The Summit League’s plans for the resumption of soccer and volleyball, fall sports, were released last week. Generally, the conference followed a similar approach employed for basketball scheduling by establishing a double round-robin format to save on travel costs. Continue reading Summit League Announces Spring Plan for Soccer and Volleyball
Category Archives: Women’s Soccer
Volleyball and Soccer Springs Start Dates Announced
With the announcement by the NCAA Division I Council this week regarding the start of college basketball, the start for volleyball and soccer was decided as well. Continue reading Volleyball and Soccer Springs Start Dates Announced
As Football Decisions are Made, Fall Sports Could Evaporate this Week
Various outlets from around the country have reported that college presidents from the Big 10 have voted against playing football this fall. The PAC 12 is said to be in a similar position. After emergency meetings over the weekend, the two conferences are reportedly reaching out to the ACC, SEC, and Big 12 to gain a consensus among the Power Five. The potential move of football to the spring would have far-reaching consequences for spring sports. Continue reading As Football Decisions are Made, Fall Sports Could Evaporate this Week
Summit League Pushes Fall Sports to Conference-Only Schedule Starting September 23rd
In an announcement today, “The Summit League’s Presidents Council agreed to delay the start of fall sports for member institutions until Sept. 23 based upon the recommendation from the League’s Joint Council due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The statement went on to state that the Council would continue to be “flexible in an ever-changing environment”.
As for DU athletics, the delay will result in a conference-only schedule for the sports of women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball. Competitive schedules for men’s and women’s men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis will also be delayed until September 23. The delay will not impact any Summit League winter or spring sports at this time. Continue reading Summit League Pushes Fall Sports to Conference-Only Schedule Starting September 23rd
Fall Sports Beginning to Feel Effects of COVID Cancellation/Postponement
While the Power 5 conferences (PAC-12, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC) remain steadfast in fall sports, many other smaller conferences have decided to cancel, postpone or push their fall sports into the winter or spring. If DU was to make such a move, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball would be the most impacted by such a move. Continue reading Fall Sports Beginning to Feel Effects of COVID Cancellation/Postponement
Summit League Announces 2020-2021 Plans
Earlier this week, the NCAA gave clearance for schools to bring football and basketball players back to practice on campus on June 1st. In the wake of the NCAA’s announcement, the Joint Council of the Summit League, which is made up of school athletic directors and senior woman administrators, recently agreed to keep the current conference schedules, tournament qualifier criteria, and tournament structure in place for the upcoming school year despite the crippling financial implications of COVID-19 across the country. That means that eight teams will continue to qualify for the Sioux Falls basketball tournament which determines the Summit League representative for the NCAA tournament. Continue reading Summit League Announces 2020-2021 Plans
NCAA Delays Vote on Extended Soccer Season
A proposal to move men’s college soccer to a split season beginning in the 2022-2023 season was put on hold along with nearly 60 other NCAA proposals and reforms because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading NCAA Delays Vote on Extended Soccer Season
Pioneers Support Vote to Extend College Soccer Season
A new proposal discussed at recent NCAA meetings would reduce the college soccer regular-season schedule – for both the men and women – from 25 to 23 total matches but would expand the campaign across the entire school year. The first half would consist of 13 games in the fall and end around Thanksgiving before picking back up in the spring with nine more matches. In DU’s case, non-conference games would likely be held in the fall and conference matches and championships would be held in the spring. The College Cup would fall between lacrosse’s Championship Weekend which coincides with Memorial Day and baseball’s College World Series. Three exhibitions would be spread around the year, as opposed to the current setup of five meaningless exhibition games all set in the spring offseason. Continue reading Pioneers Support Vote to Extend College Soccer Season
Coach George Gwozdecky Headlines DU’s 2020 Hall of Fame Class Induction Event
DU has formally announced its 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.
The ceremony will feature a return to campus by hockey head coach George Gwozdecky, one of Denver’s greatest coaches, who led DU to a pair of national championships, multiple NCAA appearances and an imposing 443-267-64 record in 19 years with the Pioneers between 1994 and 2013. The evening is sure to be a special one as ‘Coach Gwoz’ finally gets some of the eternal recognition that he so richly deserves as a legend in the Pioneer family. Continue reading Coach George Gwozdecky Headlines DU’s 2020 Hall of Fame Class Induction Event
Collegiate Soccer is at a Scheduling Crossroads
Photo: Courtesy of FourFourTwo
An old college paradigm has college soccer teams playing multiple games a week in a packed fall schedule resulting in injuries and decreased playing quality as top players flee the collegiate soccer model for the pros.
Unlike the rest of the soccer world, which plays once a week nearly year-round, college soccer funnels all of its games into a tight, four-month span between September and December, with many teams playing three games a week. The result is more player injuries, additional fatigue, extensive weekly travel, and academic hardship on student-athletes. The short season also forces the best part of the season (and postseason) into freezing weather in many parts of the country, which reduces spectator interest. Continue reading Collegiate Soccer is at a Scheduling Crossroads