USCAA Status Updates on National Championships & National Convention

USCAA Status Updates on National Championships & National Convention
January 26, 2021

NORFOLK, VA - The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Board of Directors met earlier this week to provide status updates on USCAA National Championships and the National Convention.  Following the cancellation of Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball Championships in December, they have also included Men’s and Women’s Cross Country which was slated to be held March 20, 2021 in Virginia Beach, VA. 

Additionally, the USCAA will forgo any plans to host a National Invitational in the sports of Cross Country, Basketball or Volleyball.  Several factors were taken into consideration when making these decisions including the timing of the events and the ability to plan and execute the events effectively, a continued rise in COVID-19 cases and the high-risk nature of the indoor sports of volleyball and basketball, and membership survey data that indicates a low demand and/or the inability to travel and compete in such events. 

The USCAA, however, will provide opportunities for member institutions to host USCAA branded regional tournaments and will work to assist in marketing and coordination should these events be considered viable by the membership. 

Due to the timing and outdoor nature of the event, the USCAA and its Board of Directors will continue to review the possibility of a National Invitational for Soccer.  The feasibility of hosting such an event will be reviewed and voted upon in the February USCAA Board of Directors meeting. 

The USCAA will proceed with the planning of the USCAA Small College World Series (Baseball & Softball) and Golf National Championships.  This does not mean these events have been green lighted, but the national office will continue to monitor USCAA participation and whether they believe they can safely host this spring. 

Finally, announced internally to membership on January 12th, the USCAA National Convention will move to a virtual platform in 2021.  Despite hopes that the curve of COVID-19 would flatten, the growing number of cases nation-wide and uncertainty about vaccine distribution make it impossible to properly register participants and plan in an effective manner.  The virtual event will remain the same dates as previously communicated – June 6th – June 9th, 2021.  

For more information on USCAA COVID updates, click the link.