FAYETTEVILLE — Summer sport camps and clinics have been suspended through July 31 on all 14 Southeastern Conference campuses, the league announced Friday.
The University of Arkansas had already canceled all of its summer camps through at least Aug. 31 due to the covid-19 outbreak. That cancellation affected at least 180 separate youth camps or clinics in 13 sports that were scheduled on the UA campus, including camps hosted by the Razorbacks’ football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball coaches.
In an email, SEC spokesman Herb Vincent said the league-wide suspension of summer camps and clinics was a “joint decision” of university leaders. The SEC had previously suspended camps and clinics through the end of May.
A separate SEC suspension of organized team activities such as practices and in-person meetings remains in effect through May 31.
The UA hosted around 5,000 total campers last summer, including for non-sports camps, such as band camps. The UA athletics department reported $46,655 in revenue from camps in fiscal year 2018. Most camps are operated independently through agreements with the university’s head coaches, and UA revenue is generated through rental fees to use its playing venues.
Summer camps are used to teach skills in various sports, and also allow coaches to evaluate potential recruits.