USPORTS EXPLAINS DECISION NOT TO ADJUST AGE CAP FOR COVID-AFFECTED PLAYERS

U-Sports interim CEO Dick White confirmed in a telephone conversation Friday morning that the U-Sports Board of Directors has ruled that 24-year old football players who will miss the 2020-21 season due to COVID will NOT be eligible to play as 25-year olds the following season.

White told me the 9-member U-Sports Board of Directors (made up of four Athletic Directors, four University Presidents and one Member At Large) made the decision upon legal advice that changing the age cap could be a possible infringement on Human Rights Legislation. White admitted that he initially was in favour of adjusting the age restriction in this instance – which affects approximately 300 student-athletes across the country – however after digesting the 13-page legal document from U-Sports lawyers, he sided with the Board and signed off on their recommendation.

“I’ll take responsibility for this decision,” White said.

White explained the age cap was brought in roughly 10 years ago due to the fact some Canadian university football programs were utilizing quarterbacks in their late 20’s. That created a competitive imbalance for programs across the country, and for individual athletes themselves. White – the longtime Athletic Director at the University of Regina – further explained that the initial rule stating student athletes had seven years after high school graduation to complete a five-year degree was ineffective for a variety of reasons, including Grade 13 in Ontario.

So the move was made to institute an age cap whereby players can’t play at age 25 past September 1 of their senior year.

White revealed that despite a strong case from the U-Sports Football Technical Subcommittee on this matter, the Board did not see the merit of changing the rule for a group of players which represents 10% of student athletes across Canada.

RP
@rodpedersen

(Photo: Huskie Athletics)