Courtesy: Heartland Conference
CARMEL, Ind. – On Friday, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Council of Presidents confirmed its earlier decision to continue to move forward with plans to resume conference play in 2021.
Following the direction given by the Council of Presidents at its Nov. 13, 2020 meeting, the HCAC administration has been working to develop safe plans to resume conference play for all winter sports, in addition to the 2020 fall sports that were postponed to the Spring 2021 semester.
The sports of men’s and women’s basketball will begin conference play in mid-January. Fellow winter sports, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s indoor track and field, are continuing to work towards the goal of a conference championship.
“We remain optimistic that we will be able to see our student athletes return to play in the coming year in a safe environment,” said HCAC Commissioner Jay Jones. “While we are taking steps to make that safe return to play possible and are getting more excited for a January start each day, it is important to be cautious that, due to always changing local and state guidelines, these remain plans and not promises. The Heartland community of administrators has worked tirelessly to return our student athletes to competition, and will continue to collaborate with local, regional, and state health officials in addition to following the NCAA’s recommendations.”
The Council of Presidents further determined that the HCAC will not allow spectators (on or off campus) for any athletics events until at least February 15, 2021 and will be reevaluated at that time.
The changes to the HCAC schedules and championships – as outlined below – are designed to be in place for the 2020-21 academic year only and are needed in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. These adjustments are not intended to be permanent. The Heartland continues to monitor the effects of the Pandemic and is prepared to make necessary alterations to those schedules to allow for safe competition that meets all safety and health guidelines.
- Baseball: The HCAC intends to play a conference-only schedule, with a post-season tournament (format TBD) conducted in mid-May 2021.
- Men’s and Women’s Basketball: The HCAC intends to conduct conference regular-season and postseason events that will take place in the Spring 2021 semester, with conference play set to begin on the weekend of January 16th.
- Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: The HCAC intends to host a HCAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship in mid-March 2021. The 2020-21 NCAA Division III Championship has been canceled for this sport.
- Football: The HCAC intends to play a round-robin conference schedule. The 2020-21 NCAA Division III Championship has been canceled for this sport.
- Men’s Golf: The HCAC intends to host a HCAC Men’s Golf Championship in late April 2021.
- Women’s Golf: The HCAC intends to host a HCAC Women’s Golf Championship in late April 2021.
- Men’s Lacrosse: The HCLC intends to play a conference schedule, with a conference tournament conducted in early May 2021. Decisions on non-conference play remain yet to be determined.
- Women’s Lacrosse: The HCLC intends to play a conference schedule, with a conference tournament conducted in late April 2021. Decisions on non-conference play remain yet to be determined.
- Men’s and Women’s Soccer: The HCAC intends to play a 10-team round robin conference-only schedule, with the potential for a post-season contest. The 2020-21 NCAA Division III Championship has been canceled for these sports.
- Softball: The HCAC intends to play a conference schedule, with a conference tournament conducted in early May 2021. Decisions on non-conference play remain yet to be determined.
- Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving: The HCAC intends to host a HCAC Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship in mid-February or early-March 2021.
- Men’s and Women’s Tennis: The HCAC intends to play a conference schedule, with a conference tournament conducted in early May 2021. Decisions on non-conference play remain yet to be determined.
- Men’s and Women’s Track and Field: The HCAC intends to host both Indoor and Outdoor HCAC Track and Field Championships. The Indoor Track and Field Championship is scheduled to be held on the campus of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in late February 2021. The Outdoor Track and Field Championship is scheduled to be held on the campus of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in late-April 2021.
- Volleyball: The HCAC intends to play nine dates of conference-only competition, with plans to conduct a post-season conference tournament. The 2020-21 NCAA Division III Championship has been canceled for this sport.