The East Coast Conference announced updates to its plans for returning to competition in the upcoming spring semester.
With approval from the ECC’s athletic directors, the conference has finalized a schedule for its men’s and women’s basketball season and a timeframe for an initial plan to move the fall sports of men’s/women’s soccer and women’s volleyball to the spring.
A return to competition will continue to take place in accordance with ECC, NCAA, school, local, and state regulations pertaining to COVID-19.
Men’s and women’s basketball teams will play a full 18-game, double round-robin slate beginning on Jan. 9, 2021. There will be no change in the ECC Basketball Championship dates, with the tournaments taking place on March 3, 6-7, but for 2021 only, the brackets will be expanded to eight teams.
“This plan for basketball beginning in January was developed with the health and safety of team members and coaches as our top priority,” said Dr. Robert Dranoff, ECC commissioner. “We continue to watch the impact that COVID-19 is having on-campus communities, the region, and all around the country, and know there will be more challenges to come for us to provide a positive experience for all ECC student-athletes.”
Dates for truncated soccer and volleyball schedules were also approved. The seasons will begin the week of March 8 and culminate with ECC Championships the weekends of April 10-11 (women’s volleyball) and April 17-18 (men’s/women’s soccer).
Dranoff added, “We will keep planning to move forward for winter and spring sports and to provide limited schedules for volleyball and soccer, but also know that we have to be prepared to adjust if we are required to do so.”
More details and official schedules will be released at a later date.