CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) released the following statement regarding initial policies and the league's planned approach to competition for the 2021-22 season.

The HCAC Council of Presidents recently approved three COVID-19 policies ahead of the 2021-22 season.  These policies anticipate continued positive data trends of individuals that have received the COVID-19 vaccination and the recommendations for less testing requirements of vaccinated individuals.  The policies are thus aimed at encouraging all student-athletes to receive vaccinations, ensuring that the HCAC can conduct all sports in a safe environment and within the traditional season framework in the year ahead.  These policies are being released in advance of the determination of fall testing requirements, therefore some of the practical questions about timing of testing, local requirements, etc. will not be able to be answered until closer to the start of the season. 

• Any individual choosing to remain unvaccinated for COVID-19 and wishing to participate in intercollegiate athletics within the HCAC must be tested and provide proof of negative COVID-19 test results in accordance with the testing frequency and type established by the respective institution and consistent with HCAC recommendations.  Any cost associating in administering these tests will not be provided by the institutions and instead will be the responsibility of each unvaccinated individual.  Institutions may exercise autonomy in choosing to reimburse testing costs for those students, coaches or institutional employees that are unable to be vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons.  The HCAC office will exercise this same authority with game officials that are unable to be vaccinated.

• Any contest that is unable to be completed due to COVID related roster issues will automatically be considered a forfeit for purposes of HCAC league standings (a loss for the team unable to compete and a win for the opposing team).  The game will not be able to be rescheduled. 

• Spectator policies:  At this time, the HCAC does not plan to have conference wide limitations on spectator attendance.  In addition, at present, no member institution is planning on attendance limitations.  Decisions related to masking and distancing requirements will be determined by each campus.

 
The conference office and institutional leadership will continue to monitor developments related to COVID, and all policies are subject to change.
 
For more information on all things HCAC, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.