Dear Bobcats,
Today the
New England Small College Athletic Conference joined a growing number of athletic conferences and institutions in cancelling fall athletic competition in the interest of ensuring the health and safety of student-athletes and campus communities.
After considering all of the health and safety factors involved with competition, the Bates Department of Athletics has decided to cancel the fall 2020 season for our varsity and club programs. Please know that we did not make this decision lightly, but became convinced that it was necessary, and will serve to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, their families, and our broader campus community.
Our coaches and staff have worked tirelessly since March on plans to safely return to the fields of competition this fall. We have engaged in frequent collaboration with the NCAA, our NESCAC counterparts, and our fellow colleges in the state of Maine. We developed comprehensive protocols for a safe return to play for every varsity and club sport, as well as new health and safety policies for our athletics facilities. Yet, even with all of these plans, we have seen many challenges emerge regarding a truly safe return to competition this fall.
We will continue to work with our counterparts in the NESCAC and the state of Maine as we look beyond the fall, and we will communicate those plans as soon as we can. In the meantime, we plan for teams to be able to practice and gather this fall under the supervision of their coaches and in compliance with all safety standards in place across campus. We will also expand our outdoor fitness capabilities, as well as online and virtual fitness programming for all members of the Bates community.
I know I speak for all of our coaches and staff when I say it is heartbreaking to envision a fall season without the campus bustling with athletics events. We remain one team, however, and together we will get through this and come out stronger on the other side, as all good teams do in times of adversity. Please know that we all remain committed to resuming our varsity and club athletics programs as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, please stay safe and take care of yourselves and each other.
Sincerely,
Jason Fein
Director of Athletics
