The NCAA on Friday granted an additional year of eligibility to spring student-athletes whose season was cut short due to the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.

“Council leadership agreed that eligibility relief is appropriate for all Division I student-athletes who participated in spring sports,” the NCAA said in a statement. “Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time. Additional issues with the NCAA rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks.”

On Thursday, the NCAA announced it would cancel the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and the remaining winter and spring championships. The ACC and other conferences across the country also suspended practice, competition, and recruiting due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Along with spring athletes, the NCAA will reportedly also consider granting another year of eligibility for winter athletes who were nearing the end of their respective seasons.

Spring sports include baseball, golf, lacrosse, softball, tennis and outdoor track and field, among others. Winter sports include basketball, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming and driving, wrestling and others.

UNC’s men’s and women’s lacrosse teams were both undefeated and ranked No. 3 and No. 1 in the nation respectively before suspension of play. UNC’s wrestling team was set to begin postseason play shortly in the coming days before the cancellation of championships was announced.

“This is an extremely difficult situation, unique to anything we have seen,” UNC wrestling coach Coleman Scott said in a release. “I am incredibly proud of all of my student-athletes for the work they put in this year. Their ultimate goals were not able to be accomplished, but we know what kind of work was put in this year. It was truly champion work.”

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