OCAA suspends 2020 fall season

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
All recreation activities across the province have been put on hold for the fall due to COVID-19.

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is officially suspending varsity sports and recreation activities across the province for the fall semester.  

The decision has been made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. It affects varsity baseball, softball, rugby, rugby sevens outdoor soccer, golf and cross-country programs running in OCAA’s 27 member schools.

OCAA president and Fanshawe Athletics manager Nathan McFadden said that January’s outlook is still unknown.

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“Safety is first and foremost and we want to make sure that our student athletes are healthy when they are able to return, obviously we're hopeful that will be in January,” he said. “No one in this world can give you an exact date on when that's going to happen or not, but certainly we remain hopeful for that.”

McFadden said health, safety and academic models all factored into the decision. Fanshawe, along with other Ontario colleges, will be offering its fall courses in blended delivery. This means most students will not be present on campus to train and compete.

“Everything we do is for our student athletes,” McFadden said. “And it's deeply disappointing to them and us that the situation is a worldwide pandemic, and no one has any control over it. But it doesn't change the fact that it's very, very sad for us as administrators and coaches and for our student athletes.”

Fanshawe Wellness Centre will be closed in the fall, and intramurals will be put on hold until further notice.