NSIC Cancels ALL Fall Sports and Suspends All Sports Through December 31

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Board of Directors supported the decision on Thursday to cancel all of the NSIC Fall sports.

In addition to canceling Fall sports, the NSIC also announced that they would be suspending outside competition in all sports through December 31, 2020.

This becomes the latest conference to cancel Fall sports adding already to the somber news across college sports over the last few weeks.

Locally in South Dakota, this decision affects Northern State in Aberdeen and both the University of Sioux Falls and Augustana University in Sioux Falls.

This had to be a heartbreaking decision for the conference and their Commissioner Erin Lind, who I know had the best interests of the student-athletes in mind when making moving forward with this decision.

By making this decision now, it does allow autonomy for the Fall sports to compete in the Spring of 2021.

Here is the complete release from the NSIC:

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - In light of the NCAA Board of Governors’ decision to direct all institutions and conferences to meet specific requirements to conduct fall sports and the NCAA Division II Presidents Council’s announcement that all NCAA Division II fall championships are canceled, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Board of Directors has canceled NSIC fall competition & championships, and has suspended all athletic competition through December 31, 2020.

The NSIC recognizes the value an NCAA championship experience provides for student-athletes and that was a factor in the analysis. However, health and safety concerns prevailed in the league’s decision. Additionally, current recommendations for testing, exposure, and quarantine make it very difficult for a season to be successfully completed at an institution or across the conference without severe disruptions.

“The league’s initial decision to delay the start of fall sports was made with the rationale to allow campuses the ability to focus solely on reopening safely for their broader university communities,” said NSIC Commissioner Erin Lind. “In light of the recent decisions made by the NCAA Board of Governors, it is no longer feasible to conduct outside competition this fall semester. Our student-athletes deserve a competitive experience that provides a greater degree of safety and certainty than current conditions would allow. We believe now is the right time to provide clarity to our student-athletes so we can turn our efforts towards helping institutions reopen and ensuring a safe return to campus to start the academic year.”

Although the NSIC will not conduct a league schedule for 2020 fall sports, competition is an integral part of the student-athlete experience, therefore, the membership is committed to exploring meaningful opportunities and experiences for fall student-athletes in the spring, if it can be done reasonably and safely.

The conference will continue to monitor the landscape and conditions surrounding the pandemic, locally, regionally, and nationally, and make any decisions or announcements, as necessary.