ST. PAUL, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics, in cooperation with the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), have announced an update for the 2020-21 winter sports season.

In a release Tuesday, September 1, the UMAC stated its Council of Presidents and Chancellors supported a recommendation from the UMAC Council of Athletics Directors to suspend conference competition through December 31, 2020 in the sports of men's and women's basketball and men's and women's indoor track and field.

The announcement marks the latest in a series of updates from the conference, which had already postponed its fall sports seasons. Fall sports will play a modified schedule during the spring semester, with an official announcement from the conference forthcoming.

Conference competition in winter sports will begin in 2021 with modified conference schedules for men's and women's basketball. The adjusted conference basketball schedules will be finalized when additional information is available, including but not limited to NCAA Sports Science Institute (SSI) requirements for winter sports and confirmed NCAA Division III Championship dates. Engagement in non-conference competition during the fall semester remains at the discretion of the UMAC institutions and will not be governed by the UMAC.
 
UW-Superior's men's and women's basketball and men's and women's indoor track and field teams will not seek non-conference competition during the fall semester.

UMAC conference decisions related to fall sports competition have been guided by state and local health officials, the NCAA Sports Science Institute recommendations/requirements and campus institutional policies. The health and safety of student-athletes, athletics personnel, and greater campus communities of UMAC member institutions is of utmost importance.

The UMAC continues to monitor changing circumstances related to COVID‐19. Decisions regarding winter sports including season structures and starting dates will be made at a later date. 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.
 
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is in talks regarding its winter sports for the fall semester, with a decision expected in the coming days. That decision will impact the Yellowjacket men's and women's hockey teams.