BETHLEHEM, PA. – Patriot League teams will not engage in competition in the fall season, the Patriot League Council of Presidents announced on Monday morning.

The league said in a statement that it made the decision, “recognizing the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to present significant challenges to our campuses and communities.”

“The collegiate athletics experience at all Patriot League institutions is valuable to fulfilling our educational and developmental missions, and the League recognizes that any degree of non-competition this fall is deeply disappointing to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans. However, the health and safety of our campuses and communities must be our highest priority.”

The league added that opportunities for conditioning, strength training and other practice opportunities in all sports will be permitted provided health and safety conditions support such activities.

It added that because the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy were unique in their environments and their missions within higher education, the Council of Presidents agreed that the academies can continue to engage in competitive opportunities as considered appropriate by their respective superintendents.

Decisions surrounding winter and spring sport competition will be made at a later date.

Patriot League Council of Presidents

Sylvia Mathews Burwell, American University
Robert A. Brown, Boston University
John Bravman, Bucknell University
Philip Boroughs, S.J., College of the Holy Cross
Brian W. Casey, Colgate University
Alison R. Byerly, Lafayette College
John D. Simon, Lehigh University
Brian Linnane, S.J., Loyola University Maryland
Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, United States Military Academy
Vice Adm. Sean Buck, United States Naval Academy

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.