ACC delays start of Olympic sport seasons until Sept. 1

The ACC offered another sign of the uncertainty surrounding the resumption of college sports Thursday, delaying the start of the seasons for cross country, field hockey, soccer and volleyball until at least Sept. 1. Football was not included, although the first game involving ACC teams is scheduled for Sept. 2.

According to a news release from the conference, “The decision allows each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process.”

The delay, which includes both exhibition and regular-season competition, was approved unanimously by the ACC’s board of directors. It follows a string of recent decisions by college athletics entities made out of concerns for health and safety regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably the Ivy League’s announcement Wednesday that its teams will refrain from competition through the end of the fall semester. Morehouse was among the first to act, announcing June 26 that it was cancelling the seasons for its fall sports teams (football and cross country).