TAMPA, Fla. - University of Tampa director of athletics Larry Marfise has announced that, in conjunction with the Sunshine State Conference Presidents Council, UT teams will not engage in fall sports competition due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions surrounding winter and spring sport competition will be made at a later date.

The affected sports include men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer and volleyball. Those sports are now planned to begin competition for the 2020-21 season in the spring. Additionally, spring sports including lacrosse, tennis, golf, baseball, softball and rowing will not compete in the fall semester. The University will work with the Sunshine State Conference and the NCAA to coordinate details for the upcoming season.

It will be decided no later than October 1, 2020, as to whether the winter sports of men's basketball, women's basketball, men's swimming, and women's swimming can compete in the fall 2020 semester.

The opportunity for conditioning, strength training and other practice opportunities in all sports will be permitted, provided health and safety conditions support such activities.

Athletics remains a central part of the University of Tampa experience for all students. We expect and plan significant opportunities this fall for coaches to work with their student-athletes, who are both on and off-campus.

UT continues to focus on plans for the 2020–21 academic year with the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and their communities as the primary concern. As institutions finalize their plans for the coming year, federal, state, and local health guidance, as well as institutional policies, will guide their independent decisions regarding reopening.

Athletics engagement is an important part of the experience for many of our students, and we remain committed to this experience. The University will honor all previous financial commitments to its student-athletes for the fall semester, as the well-being of the student-athletes is its chief concern.

We will have more details in the weeks ahead, and will share information as it becomes available. Information will be provided through TampaSpartans.com and our social media channels (@TampaSpartans).