The Southern Athletic Association has announced the conference's plan to return to competition in January 2021. Rhodes College winter student-athletes will begin returning to campus to begin training under the college's health and safety plan on January 4, 2021.
 
"The health and safety of our students and community remains our top priority. Our coaches and athletic training staff have worked with our health care partners to develop a comprehensive safety plan for our athletes and staff members. We will continue to monitor local health conditions and make decisions based on science and the available data," President Marjorie Hass says.
 
President Hass is a member of the SAA's Council of Presidents which unanimously voted to return to play.
 
Student-athletes and coaching staff members will be tested for COVID-19 weekly while high-contact sports will be tested twice a week.
 
"We are prepared for positive cases among our student-athletes and staff members identified through our testing regimen. We have procedures in place for contact tracing, quarantine, isolation, and student care," Vice President for Student Life Dr. Meghan Harte Weyant says.
 
Men's and women's basketball and men's and women's swimming will begin competition the weekend of January 15-17. The SAA is also planning to begin competition for fall sports and the conference is planning for spring sports to compete during their traditional season.
 
"Our student-athletes and coaches are ready to compete. We had a successful pilot program which allowed us to begin using our indoor athletic facilities earlier this fall. We know this isn't going to be a normal season. But we are prepared to offer the best possible student-athlete experience to the Lynx," Athletic Director Matt Dean says.
 
Rhodes College's decision to participate in SAA competition is based on the public health information available. The college is closely following guidance from the local, state, and federal governments and is prepared to adjust the return to competition plan as needed.
 
The SAA COVID-19 Task Force is working to create consistent procedures and policies among all conference schools.

Click here for the SAA's full release.