USA South Fall 2020 Planning Update

The leadership of the USA South Athletic Conference, including member Presidents and Athletic Directors, have participated in consistent, constructive, conversations regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the upcoming 2020-21 athletic year. While there are many items still to be officially addressed, the USA South Presidents Council recently approved plans which will affect the currently scheduled fall athletic seasons. These implementations are rooted in assuring the health and safety of its student-athletes while still supplying as many opportunities as possible to participate in a positive collegiate athletic experience:

• Fall team sport Conference schedules adjusted to divisional-only play with the possible implementation of neutral-site venues, thus eliminating the need for overnight travel unless an exemption is granted by the Conference.
• The 2020 Men's & Women's Cross Country Championships will split into Eastern Division and Western Division events.
• Football will split into two divisions and play a home/home in-division format, culminating with a championship contest featuring the two divisional winners.
• Currently, institutions are free to schedule non-conference contests as they wish.

The Conference will continue to discuss pathways to safely return to play which include guidelines for resocialization, screening/testing, visiting teams, spectators and more. Further announcements from the USA South regarding the 2020-21 academic season will be forthcoming and shared in the coming weeks on USASouth.net.