Clark State Community College athletics has postponed its fall sports season to the spring semester of 2021. The decision was made under the guidance of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). NJCAA announced its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year with a majority of competition shifted to the spring semester.

"Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA president & CEO. "Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful."

Justin McCulla, director of athletics and student life at Clark State, said the College fully supports the decision of the NJCAA for the safety and well-being of student-athletes.

“We know this decision is heartbreaking for our student-athletes and coaches,” he said. “But with our highest priority of keeping our student-athletes and coaches safe and healthy, it became clear that the risk was too high to compete this fall.”

McCulla said all Clark State athletic programs will be permitted to practice, train and prepare for competition while following the NJCAA, CDC and local health department guidelines.

“We will have closed practices with only our coaching staff and student-athletes in our facilities,” said McCulla. “We have a number of safety measures in place to ensure our facilities are sanitized. We are taking temperatures and asking a number of pre-screening questions to every student-athlete and coach before every workout, practice or competition.”

Along with pre-screening surveys, Clark State will have a daily screening email with additional questions. Coaches and the athletics department are equipped to disinfect the facilities after each workout/practice.

At this time, baseball and softball championship seasons are expected to move forward as scheduled in the spring.

“We are not canceling our sports,” said McCulla. “Our five teams will be training, practicing and preparing for competition that starts in January. Since the beginning of this pandemic, our athletics department has been working on developing a plan and protocols to resume athletics.

We are committed to our student-athletes, and we will do our best to provide some form of athletic experience across all our athletic teams this fall season.”