HAVERFORD, Pa. – After extensive consultation with its panel of COVID-19 medical professionals, Haverford College has made the difficult decision to cancel all intercollegiate athletic competition for the spring 2021 semester. Canceling competition comes as a result of the College's ongoing concerns related to the health and safety of its student-athletes, coaches, staff, and the entire campus community. Current restrictions governing visitors, travel, and on-campus activities will remain in place until further notice.
Haverford recognizes the importance of athletic competition for all of our student-athletes and how challenging the loss of seasons has been, especially for our spring student-athletes who have now lost a second season of competition. Athletics remains a key component of the Haverford College community and a student's undergraduate experience with nearly 450 student-athletes proudly representing the Fords. With the well-being of Haverford's student-athletes in mind, the athletic department will provide opportunities for our student-athletes to practice with their teams through a phased approach to athletic activity, following campus protocols.
"Our decision arises from the need to do all we can to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. This news is understandably disappointing all around, for student-athletes, their families, coaches, athletics staff, and our student, staff, faculty, and administration colleagues. It is especially difficult for spring athletes because this is the second consecutive season without intercollegiate competition, on top of last spring's heartbreaking untethering of all of us from the Haverford campus. Haverford held off as long as possible on a final decision about spring while continuing to assess possibilities, in hopes that conditions might sufficiently improve; unfortunately they did not. Because athletic competition is a vibrant element in the life of our colleges, and is deeply missed, we don't make this decision lightly, or without regret. But it is one we must make at this time."
- Wendy Raymond, President of Haverford College