PSAC announces return to play guidelines for Spring 2021
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Board of Directors announced its return to competition guidelines and scheduling concepts for Spring 2021.
The PSAC has adopted the requirement that each of its member institutions will follow the NCAA Guidelines according to the NCAA Sport Science Institute in regard to returning to play amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We are very pleased that we are able to move forward with our plans for this semester,” said PSAC Commissioner, Steve Murray. “Everyone at our member institutions has done an exceptional job getting us to this point and we are all excited to make it happen. We will remain vigilant to the circumstances of COVID-19 across our league and make changes as necessary, but for now we are very positive about returning to competition."
The safety and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches and athletic personnel remains the focus of the PSAC. As such, the league will require ongoing COVID-19 surveillance testing using NCAA guidelines in each of the league’s spring sports including baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse and outdoor track & field, along with the league’s upcoming championships in men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s swimming.
Spectators
The ability to have spectators in attendance at events hosted on campuses is determined by each institution in coordination with institutional, local, state and national guidelines. Spectators will be required to wear masks while in attendance. They are also required to maintain social distancing while in attendance. Based on gathered information to date, spectator policies for each PSAC institution are listed below:
Each institution’s spectator policy is subject to change. For more information regarding spectators and masking, see the information below or visit the links for further detail on a specific institution.
Due to the unfortunate health concerns involving COVID 19 and the circumstances that apply to our student-athletes, institutional athletic departments and those affected by the day-to-day activities on our campuses, the PSAC would like to share information through the following resources as listed below. We will provide any additional pertinent information as it becomes available.
Previous Releases
2/26/21 - Return to Play Guidelines Release
11/19/20 - Changes to Championships Schedule Release
3/13/20 - Suspension of Competition Release
Spectators Policy and Chart
The ability to have spectators in attendance at events hosted on campuses is determined by each institution in coordination with institutional, local, state and national guidelines. Spectators will be required to wear masks while in attendance. They are also required to maintain social distancing while in attendance. Based on gathered information to date, spectator policies for each PSAC institution are listed below:
Each institution’s spectator policy is subject to change. For more information regarding spectators and masking, see the information below or visit the links for further detail on a specific institution.
*Chart below last updated 3/18
| Institution |
Are Spectators Permitted to be in Attendance at Athletic Events on Campus? |
| Bloomsburg |
Spectators will be limited to two (2) per Bloomsburg University student-athlete for outdoor events. Those spectators will require entry to athletic venues via a pass list.Spectators will be required to wear a mask throughout the entirety of their time on Bloomsburg University's campus, and will be required to socially distance their group from other groups when seated at the venue. No tailgating allowed. No visiting team spectators are allowed. No spectators allowed at any indoor athletic events. |
| Cal U |
Spectators are allowed. Baseball will be limited to 640 total. |
| Clarion |
Participant pass list only. |
| East Stroudsburg |
Limited number of fans permitted in line with Governor’s guidelines of 20% for outdoor sports and 15% for indoor sports, masked, and socially distanced. |
| Edinboro |
Four per student-athlete for outdoor events only. No spectators permitted at indoor events. Outdoor spectators must be on a pre-approved guest list. |
| Gannon |
Currently, no spectators are allowed in attendance at sporting events hosted on the Gannon campus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Access to the facility is limited to participating teams and those workers whose duties are essential to the contest. Gannon will continue to reassess and monitor this policy as the pandemic and environment changes. |
| IUP |
Spectators will be allowed at events. |
| Kutztown |
WIll begin allowing spectators at limited capacity at home athletic events EFFECTIVE MARCH 20. Visiting fans and general spectators not permitted at this time. |
| Lock Haven |
Spectators will not be allowed at events. |
| Mansfield |
Yes, spectators will be permitted. They must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. |
| Mercyhurst |
Yes, Limited to specific # of tickets per student-athlete. No visiting fans admitted. Masks worn at all times, Social distancing, no tailgating or gathering pre/postgame EFFECTIVE MARCH 20 |
| Millersville |
Spectators are limited to only Millersville student-athlete family. |
| UPJ |
Spectators will be limited to 400 for baseball and 200 for softball. |
| Seton Hill |
Yes, spectators will be permitted. They must wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing. |
| Shepherd |
Spectators are limited to only Shepherd student-athlete family/guardians. While on campus (including outdoors on campus grounds), wearing a face mask that covers the nose and mouth. Social distancing of at least six feet. Family pods may sit or stand together, but not with other family pods. Spectators are not permitted to interact in close contact with any player, coach, official, or support staff members before, during, or after the contest. Signage will direct fans where they can and cannot sit. Seating will be limited at the venues to meet the social distancing guidelines. No food or drinks permitted. No tailgating activities are allowed. Anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms of illness should not travel or attend games. |
| Shippensburg |
No fans from visiting teams will be permitted at SU athletic events. Attendance is limited to the credential-wearing guests of SU student-athletes, and a small number of SU students. |
| Slippery Rock |
Spectators will be limited to a specific number of students per student-athlete for outdoor events only. No spectators permitted indoor. |
| West Chester |
NO VISITING TEAM SPECTATORS WILL BE ADMITTED. Spectators will be limited to two (2) per WCU team tier one personnel. WCU student-athletes and team personnel will be required to submit names via ARMS to the Athletics Office no later than the day (24 hours) prior to the competition. Only those individuals with their names appearing on the guest list will be permitted to watch the competition. Spectators will be permitted to access the designated viewing areas NO MORE than 1 hour prior to the competition start time. Spectators/family members should not expect to interact with athletes and coaches before, during, or after competitions. Spectators should complete a COVID-19 symptom self-screening and temperature check before leaving for the event and should not attend if they are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have a temperature of 100.4° or higher. Spectators are expected to remain masked at all times while at athletic events hosted by West Chester University. Spectators are required to maintain appropriate social distance from spectators outside of their own family unit and avoid mingling with others. Use of bathroom facilities will be severely limited. All spectators must vacate the premises within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the event and should not expect to greet their athlete post-game. No pre-game, in-game, and/or post-game tailgating is permitted for any event. WCU Athletics staff and WCU Public Safety will be responsible for enforcing social distancing guidelines and procedures. Any spectator refusing to comply with any of the above-mentioned protocols will be immediately removed from the premises and may forfeit the privilege of attending future WCU Athletics events.
|
Spring Sport Schedules/PSAC Championship Updates
In terms of PSAC scheduled competition, spring sports regular seasons are set to begin currently, with PSAC competition for each sport as followed:
*Last updated 2/26
| Sport |
Regular Season |
Championship Format |
| Baseball |
Conference regular season games begin Friday, March 12 and will end Saturday, May 8. |
8 teams qualify, 4 from each division beginning Wednesday, May 12:
Wednesday, May 12: Quarterfinal - Single Elimination. On campus site, #4 at #1 and #3 at #2; all games within the division.
Sun-Mon, May 16-17: Semifinals - Best of 3 Series; On campus site, highest Quarterfinal winner in each division; within the division
Fri-Sat, May 21-22: Championship - Best of 3 Series; Semifinal winners; Site TBD
|
| Softball |
Conference regular season games begin Friday, March 5 and will end Saturday, May 1. |
8 teams qualify, 4 from each division beginning Wed-Thurs, May 5-6:
: Quarterfinals - Best of 3 Series. On campus site, #4 at #1 and #3 at #2; all games within the division
Sun-Mon, May 9-10: Semifinals – Best of 3 Series at highest remaining seed among each Quarterfinal winner in each division
Fri-Sat, May 14-15: Championship - Best of 3 Series; Semifinal winners; Site TBD
|
| Lacrosse |
Conference regular season games begin Saturday, March 13 and will end Wednesday, April 28. |
6 teams qualify, 3 from each division beginning Saturday, May 1
Saturday, May 1 - Quarterfinals: #3 at #2 within division
Wednesday, May 5 - Semifinals: Round 1 winner at #1 seed within division
Saturday May 8 - Championship: Semifinal winners; Site TBD
|
| Men’s and Women’s Tennis |
Conference regular season matches begin Saturday March 20 for the men and Saturday, March 27 for the women. They end on Saturday, April 24. The women’s quarterfinals are April 27, the men’s and women’s semifinals are April 30. |
Men’s
4 teams qualify, beginning Tuesday, April 27
Semifinals: #4 at #1; #3 at #2 (no divisional play in Men’s Tennis)
Friday, April 30 - Championship: Semifinal winners; Site at top remaining seed
Women’s
6 teams qualify, 3 from each division
Saturday, April 24 - Quarterfinals: #3 at #2 within division
Wednesday, April 28 - Semifinals: Round 1 winner at #1 seed within division
Saturday, May 1 - Championship: Semifinal winners; Site TBD
|
| Men’s and Women’s Golf |
The men’s golf regular season is set to begin March 15 and the women will begin March 22 |
The golf championships will be April 9-10 at Hershey Country Club.
|
| Men’s and Women’s Cross Country |
Men’s and women’s cross country did not have a PSAC scheduled regular season |
The cross country championships will be March 20 at West Branch Cross Country Course at Stern Athletic Complex
|
Men’s and Women’s Swimming |
Men’s and women’s swimming did not have a PSAC scheduled regular season |
The swimming championships will be from April 21-24 at the Graham Aquatic Center in York, Pennsylvania. |
| Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field |
The men’s and women’s outdoor track & field regular season will begin March 27 |
The track & field championships will be held Thurs-Sat, May 6-8 at Shippensburg University |
TO DATE: Spectators will not be allowed at men’s and women’s cross country championships, or men’s and women’s swimming championships. They will be permitted at men’s and women’s golf championships. Spectators being permitted at outdoor track and field championships is still to be decided. All PSAC championship spectator policies are subject to change.
For more information on the NCAA’s guidelines for COVID-19, visit the links below:
Coronavirus Information Central
COVID-19 Hotline
COVID-19 Mental Health Resources
NCAA Division II COVID-19 Compliance Updates
National and State Government resources and information are linked below:
Center for Disease Control (CDC) COVID-19 Information
State of Pennsylvania COVID-19 Information
State of West Virginia COVID-19 Information
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.