ITHACA, N.Y. –– The Ivy League has officially canceled all fall and winter sports, and has postponed the start of spring sports until at least February 2021.
The decision was announced Thursday as the result of a unanimous vote by the Ivy League Board of Presidents.
The presidents blamed the, “current trends regarding transmission of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent protocols that must be put in place are impeding our strong desire to return to intercollegiate athletics competition in a safe manner.” The league will not hold any fall sports competition during the spring season, as other schools are attempting to do.
“With the health and wellbeing of student-athletes and the greater campus community in mind, the Ivy League Presidents decide to forego athletics competition in fall and winter sports, postpone competition in spring sports through February 2021,” the group said in a statement. “The Council will continue to closely monitor and evaluate the public health climate and consider changes to policies when warranted in order to return to more normal campus operations, including potential spring intercollegiate athletics competition.”
Players will not lose a year of eligibility, regardless of whether or not they enroll in school.
Cornell University’s women’s and men’s hockey teams, both of which are traditional powerhouses, were ranked #2 and #6 respectively in preseason rankings before the league made the decision to cancel the season. Other canceled sports include basketball, wrestling, track and field, swimming and fencing.