TAMPA, Fla. (July 23, 2020) -- The Sun Conference announced today its intent to compete in athletics this fall following a meeting of the conference’s Council of Presidents.
The safety of our student-athletes, coaches, and fans is and will remain our top priority. The Conference Return to Play Task Force, which is comprised of leading healthcare professionals and administrators in the conference and has utilized on the very best medical resources, has met each week since late April to develop stringent protocols for safe competition. In addition, each member has been required to create and submit a detailed COVID-19 institutional handbook to ensure each athletic department is adhering to expected guidelines.
“Our conference is committed to doing everything we can to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to compete this fall,” said Commissioner
Dustin Wilke. “We believe we have an opportunity to have successful fall seasons, but that will only be possible if everyone in our conference family, and especially our student-athletes, are steadfast in doing their part to create a safe environment.
NAIA guidelines will allow for practice to begin on August 15, with competition beginning no earlier than September 5.
“As a conference, we believe in the value of face-to-face education” said Sun Conference President
Dr. David Hoag. “We are also committed to the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff and will be working constantly to make sure it continues to be our top priority as the fall season approaches.”
The Sun Conference encourages our fellow NAIA conferences to consider a similar approach, but also understands and respects the decision of those who opt for other alternatives.
Our conference will closely monitor the newest information and will be prepared to adjust as necessary, and we continue to stress the importance of everyone taking the proper safety measures as instructed by local health officials throughout our conference.
We continue to encourage everyone to please stay safe, practice social distancing, and wear a mask.
ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now entering its 31st year, The Sun Conference, a 501c3 organization, continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under the guidance of Commissioner Dustin Wilke, the league sponsors championships in 18 NAIA sports: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field and Women’s Volleyball. Corporate sponsorship of the Conference has increased ten-fold; but most importantly, every Sun Conference member institution earned the NAIA’s prestigious 5-Star Champions of Character Award in each of the last five years. Learn more @ thesunconference.com