The ban extension comes as cases rise for B.C.
As COVID-19 cases trended downward toward the new year, the chances of UFV Athletics playing again seemed to be going up. However, the Cascades will not see their seasons or even scrimmages start in January, as the latest extension of a ban on social gatherings till Feb. 5 includes sporting events, both outdoors and indoors. Despite this, an exemption has been made by ViaSport, allowing varsity athletes to practise for the next month with new guidelines.
Some Cascades did get to play during the fall, prior to the surge of COVID-19 cases. Soccer had begun competition with local teams, and other sports such as volleyball were hopeful to begin scrimmaging with other teams. These current restrictions do limit UFV until February, but some Cascades have been preparing for that already. The UFV golf teams are set to compete for the B.C. Rivalry Series, which initially kicked off in the fall.
Steve Tuckwood was available for comment, saying: “ViaSport and the PHO [provincial health officer] have granted an exemption to certain levels of sport. We are included, so teams are training without contact starting today.”
