After a series of meetings and consultations, the Empire 8 Conference (the conference in which Nazareth’s teams compete) made the difficult decision on Monday to suspend all fall season intercollegiate athletic competition for the fall 2020 semester.
Empire 8 joins the ECAC, the Ivy League, and other collegiate leagues across the country who came to this decision understanding that it is the hard thing to do, but the right thing to do for the safety, health and well-being of our athletes and the entire Nazareth community. The uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 presents a set of risks for competition this fall that we are unwilling to take.
Empire 8 joins the ECAC, the Ivy League, and other collegiate leagues across the country who came to this decision understanding that it is the hard thing to do, but the right thing to do for the safety, health and well-being of our athletes and the entire Nazareth community. The uncertainty surrounding the spread of COVID-19 presents a set of risks for competition this fall that we are unwilling to take.
Instead, the Conference is now developing plans to allow fall season sports teams to play and compete during the spring, concurrently with traditional spring sports.
Our athletic teams bring an energy and excellence that invigorates our campus culture all year round. While we are disappointed that health and safety protocols concerning COVID-19 have temporarily curtailed our fall teams’ ability to compete (as well as those teams at peer colleges in our conference) this fall, we are working with your coaches and doing all that we can to ensure that our Golden Flyers will continue to soar.
Our Athletic Department is committed to providing our student athletes a challenging and rewarding athletic experience, advancing their skills and developing the strength of their teams even in the context of COVID-19. To that end, we plan to conduct full practices that include skill instruction, team development, and strength and conditioning consistent with what our teams are accustomed to while in-season.
Because this decision was made just days ago, some details are still being addressed. For now, please review our FAQs for Athletics for in depth and ongoing updates concerning athletic teams this academic year.
In just my short time at Nazareth, it is clear to me that our student-athletes are high performers – in the classroom and on the playing fields. You are essential members of the Nazareth community and your efforts are a continued source of pride for all of us. This upcoming fall season will be one of growth. Together, with your team you will create new goals, push each other to new heights and perhaps even discover new strengths. I encourage you to look for those opportunities when they present themselves.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. I will be cheering you on, this season and every season to come.
Sincerely,
Dr. Beth Paul
President
Nazareth College
Dr. Beth Paul
President
Nazareth College
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