Horizon League, home of Northern Kentucky University, postpones fall sports
A Kentucky college has been impacted by the latest decision made by an athletic conference in relation to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, the Horizon League announced that the beginning of fall sports competition for its members will be postponed until at least Oct. 1. Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights is a member of the 12-school conference.
“These decisions are never made lightly, but the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans of Norse Nation and all Horizon League institutions must be our top priority,” Northern Kentucky University Director of Athletics Ken Bothof said in a press release. “With the recent increases in the number of new cases, as well as travel restrictions being enacted across the country and league footprint, the Horizon League Council felt this was the best course of action.”
Sports affected include cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball. The decision is expected to impact exhibition and non-conference contests in those sports. The Horizon League does not sponsor football.
According to the league’s release, the Horizon League Council “will continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19, and will evaluate fall schedules and competitions with the understanding that there may be future changes. The Council will continue to be guided by our top priority: the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff.”
Teams will still be allowed to hold workouts, practices and meetings in accordance with NCAA guidelines. According to the release, if the Horizon League Council determines fall competition cannot ultimately be conducted safely, it will explore the possibility of rescheduling fall sports for spring.
The Horizon League’s decision to delay the start of fall sports competition comes on the heels of several other conferences canceling non-conference games or delaying the start of competition. The Big Ten and Pac-12 have have announced that their member schools will eliminate all non-conference matchups this fall. The Ivy League and Patriot League have canceled fall sports this year.
