The Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges has announced that they are continuing forward with a football season but with some changes. The season will be pushed back two weeks and will now begin on Thursday, Sept. 10. The season will also be eight games instead of the nine. East Central was originally scheduled to open the season on Thursday, Aug. 27 at home against East Mississippi Community College. Holmes is expected to open the season at home on Sept. 10 against Hinds Community College There will be a four-team playoff beginning on Nov. 7 and the state championship game will be on Nov. 14. The National Junior College Athletic Association has also released an update on the start of sports this fall. According to the NCJAA website, teams that participate in fall championships — men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball — can begin practice on Aug. 1 and the first competition date could be Aug. 20. There will also be other changes for sports spring sports this fall as well. Normally sports such as baseball, softball and tennis play extensive schedules in the fall but those sports will have condensed schedule. Those sports will be permitted to begin fall practice on Aug. 31 and fall competition will be concluded by Oct. 31. As for winter sports, men’s and women’s basketball will be permitted to begin practice on Sept. 14 and their season can begin starting Oct. 21. The NJCAA is encouraging member colleges to adjust schedules as needed to limit competition between Thanksgiving and Jan. 1, 2021. For the 2020-21 academic year, NJCAA member schools will be permitted to open dorms to all student-athletes (fall, winter, spring sports) beginning July 18, 2020. The accelerated move-in date will allow member colleges to institute a 14-day quarantine period for student-athletes and implement extra safety precautions as necessary prior to the August 1 start date for fall practice. For the year 2020-21 an exception will be allowed to Article V, Section 7 of the NJCAA Bylaws. This exception will allow member colleges to provide or pay for student-athlete COVID-19 testing, if they so choose. At this time, this exception will only apply for the 2020-21 academic year but will be reviewed as needed.
