AAC Releases Statement on 2020 Fall Athletics

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced Wednesday that its 21 member institutions, which are located in seven Southeastern states, intend to compete in all fall sports it sponsors.

Those championship sports are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball.

Over the past two months, a Conference task force consisting of athletics directors, athletic trainers, the Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Information, and the Commissioner has developed a comprehensive set of COVID-19 Guidelines and Procedures that have been approved by the AAC Council of Presidents to protect the safety and health of all participants (student-athletes, coaches, officials, and staff), the general student body population, faculty, staff, and the communities within which our members are located. These requirements have been created from the most up-to-date documents for best practices by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and will be reevaluated/modified as needed.

In accordance with NAIA Fall Sports Guidelines & Recommendations, organized practices may not begin before Aug. 15, while competition, including scrimmage, exhibition, or a contest that involves competitors not identified with that institution, may not begin before Sept. 5. Students may return to campus earlier but may not participate in an organized practice as defined by the NAIA.

We are closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation and will take all appropriate steps to ensure that our campuses remain safe for all.

These policies will be amended as new information is made available and to comply with policies mandated by the federal government and the states within which our members are located.