MELBOURNE, Fla. – Due to the challenges presented by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the Sunshine State Conference Presidents Council has decided to cancel conference competition and championships for the fall sports of soccer and volleyball and for the winter sport of swimming during the 2020-21 academic year.
Conference institutions may practice and compete in these sports during the spring 2021 semester as a matter of institutional discretion. In the fall sport of cross country, which is a low transmission risk sport as defined by the NCAA, the SSC intends to conduct a conference championship season during the spring 2021 semester, with no overnight travel and competition against conference teams only, provided health and safety conditions support such activity.
In addition, the Presidents Council has further postponed the start of the basketball season until at least February 15, 2021. This decision means that the eleven institutions in the conference will not participate in the 2021 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. The conference aspires to conduct a conference schedule in basketball beginning later in the spring should health conditions improve.
"This decision as well as the ones before it have been difficult, however our Athletics Department, University and Conference leadership are aligned, the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and campuses are our top priority," said PBA Director of Athletics Courtney Lovely Evans. "In working collaboratively with our state and local health departments, PBA's COVID team and the Sunshine State Conference Office staff, we believe that our internal protocols and plan to play a modified schedule in cross country, volleyball, soccer and basketball will be a safe competitive environment for our Christian game-changers. I have been impressed with our student-athletes throughout this semester as they have followed our Sailfish Safe guidelines (masking and social distancing) and remained flexible during this unprecedented time. I am encouraged by their positivity and resiliency. The way they have responded to these ongoing challenges are a true testament that we are developing the next generation of leaders that will make tremendous impact for the Kingdom."
These decisions were made with Sunshine State Conference student-athletes and campus communities' health, safety, and well-being as the Conference's highest priority.
Palm Beach Atlantic will assess the ability to compete in the sports of soccer and volleyball with the intention to play a modified schedule this spring.
Further details regarding competitions and schedules will be released as they're available.
About the Sunshine State Conference
Established in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference has risen from a single sport organization to the NCAA Division II "Conference of National Champions." Since its inception, the conference has grown steadily in sports played, membership, and national prominence. SSC members have won a total of 111 NCAA national championships across 12 sports. SSC schools have achieved an 86% Academic Success Rate for 10 consecutive years.
The SSC consists of 11 member institutions, all within the state of Florida: Barry University (Miami Shores), Eckerd College (St. Petersburg), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach), Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne), Florida Southern College (Lakeland), Lynn University (Boca Raton), Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale), Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach), Rollins College (Winter Park), Saint Leo University (Saint Leo), and the University of Tampa.
