SEC sets new start dates for fall sports
COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)
SEC soccer, volleyball, and cross country athletes finally know more about what their season will look like,
On Thursday, the conference set a new start date and released other format changes for the seasons.
The cross country season will consist of a minimum of two and maximum of three competitions prior to the SEC Championships.
The season will start on September 11 and run through October 23 and will be allowed to include non-conference opponents, assuming the schools follow COVID-19 testing protocols.
The SEC soccer season will start a few days later, on September 18. The season will be conference-only over eight weeks of competition.
The season will be eight games with a championship in November, which will feature all 14 schools.
The volleyball teams will be the last start on October 16.
The programs will also adhere to a conference-only schedule over six weeks of competition.
However, both soccer and volleyball programs are expected to participate in spring competitions, depending on the NCAA's decision for spring sports.
Additionally, the golf and tennis season can start no earlier than October 1.
The teams will compete in up to three team events against conference or regional schools.
This announcement comes after the SEC decided to postpone cross country, volleyball, and soccer until after August 31.
Weeks ago the conference released protocols and guidelines that schools need to follow in order to return to play.
