July 22nd, 2020 – TROY, NY – Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that the league's Presidents Council has voted unanimously to cancel all Liberty League competition and championships through Dec. 31, 2020, due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past several months, member institutions have been developing plans for a safe reopening of campuses this fall, including a possible resumption of intercollegiate athletics with the safety and well-being of students and campus communities as the top priority. While the Liberty League previously outlined a plan focused primarily on league competition, the league members have continued to monitor and evaluate guidance provided by the NCAA as well as other national, state and local health and safety guidelines. The members understood that the league may need to change course as the pandemic evolved.
 
"With institutions and conferences, both regionally and nationally, making the difficult decision to cancel fall competition, our announcement to cancel Liberty League competition and championships will likely not come as a surprise," said King. "Nevertheless, I understand the deep disappointment that many of our student-athletes, who have trained and prepared for competition, will feel with this decision. Moving forward, our members will continue to work together to provide meaningful athletic opportunities to support our student-athletes."

The decision to cancel Liberty League competition does not preclude individual institutions from engaging in student-athlete activities that are conducted in accordance with Division III regulations as well as institutional, state and local health and safety guidelines.

Collectively, the Liberty League will continue to explore the feasibility of conducting fall sport activities in the spring term if the NCAA determines that to be an option.

Liberty League Presidents Council
Leon Botstein, Bard College
Anthony G. Collins, Clarkson University
Joyce Jacobsen, Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Shirley Collado, Ithaca College
Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
David Munson, Rochester Institute of Technology
Marc Conner, Skidmore College
William Fox, St. Lawrence University
David Harris, Union College
Sarah Mangelsdorf, University of Rochester
Elizabeth Bradley, Vassar College
 

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July 7th, 2020 – TROY, NY – Liberty League commissioner Tracy King has announced that the league's Presidents Council has agreed on a plan for a return to athletics competition this fall. Under the plan, institutions will have the opportunity to participate with competition predominantly against Liberty League member institutions while including a limited number of non-league opportunities following a phased resocialization.

Rochester sponsors football and field hockey that compete during the fall within the Liberty League. In addition, golf and rowing are UR sponsored sports that compete in the Liberty League and typically complete a portion of their schedules in the fall.

"These are unprecedented times, not only in collegiate athletics, but also in higher education," said King. "As our member institutions develop plans to reopen campuses and resume athletic competition, we recognize the autonomy of our institutions to make decisions that are in the best interests of their campus communities. We respect and support those decisions and understand that circumstances may vary from school to school. While we continue planning for a return to athletic competition, our focus will remain on prioritizing the health and safety of our student-athletes and campuses."

The Liberty League will adhere to all state and local directives regarding athletics competition. Fall competition in all sports will begin no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 26. At a minimum, all teams must complete the first two phases of the guidelines outlined in the NCAA's Core Principles of Resocialization of Collegiate Sport prior to engaging in competition.

While fall schedules remain in development and will be announced at a later date, competition in team sports will be against Liberty League member institutions while also permitting two additional non-league opportunities. Liberty League member institutions will confirm that non-league competitors are following comparable health and safety protocols in advance of any contest.

Teams competing in individual sports will compete in smaller events with fewer competitors.

"A schedule focused primarily on playing league members will aid in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 while still providing a quality competitive season for our student-athletes," King added.

The NCAA has announced plans to hold its fall sport championships as originally scheduled. A league-wide decision on permitting spectators at athletic events will be made by Sept. 1.

Full time members of the Liberty League include Bard College, Clarkson University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Ithaca College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Skidmore College, St. Lawrence University, Union College, University of Rochester and Vassar College.