The Maricopa County Community College District announced Thursday that it’s pushing fall and winter sports to the spring 2021 semester due to the coronavirus pandemic. No organized, in-person athletic activity will occur before Jan. 1, 2021, it said in a press release. 

The district’s men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs are now expected to begin on Jan. 11. Its men’s and women’s soccer programs were pushed to mid-March. 

The district said cross country athletics directors and coaches will work with their statewide counterparts and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to try to develop an alternative spring season for the sport. 

These moves will not impact scholarships for all student-athletes with an NJCAA letter of intent. 

Beginning October, the district expects to start evaluating whether it’s safe to hold athletic activities in the spring or continue suspending sports. A final decision will be announced by Nov. 25. 

The district's athletic facilities will remain closed through the end of the year. Prospective student-athletes will not be able to try out for upcoming sports at this time. Instead they are encouraged to connect with college athletic staff for further information. 

On Monday, the NJCAA announced it would move all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester.

→ Read The Latest News On The Coronavirus Disease