SEC Cancels Remaining Competition for 2019-20 Athletic Year
Thursday, March 12, 2020 | General, Baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Men's Golf, Women's Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
2020 spring football games and Pro Days conducted at SEC schools also canceled.
Update: April 3, 2020 - 3:45 p.m. ET
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all in-person athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, whether voluntary or required, as well as camps and coaches clinics, will be suspended through at least May 31, based on public health advisories related to continuing developments associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The SEC had previously announced that in-person athletics activities were suspended through April 15.
Update: March 31, 2020 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Southeastern Conference cancels spring meetings.
The SEC will determine alternate methods for holding meetings important to conference operations and explore opportunities to recognize award winners who are honored at the event, which is held annually during the last week of May in Destin, Florida.
Update: March 30, 2020 - 6:50 p.m.
The NCAA DI Council granted a waiver to allow additional eligibility for spring sport athletes whose seasons were impacted by COVID-19.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the government of Japan today agreed new dates for the games of the XXXII Olympiad, in 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021. They also agreed on new dates for the Paralympic Games, which will be celebrated from 24 August until 5 September 2021.
Update: March 24, 2020 - 9:09 a.m. ET
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, formerly set to begin on July 24, will now be pushed back to 2021 as the world continues efforts to slow the coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday, marking the first time in more than a century of the modern Olympic Games that event has been delayed.
The decision was made "to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community," according to a statement released by the IOC.
In a subsequent announcement, the International Paralympic Committee announced that the Paralympic Games, which were scheduled to start shortly after the Olympic Games in Tokyo, will be postponed as well.
Neither organization provided alternate dates, though the IOC said the rescheduled Olympic Games would take place "no later than the summer of 2021."
In a statement, IPC President Andrew Parsons called the decision "absolutely the right thing to do," adding, "The health and well-being of human life must always be our No. 1 priority and staging a sport event of any kind during this pandemic is simply not possible."
Update: March 17, 2020 - 3:00 p.m. ET
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all regular season conference and non-conference competitions are canceled for the remainder of the 2019-20 athletic year, including all remaining SEC championship events, due to continuing developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
In addition, all spring football games are canceled and there will be no pro days conducted by SEC institutions.
The Gators' Orange and Blue Game, presented by Sunniland, was scheduled for April 18 and Pro Day was slated for March 31.
The SEC had previously announced that all athletics activities, including team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, will be suspended through at least April 15.
The Florida athletic department also previously closed all team areas in its athletic facilities until at least April 15, with the exception of its sports health and academic advising units. The department will continue to provide health, nutrition, mental health counseling and academic support during this time.
The Gators Ticket Office will automatically refund all ticket purchases for Gator events scheduled to take place from March 13 to the end of spring competition. Refunds will be processed back to the form of payment used for the original purchase. All purchasers will be contacted once the refund is processed.
Update: March 13, 2020 - 4:00 p.m. ET
The Southeastern Conference today announced that all athletics activities, including competitions, team and individual practices, meetings and other organized gatherings, will be suspended through at least April 15, due to continuing developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The SEC had previously announced that all competition was suspended until March 30. That suspension of competition has been extended through April 15 and now includes all organized team activities.
SEC athletics programs will cease practices, individual and team workouts effective the end of the day Friday, March 13. Team meetings shall conclude no later than 5 pm local time on Monday, March 16.
In addition, the Florida athletic department is closing all team areas in its athletic facilities until at least April 15, with the exception of its sports health and academic advising units. The department will continue to provide health, nutrition, mental health counseling and academic support during this time.
- Letter to Gator Fans from UF Athletics Director Scott Stricklin
- Video Message from Scott Stricklin
- NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee agrees eligibility relief is appropriate for spring sports
- SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey update message: March 15, 2020
Update: March 12, 2020 - 4:30 p.m. ET
Today, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
Update: March 12, 2020 - 12:30 p.m. ET
Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey announced today that beginning Thursday, March 12 and continuing until at least Monday, March 30, regular-season competition for teams in all sports on SEC campuses, as well SEC championship events, will be immediately suspended. The first event affected by this will be the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville, which will be canceled.
Gators athletic teams will not compete in any non-conference regular season events during this period.
NCAA Championship participation will be determined by NCAA authority.
The University of Florida announced it will move classes online by Monday, March 16, and classes will remain online until at least March 30. Student athletes and other students that remain on campus will continue to have access to Gator Dining, health facilities and other support services. The campus will remain open and fully operational.
The Gators Ticket Office will automatically refund all ticket purchases for events scheduled to take place from March 13 to March 30. Refunds will be processed back to the form of payment used for the original purchase. All purchasers will be contacted once the refund is processed.
The Florida athletic teams will be permitted to hold practices and team activities but will not travel or participate in competition.
The football team will still conduct spring practices that will be closed to the public.
In addition, Dan Mullen's public speaking tour in March & April will not be held at this time.
Update: March 11, 2020 - 8:30 p.m. ET
Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey announced tonight that beginning Thursday, March 12 and continuing until at least Monday, Mar. 30, all league events will continue with no fan presence. Only essential game day personnel and player families will be in venue. The first event affected by this will be the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament in Nashville.
The University of Florida announced it will move classes online by Monday, March 16, and classes will remain online until at least March 30. Student athletes and other students that remain on campus will continue to have access to Gator Dining, health facilities and other support services. The campus will remain open and fully operational.
The scheduled Florida athletics home events will continue to have broadcast and media coverage.
The Gators Ticket Office will automatically refund all ticket purchases for events scheduled to take place from March 13 to March 30. Refunds will be processed back to the form of payment used for the original purchase. All purchasers will be contacted once the refund is processed.
The Florida football team, which begins spring practice on March 16 will close practices to the public.
Fans are asked not to come to venues while competitions are taking place. UFPD will be keeping the outside of venues clear of fan.
Resources
For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms, etc., please visit www.cdc.gov as a helpful resource.
Coronavirus - Travelers Health Information
- For more information about the coronavirus, prevention, symptoms, etc., please visit the Centers for Disease Control's website as a helpful resource.
- Prevention tips can be found on the CDC's COVID-19 information website.
- The Florida Department of Health also has resources and updates about COVID-19 monitoring in the state.
- The U.S. Department of State shares updates on travel advisories regarding COVID-19 on its website.
- The University of Florida website is providing updates and FAQs.
- Alachua County Health Department's Epidemiology Department at (352) 225-4181.
