PORTLAND, Ore. – The West Coast Conference Presidents' Council announced Thursday morning that the fall sports competition start date for all 10 institutions has been delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The new WCC start date for fall competition will be Thursday, September 24.

"The safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff is the highest priority," said Portland Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam. "Delaying competitions gives us the best chance of both ensuring the well-being of our community, while also leaving open the possibility of still competing in the fall."

The WCC Presidents' Council convened on Wednesday night and made the decision in consultation with WCC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez and Conference Athletic Directors.

This decision includes the traditional fall seasons in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and women's volleyball. The announcement will not impact the ability of schools to schedule non-conference competitions after Sept. 24.

Baseball, women's rowing, and men's and women's tennis – which hold their traditional seasons in the spring but also have non-championship segment competition in the fall – will also not participate in any fall competitions prior to Sept. 24.

The men's and women's basketball competition seasons, scheduled to begin Nov. 10, are not impacted by this decision.

In-person voluntary and mandatory athletically related activities outside of competition, including training and practices, can continue to be conducted at the institution's discretion in accordance with NCAA, WCC and University regulations and local health and safety guidelines.

"We have already successfully implemented testing and safety protocols as student-athletes have started to return to campus for summer workouts," Leykam said. "Our medical staff will work to ensure compliance with all NCAA guidelines, as well as local health and safety guidelines, as our teams prepare for upcoming practice start dates."

Portland teams will be allowed to begin official practices for women's soccer on Aug. 4, volleyball on Aug. 7, men's soccer on Aug. 11, and cross country on Aug. 15.

The first Portland competition scheduled for the 2020 fall season will be the Pilot volleyball team at Pacific on Thursday, Sept. 24.