NJCAA releases new Plan of Action for 2020-21
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 15, 2020) – The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), on Monday, announced its new Plan of Action for the upcoming 2020-21 athletic season.
The plan, formally adopted following recommendations of the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and NJCAA Board of Regents, moves a majority of 2020 Fall and Winter sports competition to the Spring 2021 semester.
"Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. "Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful."
Cross country, Tallahassee Community College's lone fall sport, is currently slated to compete during its originally scheduled dates, and the spring sports lineup – baseball, softball and track and field – did not see any adjustments to its regular season schedule at this time.
Basketball, however, was impacted, with its season now moved to a January 22 tip-off and a max of 22 games.
All sports, except cross country, however, also saw a change to its fall calendar – fewer scrimmage dates for baseball and softball, and a defined 60-day practice window for baseball, softball, basketball and track and field.
"I commend Dr. Chris Parker and the entire NJCAA leadership for the time and effort that went into this decision," said Rob Chaney, director of athletics at Tallahassee Community College. "While altering an athletics calendar is difficult and even uncomfortable at times, as we learned in the Spring, I fully support the NJCAA's 2020-21 Plan of Action and believe it provides the safest path for all of Tallahassee Community College's student-athletes to have a beginning and ending to their regular seasons and, subsequently, the opportunity to compete for a National Championship."
Chaney acknowledged the plan is still subject to change, depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold and subsequent guidelines established by state, local and institutional officials.
— Tallahassee CC Athletics (@TCCEagles) July 13, 2020
NJCAA Plan of Action 2020-21 (guidelines impacting TCC Athletics)
NJCAA Men's and Women's Cross Country and Half Marathon
Fall Championship Season
- First day of practice: August 1
- First day of competition: August 20
- Maximum of 10 competition dates combined for cross country and half marathon
- NJCAA Division I and Division II Men's & Women's Cross Country Championship: November 14, 2020 at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA
- NJCAA Men's and Women's Half Marathon Championship: November 17, 2020 at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA
NJCAA Men's and Women's Basketball
Fall Practice Season
- 60 consecutive calendar days between September 15 and December 15 for practice and scrimmages
- Five scrimmage dates for the year, with a max of two in the spring
Spring Championship Season
- First day of practice: January 4
- First day of competition: January 20
- Max of 22 games
- All regular season, region, and district championships completed by April 10
- NJCAA Men's & Women's Basketball Championships beginning April 19
NJCAA Men's and Women's Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field
Fall Practice Season
- 60 consecutive calendar days between September 15 and December 15 for practice and scrimmages
- Max of two (2) scrimmage dates
Spring Championship Season
- First day of practice: January 4
- First day of competition: January 18
- Max of 17 competition dates combined between indoor and outdoor track & field
- NJCAA Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships: March 5-6
- NJCAA Division I Men's & Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships: May 11-13
NJCAA Baseball
Fall Practice Season
- 60 consecutive calendar days between September 5 and November 15 for practice and scrimmages
- Max of 15 scrimmage games
Spring Championship Season
- First day of practice: January 10
- First day of competition: January 22
- Max of 56 games
- All regular season, region, and district competition completed by May 23
- NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series: May 29-June 4/5
NJCAA Softball
Fall Practice Season
- 60 consecutive calendar days between September 5 and November 15 for practice and scrimmages
- Max of 7 scrimmage dates
Spring Championship Season
- First day of practice: January 10
- First day of competition: January 22
- Max of 30 dates
- All regular season, region, and district competition completed by May 19
- NJCAA Division I Softball Championship: May 25-29