Universities across Canada’s westernmost four provinces have decided to put team sports on hold until the new year.

Canada West announced today that no conference competition will occur over the first term of the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19.

That includes football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s rugby 15s and women’s field hockey.

All 17 of Canada West’s member universities voted unanimously to approve this decision.
 

A decision regarding individual sports like golf, cross country and swimming for both sexes will be made by July 15.

Hockey, volleyball and basketball for both sexes will also be affected by this decision, as those sports span both the first and second terms of the school year.

However, conference play in these sports will commence no sooner than January 2021 and a final decision will be made by Oct. 8, 2020.

"While cancellation isn't the outcome anyone associated with university sport wanted, I'm confident in the fact that this difficult decision is in the best interests of our student-athletes,” said Clint Hamilton, Canada West president. 

“Health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do and simply put there was no way to adequately ensure the safety of everyone involved in university sport during competition this fall."

Student-athletes in sports that won't have a U SPORTS national championship this year will not be charged eligibility and remain eligible for athletic financial aid.

Canada West athletes and teams could potentially be allowed to return to training ahead of the new year, but those decisions will be made individually by schools based on their own policies and guidelines.

_{Thumbnail photo courtesy of the UBCO Heat.}