postpone fall sports through end of 2020; basketball still on in November

Big West Conference officials announced on Wednesday that all fall sports are being postponed through the end of the calendar year 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic which has haulted high school and college sports since March.

“In making the decision, the Board recognized the continued serious challenges to health and safety on Big West campuses and communities impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the Big West Conference board of directors said in a statement.

Conference-sponsored fall sports includes men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball and the fall competitive schedules for men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis in addition to fall competition for sports in their non-traditional segment, according to Big West officials.

Conference officials indicated they will consider rescheduling the fall sports in the spring.

“Realizing that intercollegiate athletics’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic remains very fluid, the Board noted a decision on whether fall sport competition would be feasible in the spring will be determined by the Board of Directors at a later date and be based on conditions and circumstances that are in the best interests of the student-athletes,” officials said.

Conference officials said that Big West winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball are not impacted by the announcement and both sports are scheduled to begin their competition seasons on Nov. 10. It has not been determined that if the schedules go on whether the games will be played with or without fans, a Big West official said.

“Health and safety of Big West student-athletes, coaches, staff and the campus community continue to be the preeminent priorities for the CEO’s of the conference’s 11 institutions,” conference officials added. “As medical and scientific data rapidly evolves surrounding the pandemic, the conference will continue to monitor developments and will consider additional actions as needed.”