The SEC announced Thursday that it is going to forge ahead with mostly conference-only schedules for all fall sports.
The league gave cross-country, soccer, volleyball, fall golf and fall tennis seasons the go-ahead for competition this fall. Like football, which gets under way on Sept. 26, the other sports will also experience a delayed start.
The men’s and women’s cross-country teams will be permitted to conduct “two or three competitions” that include non-conference opponents before the SEC Championships take place Oct. 30. But all opponents must adhere to the SEC’s COVID-19 testing protocols. The cross-country season can begin Sept. 11 and will extend to Oct. 23.
The soccer season will consist of eight matches in eight weeks against only SEC opponents. The season will begin Sept. 18, followed by the SEC Championships on Nov. 13-22.
“The news today of our fall season model is both exciting to our student-athletes and an opportunity to thank so many people for their dedication toward the health and safety our soccer program,” Georgia soccer coach Billy Lesesne said.
The volleyball season will consist of eight matches in six weeks against SEC opponents. The season will begin Oct. 16, and each school will compete against four teams twice in the same weekend on back-to-back days.
“We’re excited by the decision of the SEC to be able to compete this fall as well as be eligible for spring play,” UGA volleyball coach Tom Black said. “We want to thank our leadership, in particular our AD Greg McGarity and President Jere W. Morehead, for creating this opportunity under complicated circumstances. The testing and care for our student-athletes has been remarkable. We’re thankful to be able to play.”
As for the fall portion of the men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis seasons, teams may compete in up to three team events that can’t begin before Oct. 1. Golf and tennis opponents be either SEC members or schools from the geographic region.
The league also announced that soccer and volleyball teams will take part in spring competitions, with details to come, contingent upon final decisions by the NCAA regarding spring championships.
The SEC has yet to rule on winter sports such as men’s and women’s basketball and gymnastics. Basketball typically begins play in mid-November.
A look at the guidelines:
CROSS COUNTRY
- Season runs Sept. 11-Oct. 23
- Seven weeks of competition
- Compete in a minimum two events (maximum of three) before the SEC Championships
- No restrictions on opponents; must adhere to SEC testing protocol the week leading into competition
- No more than 10 teams may compete in a single race
- Schools may not compete in consecutive weeks
SOCCER
- Season runs weekend of Sept. 18-Nov. 8 (eight total weeks)
- Eight regular-season matches plus at least two matches at the SEC Tournament
- Regular season includes six divisional opponents and two crossover opponents (four home/four away)
- One match per week – play dates will be either Friday, Saturday or Sunday based on campus activities and television.
- Matches may move to Thursday on the fifth weekend of the season for make-up dates.
- 14-team conference tournament – Nov. 13-22; each team guaranteed at least two (2) matches
VOLLEYBALL
- Season runs weekend of Oct. 16-Nov. 27
- Six weeks of competition
- Compete against four opponents; same opponent twice in the same weekend
- Eight total matches
GOLF AND TENNIS
- Teams may compete in up to three team events
- Competition can take place no earlier than Oct. 1
- Teams are limited to events involving only SEC members or non-conference teams from the school’s geographic region
