McGill Athletics put out an announcement stating that many of its varsity teams will not be allowed to play this year in a response to continuing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lacrosse was included among those sports not allowed to play.
Head coach Nic Soubry, who replaced retired McGill coaching legend Tim Murdoch in December 2019 and has yet to have a chance to actually serve as the team's head coach in a CUFLA game, responded to the situation on Twitter, focussing on supporting his players.
Soubry tweeted: "I just want to mention that I am disappointed with the decision made by McGill Athletics. That being said we need to support all players who received the news today. I remember being that age, I know what it means to them. I promise to do whatever I can for my players."
Below is McGill's announcement:
Following the July 14, 2021 Athletics and Recreation Town Hall, we are writing to provide an update regarding varsity sport and the 2021/22 season.
This past year has presented extraordinary challenges, many of which were difficult to overcome. While the situation is improving, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still presenting us with challenges due to the continuing complexity associated with resuming activities while keeping our community safe. As some government-mandated pandemic protocols remain, Athletics and Recreation will have to contend with on-going restrictions. This includes added medical requirements for all our competing varsity teams during the 2021/22 season. The Sport Medicine Clinic staff, who were already working at capacity pre-COVID, will now have to assume these extra responsibilities.
We have had, therefore, to come to the very difficult conclusion that only the teams listed below will be able to prepare and ultimately compete during the 2021/22 season:
Basketball – men's and women's teams
Cross country – men's and women's teams
Football
Hockey – men's and women's teams
Rugby – men's and women's teams
Soccer – men's and women's teams
Swimming – men's and women's teams
Track and field – men's and women's teams
Volleyball
Unfortunately, the following sports will not be able to continue preparing or compete during the upcoming 2021/22 season:
Artistic swimming
Alpine ski – men's and women's teams
Badminton – men's and women's teams
Baseball
Field hockey
Golf – men's and women's teams
Lacrosse – men's and women's teams
Rowing – men's and women's teams
Woodsmen – men's and women's teams
The decision to discontinue planning for these sports was based on our capacity to provide high-level operational program support, including crucial medical requirements and the level of administrative oversight needed to safely support these teams.
We want to assure you that this decision is not about reducing the workload for staff in Athletics and Recreation, but rather ensuring that the work is of a high standard worthy of varsity programs. It is imperative that those student-athletes who participate have a positive, rewarding and safe experience.
We also know how extremely disappointing this news is to many of you. To answer your questions regarding how we arrived at this difficult decision, we have scheduled a Town Hall for tomorrow, Thursday, July 22 at noon, to be led by Fabrice Labeau, Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning), and Geoffrey Phillips, Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation. To register, please follow this link: https://mcgill.webex.com/mcgill/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec75dc9b491f6927ec17d790bc8a907de
Sport is an important part of the identity of student-athletes, and an area where they have invested considerable time and effort. We understand and empathize with the impact that this change may have. However, even in this reduced capacity, we will continue to support sport and academic excellence.
As mentioned during the July 14 Town Hall, and as we transition out of the pandemic over the coming months, we will undertake a detailed review of our varsity programming in order to enhance McGill varsity sport.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Phillips
Executive Director
Athletics and Recreation
Lisen Moore
Varsity sport manager
Athletics and Recreation
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