“Safe Start”: Skidmore Athletics’ Plan to Return to Competition

Skidmore College is pleased to announce that winter sports teams — ice hockey, women’s basketball, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving — will return to competition beginning Friday, Feb. 26, with the hockey team’s game against Norwich University. Winter teams resumed practice on Feb. 15 in accordance with the College’s campus safety plan.  

At this time, the following competitions are scheduled: 

• Hockey has a 10-game schedule beginning Feb. 26 and ending March 23.  
• Men’s and women’s basketball anticipate scheduling up to four contests. 
• Men’s and women’s swimming anticipate scheduling two to three meets. 
• Riding will not compete due to the cancelation of all IHSA competition. 

The health and safety of our student-athletes and our entire community continues to be the College's top priority. Skidmore’s thorough and detailed return-to-play plan is informed by guidance and recommendations put forth by public health and governing bodies including the Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health, Saratoga County Public Health Services, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 

The decision to return to competition and practice aligns with the College’s comprehensive health and safety guidelines and is consistent with other peer institutions, many of which are already competing without indications of COVID-19 transmission. 

Per NCAA requirements, ice hockey, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball teams will test a total of three times per week beginning the week prior to the first week of competition. Also in line with NCAA requirements, all other student-athletes and coaching staff will continue to be tested for COVID-19 weekly under the College’s established PCR testing schedule. Game officials and bus drivers will be tested on game day using rapid antigen tests.  

Social distancing requirements will be followed during all travel. In addition, athletes will wear masks while competing and traveling, and there will be no overnight travel.  

While fans will not be permitted to attend games, the College will livestream games whenever possible and we hope virtual attendance will be robust. 

Student-athletes on competing teams have affirmed their commitment to following all the same safety principles and protocols put in place. 

As previously announced, spring teams are scheduled to start practice on March 1, and fall teams are scheduled to begin practice on March 17. It is anticipated that all spring teams — baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s rowing, women’s rowing and men’s golf — will have some level of competition, assuming the health and safety situation continues to allow that. The College is currently awaiting the Liberty League decision regarding spring conference play, which is expected around March 1.  

The College is hopeful that fall teams — field hockey, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball — can compete in a few select days of competition later this spring. 

Skidmore’s return-to-play plan is intended to support student health and wellness in the broadest sense, as the College seeks to expand various activities throughout the campus.  

“This was a very careful and cautious decision,” said President Marc Conner. “We had to be fully satisfied on the health and safety issues. The plan we have developed is superb and consistent with all best practices. I’m just so pleased that our over 400 student-athletes will get to engage in competition. Many of them haven’t played a game since COVID arrived last spring. This is a crucial part of their college experience, and I’m very hopeful we can provide as much meaningful competition for our students as possible.” 

Skidmore will continue to monitor developments and health guidelines and make any necessary adjustments to the plan. Under the College’s established alert level framework, if the College were to shift to an Alert Level 3 or above, athletic competition would pause and adjustments to other athletic activities would be made.  

Given the uncertain and ever-changing nature of the pandemic, flexibility within alert levels, and in regard to athletic operations in general, is essential. Specific guidance may shift in response to any unique combination of factors at a particular moment, to ensure the health and safety of all members of the Skidmore community. 

Competition schedules will be posted on team webpages at skidmoreathletics.com as they become available.