NJCAA sports moved to spring 2021 semester

(all images via colbytrojans.com)

In a Zoom meeting on Monday, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Board of Regents voted to move most fall and winter “close-contact” sports to the spring semester in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) will follow the new practice and competition calendars with some adjustments still to come.

“The Jayhawk Conference is currently meeting to discuss how to implement all of the changes as we understand that it will provide many new and unique challenges to each of the schools,” said CCC Athletic Director Mike Saddler.

“The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, college campus, and the local community will continue to be at the forefront of any decision we make as we navigate this unchartered territory,” he added.

With the change, student-athletes will still enroll in the fall semester to continue their academic progress. All teams affected are allowed to practice and have scrimmages in the fall season.

For Trojan athletics, the men’s and women’s cross country teams will be the only fall sport competing, beginning practice Aug. 1 with the national championship meets scheduled for Nov. 14.  Volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and men’s and women’s track and field begin games in late January. Baseball and softball teams will play in the spring semester with minor schedule modifications.

“While the current plan may not be ideal for everyone, it does give us the best chance for each of our athletes to put on a uniform and compete for Colby while also pursuing their educational goals,” Saddler said.

Details on the plan can be found on the NJCAA website. Below is the revised schedule as it affects NJCAA sports at CCC.

Volleyball
Fall practice is allowed between August 15 and November 15, 2020
Practice begins Jan. 11, 2021
Competition begins Jan. 29.
National Championship: April 15-17.

Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Fall practice is allowed between September 15 and December 15, 2020.
Practice begins Jan. 11, 2021
Competition begins Jan. 22.
National Championship: April 19-25.

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field
Fall practice is allowed between September 15 and December 15, 2020.
Practice begins Jan. 4, 2021.
Competition begins Jan. 18.
Indoor National Championship: March 5-6.
Outdoor National Championship: May 11-13.

Wrestling
Fall practice is allowed between September 15 and December 15, 2020.
Practice begins Jan. 4, 2021.
Competition begins Jan. 20.
NJCAA Wrestling Championships: April 23-24.

Baseball
Fall practice is allowed between September 5 and November 15, 2020.
Practice begins Jan. 10, 2021.
Competition begins Jan. 22.
National Championship: May 29-June 5.

Softball
Fall practice is allowed between September 5 and November 15, 2020.
Practice begins Jan. 10, 2021.
Competition begins Jan. 22.
National Championship: May 25-29.