MAAC schools, including Siena College, won’t allow any athletes on campus for offseason conditioning during June and July because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference announced Monday in a press release announcing decisions made at its spring meeting last week that took place virtually.
Additionally, the conference announced that its member schools will use the same start date for all of its conference and non-conference games this fall and has asked the “MAAC COVID-19 Working Group,” which is made up of administrators and medical professional, “to create common MAAC baseline policies and procedures for all on campus athletic activities and competitions this coming academic year.”
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The conference also announced a variety of “cost-containment measures,” as per the conference’s release:
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Reduce MAAC operating budget by 20%, including a restructuring of the staff that eliminated 6 FTEs and three graduate fellows. MAAC Commissioner agreed to a 5% reduction in his salary line and all other salaries were frozen at 2019-20 levels.
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Implemented a dues holiday for the 2020-21 academic year, which saves each member school $65,000.
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Paid off mortgage notes on the MAAC office building providing nine member schools additional cash for their operations.
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Reduced staff travel to regular-season contests, selected conventions and appropriate professional development seminars.
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Reduced officiating fees 15% in all selected team sports.
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Moved in-person coaches’ meetings and the conference’s 2020 spring and fall, and the 2021 spring meetings, to virtual events.
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Allowed institutions to schedule one non-Division I opponent in all sports (previously only the basketball programs had this option).
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Reduced conference baseball series from three days to two (double-header and single game).
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Reduced men’s and women’s soccer, softball, baseball and women’s lacrosse to four-team formats (from six team) and required championships to be at one-site, with Thursday/Saturday or Friday/Sunday formats. (Note: Volleyball decision pending)
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Eliminated awards shows, team banquets and student-athlete gifts for the 2020-21 academic year and eliminated selected broadcasts.
Categories: -Sports-, College Sports
