MUNCIE, Ind.(NewsLink) - The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday that it will postpone the start of field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s cross country until Sept. 3.
The MAC claims this is being done to give more time for its member institutions to prepare for safe competition amidst the current coronavirus pandemic.
Ball State Athletic Director Beth Goetz also released a statement saying, “the decision today to delay the competition of fall sports is a strategic one. It provides additional time for our conference to monitor the rapidly-evolving landscape which will allow the MAC to land in the best possible place for the conference's student-athletes and departments. Our primary focus remains on the safety and well-being of our Ball State student-athletes.”
This move brings the rest of the MAC fall sports in line with the start of football, the only non-Olympic fall sport. Each MAC school will determine for themselves how to reschedule any non-conference contests that will be altered due to the postponed start.
The MAC will continue to monitor the latest developments related to the pandemic and could potentially make further changes if necessary.
