UMW Suspends All Fall Sports Competition Due To Coronavirus

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The University of Mary Washington has joined the 10 other members of the Capital Athletic Conference in suspending all conference athletic competitions, including conference championships, for the fall season, the school said Tuesday. A decision on winter and spring sports will be made at a later date, according to UMW.

The UMW athletic department will work with the Mary Washington COVID-19 Implementation Team, the Athletics COVID-19 Action Team, the Capital Athletic Conference, and the NCAA to consider options for moving competition for fall sports to the spring.

“For weeks, the Department of Athletics has been planning for return to play in a safe, healthy and equitable way as part of the University’s #ForwardUMW plan and under the guidelines of the NCAA and Capital Athletic Conference,” UMW Director of Athletics Patrick Catullo said in a statement. “Regrettably, as updated information has been released for a phased approach regarding return to activity, it has become clear that suspension of fall sports is the best way forward.”

Earlier this month, UMW released a draft plan titled "#ForwardUMW: Our Return to Campus Plan" that outlined steps the university is taking to prepare for the fall and spring semesters.

Under the plan, UMW plans to begin classes on Monday, Aug. 24 and have students go to class on Labor Day and forgo fall break as part of an accelerated fall semester designed to protect students, faculty and staff from the coronavirus.

As part of the changes to UMW athletics, the following sports will not compete this fall: men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men’s and women's soccer, and volleyball. The following sports will be affected for portions of their schedule that would have been contested during the fall: equestrian, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, and men’s and women’s rugby.

Further announcements regarding a return to athletics competition at UMW will be made available on the umweagles.com website, the university said.

For all student athletes at the school, practices could be permitted in accordance with UMW, state and NCAA safety protocols, including physical distancing and personal protective equipment.

"We are working on provisions that would allow for team strength and conditioning activities, if feasible," UMW said. "Athletic training paperwork must be completed and reviewed prior to participating in team activities, whether in-person or remotely."

At the high school level in Virginia, contact sports are expected to be suspended for the fall semester. The Virginia High School League, the governing body of high school sports in Virginia, said it will decide the fate of the 2020 fall sports season on July 27.

Under one scenario being considered by the VHSL, golf and cross-country would be allowed to play in the fall, while high school football, field hockey and other high contact sports would not be permitted in the fall.