The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Council of Presidents voted to play a conference-only schedule during the fall sports season.

The council made the vote on Friday and will decide on league competition on a sport by sport basis.

The conference-only schedule allows extra time for student-athletes returning to campus, going through COVID-19 protocols and preseason training.

“We recognize that student-athletes are anxious to return to campus and their teams,” GLIAC commissioner Kris Dunbar said. “Throughout the summer, school administrators have put guidelines in place to ensure that student-athletes are properly tested, monitored daily and training safely. I admire the work they have done to put the health and safety of the student-athletes, coaches and support personnel above all. At the same time, we’re working toward returning to competition safely.”

GLIAC athletic directors, athletic trainers and the league’s COVID-19 task force developed safe competition protocols and updated scheduling modules for fall and winter sports. The task force is relying on NCAA and Centers for Disease Control recommendations as the league attempts a safe return to competition. The GLIAC is striving toward consistency in COVID-19 testing, safe training, travel, hosting and in-game protocols among its 12 member schools.