Vaccine mandate announced for college athletes

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) is introducing a vaccine mandate for all athletes playing for colleges in Atlantic Canada.

In a Sept. 21 release, the ACAA announced that effective immediately, any player or staff stepping on any field of play with only one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine must provide proof of a negative rapid test result one day before the game and within 48 hours after competition ends.

Starting Oct. 15, all athletes in Atlantic colleges must be fully vaccinated to be eligible to compete.

Athletes exempt due to medical or human-rights reasons will be tested twice a week and before and after competition.

Masks will also be required, effective immediately, for people watching indoor home games unless actively eating or drinking while seated. Mask rules will be applied whether or not provinces make masks mandatory.

Holland College president Sandy MacDonald said he is pleased with the announcement and the direction the ACAA has chosen.

“Holland College values athletics, and we want our student-athletes to confidently compete in a safe environment,” said MacDonald.

“We believed early on that these measures were necessary to create consistent programs in all three Maritime provinces thus creating a secure pathway to national championships for our student-athletes.”

For more information on the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association, visit acaa.ca.