Division I men’s volleyball players eligible to resume voluntary activities in June

Men’s volleyball players at NCAA Division I schools will be able to participate in voluntary athletics activities starting next month.

The NCAA Division I Council voted last week to approve the proposal to resume voluntary activities for all sports on June 1.

Athletics activities had been restricted for nearly two months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic also resulted in the 2020 men’s volleyball season being canceled with about one month remaining in the regular season and the cancellation of the NCAA Tournament.

Along with the resumption of voluntary activities, the Division I Council extended the current waiver allowing teams to have eight hours of required virtual nonphysical activities.

“The return of voluntary activity in addition to the extension of the waiver to allow virtual, nonphysical activity shows sensitivity to local, state and regional differences in how Division I campuses are reopening,” Grace Calhoun,chair of the Division I Council, said in a statement. “We will continue to be considerate of these differences with wise and flexible administration of our regulations, and we expect schools to keep the well-being of student-athletes as a priority.”

Both NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II men’s volleyball teams compete for the same national championship. Of the 44 active Division I-II men’s volleyball programs, 23 are Division I schools.