UMAC affirms competition plans, announces indoor track and field schedule
ST. PAUL, Minn.---The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Council of Presidents and Chancellors affirmed its decision from December to proceed with winter and spring sports competition as planned and also approved a four-week regular season schedule and conference championship meets for men’s and women’s indoor track and field.
Competition for women’s indoor track and field will begin Saturday, Jan. 30 with all conference institutions sponsoring programs competing at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, while a second women’s meet will take place Saturday, Feb. 13 at the same location. Two men’s indoor track and field meets will be held for UMAC schools on Saturday, Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 at the College of St. Scholastica. A format and structure for the UMAC Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships will be determined following the first two weeks of competition. Both host institutions will not permit fans for regular season or championship meets due to facility capacity limits and state and county occupancy restrictions.
The Council also reviewed and approved a comprehensive set of conference protocols related to COVID-19 procedures and risk mitigation strategies that all institutions will adhere to for conducting safe practice and competition. Approved protocols include institutional autonomy for spectator allowance at indoor events this winter. Fans and spectators should review the
UMAC Institutional Spectator Policy Page for institutional policies related to fan allowance at contests.
UMAC conference decisions related to winter sports competition, testing and COVID-19 protocols have been guided by state and local public health officials, the NCAA SSI recommendations and requirements and campus policies. The health and safety of student-athletes, athletics personnel, and greater campus communities of members of the UMAC is of utmost importance. Ultimately, it will be the decision of each member institution as to whether it conducts athletic competition in a given sport in the spring semester (winter and spring sports seasons). The conference is prepared to adjust sport schedules and plans accordingly should any institution decide it is not feasible for its specific team(s) to participate.
The UMAC continues to monitor changing circumstances related to COVID-19, and any further decisions for 2020-2021 made by conference governance groups will continue to be driven by available guidance from local and state health officials and the NCAA SSI and are subject to change.
Additional information related to the conference’s decisions and impact on student-athlete eligibility, other compliance components and further details regarding winter and spring competition can be found on the
UMAC Frequently Asked Questions page. UMAC COVID-19 related updates – including institutional announcements and decisions – will continue to be provided when available and can be found on the
UMAC COVID-19 Resource Page.
The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is an NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics conference with nine full member institutions in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The UMAC creates a vibrant community for student-athletes and institutions to thrive through intercollegiate athletics. It supports and celebrates the academic excellence and competitive success of members by providing outstanding service and creating pathways to national opportunities and programs.