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By Chris Brown

Rattlers, ACAC aim to be back in action this fall

Apr 27, 2021 | 3:03 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The Medicine Hat College Rattlers are looking at a fall return to action.

The Alberta College Athletics Conference announced late on Friday that it’s planning a mid-September return for sports like golf, soccer and cross-country and will start with strictly regional competition.

The conference is calling it a cautious and measured re-introduction of post-secondary sport in 2021-22.

Terry Ballard, MHC manager of sport and wellness, says it’s a conceptual idea right now and that everyone knows a lot has to go right before August and September.

“The whole idea of the release is to make sure we’re giving some hope to our student-athletes in the province and we can get back to some competitive action in the gyms and fields,” he says.

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Ballard says he hasn’t heard from any of the athletes directly but says he’s heard from coaches who are extremely excited and that athletes and potential recruits are feeling the same.

Key elements of the ACAC’s 2021-22 schedule planning includes the following:

• Season will commence with outdoor sports no sooner than Sept. 17/21 – Soccer, Cross Country Running, Golf
• Indoor Tournament sports will be played exclusively in the Winter 2022 semester beginning January – Curling, Badminton, Futsal, Indoor Track
• Indoor League sports will commence no sooner than Nov. 12/21 but may be delayed until Jan. 14/22 – Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball
• A decision about the start date for Indoor league sports will be confirmed by Aug. 30/21
• All schedules will be reduced, and play-off formats will be modified during the transition season of 2021-22. Tentative schedules are being developed with the objective to circulate and approve as soon as possible.
• Travel will be reduced. Geographic divisional alignments may be adjusted to reduce travel.
• Decisions about ACAC participation or hosting of CCAA Championships will be confirmed, at a later date.
• Institutions will maintain independent authority to determine the date when student-athletes in any sport can commence on-campus training and practices.
• ACAC Members will retain the option to exercise Manifest Hardship at any time to withdraw from any or all ACAC sport participation at any time for any reason, without sanction or penalty.
• No spectators will be permitted at ACAC indoor competitions until further notice.