CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – In recognition of the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, the Patriot League Council of Presidents has announced a set of principles which will guide the development of a Fall 2020 Athletics Plan that supports the health and safety of member institutions' communities as its highest priority.  
 
Loyola University Maryland, fellow Patriot League Athletics Directors and League staff will now develop schedules, which will be announced at a future date, to meet these criteria:
 

• Student-athletes will return to campus at the same time as other students;
• Patriot League competition will begin at the end of September, with the expectation that League play will be completed prior to Thanksgiving;
• Non-League competition will not begin prior to Friday, Sept. 4;
• Patriot League member institutions will confirm that non-League competitors are following comparable health and safety protocols in advance of any contest; and,
• No Patriot League teams will fly to competitions and, with rare exceptions, regular-season competition will exclude overnight travel.

"Loyola athletics, along with all of our coaches and staff, is committed to creating the safest and most-competitive fall seasons possible," said Donna M. Woodruff, Loyola's assistant vice president and director of athletics. "As institutions and conferences across the country are making similar adjustments to their schedules, these Patriot League principles will help further guide us as we head toward both a safe return to campus and a successful return to competition for our student-athletes."