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RMAC Official Statement Regarding COVID-19

11/24/2020 4:20:00 PM

RMAC STATEMENT (JAN. 28, 2021)

The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents' Council took recent action on competition-related matters impacted by COVID-19.

Based upon recommendations from the RMAC Athletic Administrators' Council, the Presidents' Council approved a proposal to prohibit attendance at RMAC Championships in the sports of Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving, and Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field. Administrators wish to limit exposure to keep teams safe and competitive into the post-season and expressed concern over the varying restrictions across RMAC communities.

The RMAC has committed to free live streaming of all Men's and Women's Basketball tournament games in addition to all events in Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving. Plans are in the works to provide live video of most Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field events with the hope that additional events can be provided by tape delay on the RMAC Network.

"We are very sympathetic to the interests of families, friends and students who wish to be in person to support their student-athletes and share in a part of another memorable experience," noted RMAC Commissioner Chris Graham.  "Our student-athletes, coaches and administrators have simply worked too hard with too many disruptions during this extraordinary season to jeopardize their opportunities to compete free of the virus with the chance of advancing to the NCAA post-season."

In additional action taken by the Presidents' Council, the RMAC Indoor Track and Field Championship shall be moved from Gunnison, Colo., and host Western Colorado to the campus of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, due to local public health authority restrictions in Gunnison. Following recommendations by the Athletic Administrators' Council, entries in the championships for Indoor Track and Field and Swimming and Diving shall be reduced for safety and meet timing purposes. 

Please continue to follow RMAC COVID-19 updates here. Additional questions should be directed to member institutions sports information/athletics communications departments.


RMAC STATEMENT (NOV. 24, 2020)

Colorado Springs, Colorado. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) is pleased to announce its plans to conduct Winter Sports during the 2020-2021 academic year. Due to the COVID-19 virus, all plans were reviewed by the RMAC's Student-Athlete Health and Safety Committee, Certified Athletic Trainers Committee, Athletic Administrators Committee and ultimately approved by the Presidents' Council.

"We understand those following the RMAC have been anxious to learn of more concrete plans for our Winter Sports," noted RMAC Commissioner Chris Graham. "We have all found that decisions made too far in advance will likely experience some level of change and our goal is to provide as much certainty to our plans during this exceptionally uncertain time. Additionally, our overriding goal has been to ensure that student-athlete health and safety has directed all decisions from beginning to end."

All decisions are subject to change at any time due to institution, conference and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines as dictated by local, state and federal health policies and restrictions.

General

  • RMAC COVID-19 requirements include masking of all non-competing participants including officials.
  • Currently in Colorado, fans are not permitted in counties listed as "Level Red." Parents and fans are encouraged to consult with their team's coach, the host institution's athletics website and the RMAC COVID-19 webpage for up-to-date information on attendance restrictions.
  • If local health authorities permit attendance at RMAC events, teams must come to mutual agreement on whether fans will be permitted.
  • Competition travel health and safety protocols are mandated by RMAC for all student-athletes and support staff.
  • Positive COVID-19 cases with student-athletes or support staff, and subsequent decisions to isolate and/or quarantine, will be made independently by each local public health authority.
  • Institutions/teams are permitted to "opt-out" of any RMAC-scheduled competition without penalty for concerns related to COVID-19. In Basketball and Wrestling these competitions will be considered "No Contests."
  • New Mexico Highlands University has "opted-out" of Winter Sports competition in the Fall Semester.

Basketball

  • Student-athletes and associated team support staff are required to follow daily symptom checking protocols in addition to weekly testing.
  • The previously approved 22-game RMAC schedule shall remain intact, barring decisions by individual programs and institutions to not compete.
  • Following any No Contest declarations, institutions are permitted to fill the lost contest with an additional non-conference contest versus an RMAC team.
  • An RMAC Champion shall be declared if at least five teams complete 50% of their originally approve schedule – 11 games. The Regular Season Champion and RMAC Tournament qualifiers shall be determined by the use of the NCAA Division II RPI system. Teams must compete in at least 11 regularly scheduled contests to be eligible for the RMAC Tournament.

Wrestling

  • Student-athletes and associated team support staff are required to follow daily symptom checking protocols in addition to weekly testing.
  • Teams shall be permitted to schedule additional non-conference matches with RMAC opponents within NCAA Division II contest limits.
  • An RMAC Champion shall be declared if at least five teams complete 50% of their original round-robin schedule – 4 matches.

Swimming & Diving

  • Student-athletes and associated team support staff are required to follow daily symptom checking protocols in addition to surveillance testing.
  • Colorado Mesa University is currently the site of the RMAC Championship but the date has been moved back one week to Feb. 17-20, 2021.

Indoor Track and Field

  • Student-athletes and associated team support staff are required to follow daily symptom checking protocols in addition to surveillance testing.
  • Western Colorado University is currently the site of the RMAC Championship and the date shall remain Feb. 26-27, 2021.
  • New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State University Pueblo have opt-out of Championship participation.


RMAC STATEMENT (AUG. 6, 2020)

In a meeting earlier today, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents' Council postponed conference schedules and championships for fall sports (Football, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Volleyball) to the spring semester except for cross country which shall compete as originally scheduled. Additionally, the Council agreed that men's and women's golf could continue its non-championship segment competition this fall.
 
After considerable deliberation, the Council's decision was made based on the recent National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Governors' mandate of the NCAA Resocialization principles and the Division II Presidents Council decision to cancel fall championships. The RMAC decision allows league members further opportunity to align with the student-athlete safety measures outlined in the NCAA document to prepare for competition.
 
The determination on sport status was made based on the NCAA risk rankings of sport. As it stands currently with NCAA guidance, cross country and golf are lower risk than all other fall sports. Further details on the structure and scope of the spring semester practice and competition schedules for postponed sports will be released in the coming weeks.
 
Practice opportunities will be available in the fall semester for fall sport student-athletes per Division II rules and at the discretion of each RMAC member institution. As has been the case throughout the past five months, the RMAC will continue to monitor local and national developments regarding health and safety, along with association guidance to make any necessary adjustments moving forward.
 
Member representatives and conference officials understand the significant impact these decisions have on our student-athletes and stand ready to provide support and guidance in any way possible. Questions related to eligibility, scholarships and academics should be directed to member institutions as always.
 


RMAC STATEMENT (JULY 27, 2020)

"In a meeting earlier today, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents' Council voted to delay the start of Fall sports practice to August 24th and the first date of competition to September 18th. The Council also agreed to a conference-only schedule for the sports of Football, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer and Volleyball.
 
Further, the Council reviewed current local, state and national Covid-19 guidelines, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidance and principles, and agreed that closely aligning with these current best practices was essential to maintain a safe and healthy playing environment. Review of safety precautions and protocols will continue throughout the Fall as the RMAC and its members monitor any need for further adjustments."
 


RMAC STATEMENT (JULY 16, 2020)

"The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Presidents' Council deferred a decision on any modifications to the Fall sports season in a meeting conducted today. The Council cited the delayed release of the NCAA Resocialization of Collegiate Sport guidelines as the primary reason for postponing any further considerations. Student-athlete health and safety has been a primary consideration in league deliberations over the past three months, and time to consider the just released NCAA guidelines will help better inform decisions on any season modifications. The next meeting date has yet to be determined but conference members have committed to providing guidance and direction to student-athletes and fans as soon as possible."
 


RMAC STATEMENT (JULY 2, 2020)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Presidents Council has set July 17th to be the date by which decisions will be made concerning any COVID-19 related modifications to the RMAC's Fall sports schedule. This date has been selected in consideration of the evolving landscape of knowledge and local, state and national guidelines related to COVID-19 as well as the desire to provide clarity to our student athletes as far in advance of the start of the fall semester as possible.
 

RMAC STATEMENT (MARCH 13, 2020)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) has announced the cancellation of all spring championship and non-championship competitions and travel for the remainder of the current academic year due to COVID-19.

The RMAC Presidents Council approved the recommendation by league athletic administrators after a review of public health recommendations on gatherings, member campus decisions that affect student-athletes, consideration of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decision to cancel all spring championships, and individual sport (golf, track & field) regular season contest and tournament cancellations around the region.

"We are heartbroken for our spring student-athletes and we do not take this decision lightly nor do we underestimate the impact it has on those who have had something taken away today," said RMAC Commissioner Chris Graham. "The overriding theme of our deliberations has been aligned with institutional positions, based upon the continued best health practice recommendations from state and federal experts."

The RMAC supports the consideration by NCAA Division II leadership to address the outstanding issues that resulted from the recent cancellations.
 

RMAC STATEMENT (MARCH 12, 2020)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) has announced the suspension of all spring championship and non-championship competitions and travel through April 6th as a result of the rapidly developing information and decisions related to COVID-19.

The decision made by the RMAC Presidents Council affects all spring sports including baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track & field. The suspension also limits the activity of fall sport programs engaged in spring competition or travel including football, men's and women's soccer and volleyball.

The action, also endorsed by league athletic administrators, was made with the well-being of student-athletes, institutional staff, fans and officials in mind while considering the recent decisions made by member institutions to extend spring break periods as they continue to assess the impact of COVID-19. This action was also informed by the developing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) decision to cancel all spring sport championships and fellow NCAA Division II conference decisions to pause spring sports competition.

"This is an extraordinary period we are in," said RMAC Commissioner Chris Graham. "As a membership organization, we are guided by the decisions and actions of our members and always in the best interest of our students and student-athletes."

League administrators will continue to monitor developments to determine any further steps.

The suspension will affect the Mountain Lions in-season sports - baseball, men's and women's golf, women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track & field, and softball.  The women's lacrosse team earned a 24-17 home win this afternoon against Ashland University prior to the spring suspension.  This weekend's four-game home baseball series against Dixie State University has been canceled.
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