KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Less than two weeks after the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) announced its plans to delay the start of fall-sport seasons until 2021, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that NAIA national championships will follow suit. The NAIA Council of Presidents (COP) has officially voted to postpone the national championships in the sports of men's cross country, women's cross country, men's soccer, women's soccer, and volleyball to the spring of 2021.

"Given the fast-paced and constantly-changing nature of the current environment, the COP recognized that the likelihood of safely completing the fall sports season has decreased significantly," said Dr. Arvid Johnson, COP Chair and University of St. Francis President. "This decision allows conferences to consider the regional impact of COVID-19 when determining the appropriate time for regular-season competition."

Prior to the decision, 51 NAIA institutions—including the entire CCC—had already opted to postpone fall competition until the spring of 2021. 

"The NAIA realizes there are a wide range of considerations that come with postponing fall championships," said NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr. "However, our first priority is making sure our student-athletes are not penalized by this decision. That will likely require temporary rule changes and accommodations as they relate to eligibility and seasons of competition, which the NAIA governance groups will begin defining further this week."

The new dates for the fall-sport national tournaments are as follows:

Volleyball:
NAIA Opening Round – April 17, 2021
NAIA National Championships – April 27-May 1, 2021

Men's Soccer:
NAIA Opening Round – April 22/24, 2021
NAIA National Championships – May 4-10, 2021

Women's Soccer:
NAIA Opening Round – April 15/17, 2021
NAIA National Championships – April 27-May 3, 2021

Men's and Women's Cross Country:
NAIA National Championships – April 9, 2021