GNAC announces Spring Sports Return to Play
NEWTON, Mass. – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Presidents' Council has released the following statement in regards to 2020 Spring Sports:
"With the health and well-being of student-athletes and campus communities remaining the top priority, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Presidents' Council has voted to authorize limited conference play for spring sports. Due to varying state-by-state guidelines and because GNAC's 13 core members represent all six New England states, schools shall retain the autonomy to opt-out altogether or schedule local non-conference competition as they see fit. Finalized schedules are not yet public and opportunities for postseason play will be evaluated by league administrators throughout the season.
"The GNAC will sponsor conference play in baseball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and softball, with an intended start date for mid-March. All testing and safety procedures for conference play will meet or exceed NCAA recommendations as outlined by the NCAA Sport Science Institute. Games will be conducted under an agreed-upon set of protocols including the stipulation that spectators will not be allowed.
Lasell University is planning to participate in the following GNAC spring sports: baseball, softball, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse. Lasell also plans to sponsor limited competition in men's and women's track and field and men's volleyball.
"We are excited to provide our spring sports teams with the opportunity to compete against outside competition this spring," said Lasell director of athletics Kristy Walter. "Their seasons were cut short a year ago and they have worked extremely hard over the past year in hopes of returning to action this year. They will be following strict coronavirus protocols but the great news is that our student-athletes will be back on the field soon, competing in intercollegiate athletics."
More details on policies, procedures, and schedules will be released as they become available.
For additional information and up-to-date schedules, please visit laserpride.lasell.edu and www.thegnac.com.
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The GNAC Athletic Director's Council (ADC) has agreed on the following to ensure the safety of GNAC student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials. This information will be updated as necessary and/or as conditions warrant.
• All participating institutions will meet a minimum of twice per week testing of all Tier 1 individuals (ATCs, coaches, athletes, and managers). Options are (A) Two PCRs or (B) One PCR and one rapid test on game day. For either option, one PCR test must occur within 72 hours of a scheduled contest.
• Contact tracing will take place following any positive test result. A form to track positive tests within a program has been developed and a positive test will result in the pausing of athletically related activities until contact tracing is complete and necessary institutional/state/CDC requirements are satisfied.
• Universal masking will be strictly enforced before, during, and after all competition.
• No locker rooms will be available for any teams.
• Non-conference opponents will have to meet the GNAC testing requirements.
• Officials must present proof of a negative test to the host athletic administrator.
• No spectators will be permitted at contests
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