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Texas A&M Baseball

SEC announces new formats, dates for fall sports, practice plans for baseball & softball

August 27, 2020
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The Southeastern Conference on Thursday announced new scheduling formats and start dates for fall sports including soccer, volleyball, golf, tennis and cross country. As with football, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey indicated schools and the SEC’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force would continue to monitor all dynamics related to COVID-19 and adjust as needed to prioritize the safety of all student-athletes.

The 2020 SEC soccer season will include an eight-match, conference-only regular season over the course of eight weeks beginning September 18. The SEC Championship is scheduled for November 13-22 in Orange Beach, Alabama. All 14 league teams will play in the Championship, each playing at least two matches.

The 2020 league volleyball season also will consist of an eight-match, conference only schedule. Play will begin on October 16 and take place over six weeks, with each league school facing four opponents twice in the same weekend on back-to-back days.

The SEC also plans to conduct soccer and volleyball competition in the spring. The formats of those seasons will depend on final decisions by the NCAA regarding spring championships.

Men’s and women’s golf and tennis teams may compete in up to three team events beginning October 1. The SEC is limiting its members to events involving only other SEC schools and non-conference teams “from the geographic region of the SEC school.”

The SEC men’s and women’s cross-country season will include at least two and no more than three competitions before the SEC Championship in Baton Rouge on October 30. The regular season will begin on September 11 and end on October 23, and teams may compete against non-conference opponents who also follow SEC COVID-19 testing protocols.

Baseball and Softball practice guidelines

The SEC also indicated that baseball and softball teams may practice and conduct intra-squad games during the fall. However, exhibition games against outside competition will not be allowed during the fall semester.

Eligibility waiver

The SEC release also included the following note regarding eligibility:

“The SEC announced in July that student-athletes in all sports who elect to not participate in intercollegiate athletics during the fall 2020 academic semester because of health and/or safety concerns related to COVID-19 will continue to have their scholarships honored by their university and will remain in good standing with their team.”

In summary

SOCCER

  • Season runs weekend of September 18-November 8 (eight total weeks)
  • Eight (8) regular season matches plus at least two (2) matches at the SEC Tournament
  • Regular season includes six (6) divisional opponents and two (2) crossover opponents (4 home/4 away)
  • One (1) match per week – play dates will be either Friday, Saturday or Sunday based on campus activities & television.
  • Matches may move to Thursday on the fifth weekend of the season for make-up dates.
  • 14-team Conference Tournament – Nov. 13-22; each team guaranteed at least two (2) matches

VOLLEYBALL

  • Season runs weekend of October 16-November 27
  • Six (6) weeks of competition
  • Compete against four (4) opponents; same opponent twice in the same weekend
  • Eight (8) total matches

GOLF AND TENNIS

  • Teams may compete in up to three team events
  • Competition can take place no earlier than October 1
  • Teams are limited to events involving only SEC members or non-conference teams from the school’s geographic region

CROSS COUNTRY

  • Season runs September 11-October 23
  • Seven (7) weeks of competition
  • Compete in a minimum two (2) events (maximum of three) prior to SEC Championships
  • No restrictions on opponents; must adhere to SEC Testing protocol the week leading into competition
  • No more than 10 teams may compete in a single race
  • Schools may not compete in consecutive weeks
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SEC announces new formats, dates for fall sports, practice plans for baseball & softball

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