VICTORIA – As Western Canada continues to work through the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the University of Victoria Vikes will follow both U SPORTS and Canada West decisions announced today to cancel the first term of team sport competitions. Canada West announced on Monday that no conference competition (regular season, playoff or championship) will occur in football, men's and women's soccer, women's rugby 15s and women's field hockey during the first term of the 2020-21 season. The conference announcement came on the same day as U SPORTS announcing the cancellation of all first term U SPORTS national championships.

Access the Canada West news release here.

View the U SPORTS news release here.

The decision to cancel first term competition in team sports also impacts the sports of men's and women's hockey, volleyball and basketball. The aforementioned sports traditionally span both the first and second terms, but conference play in these sports will commence no sooner than January 2021, with a decision on the matter being made by October 8. Whether second term competitions in men's and women's wrestling, track and field, and women's rugby 7s are staged will also be made by the same October 8 deadline.

"We recognize the significant impact of these decisions on our student-athletes and programs.  With most of our student-athletes studying in an online environment, we will continue to provide support to our returning student-athletes and 2020-21 incoming class in preparation for an eventual return to competition in 2021," said Clint Hamilton, Canada West President and Vikes Director of Athletics and Recreation.

Vikes Athletics will extend the decision to cancel first term Canada West and U SPORTS competitions to the entire varsity and sport club programs including non-U SPORTS teams such as rowing and men's rugby. Student-athlete and teams will be permitted to train and engage in informal competition pending approvals from the appropriate authorities. We will continue to work closely with Canada West and U SPORTS, along with provincial and national sport governing bodies as further decisions and plans are developed regarding return to train and return to competition.

With physical distancing restrictions still in effect, Vikes varsity student-athletes continue to train at home, focussing on their personal fitness and individual skills, supported by the Vikes strength and conditioning and varsity coaching staff. Vikes staff continue to work through the development and implementation of return to train plans in keeping with the necessary health and safety measures expected for any potential in-person training and facility re-opening.