WATERLOO’S ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL PLANS

“First and foremost in our go forward strategy is the commitment of coaches McPhee, PaoPao, and Bingeman to the program,” said athletics director Bob Copeland. “I’m very proud of our coaching staff who have stood tall during these very challenging circumstances. They have acted with the utmost professionalism and integrity throughout this process and have been deeply supportive of players on the team.”

“This has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved in the Warrior Football Program, especially our student-athletes and coaches,” added Copeland. “I would like to thank all of our student-athletes and recruits who have shown faith in our program and who will return to the team in 2010. For others who have chosen a different path, particular our seniors, we wish them the very best of luck.”

In order to provide an enriching training environment for players in the wake of the team’s suspension from OUA (Ontario University Athletics) competition in 2010, the team will play a number of inter-squad controlled scrimmages throughout the season including commitments from the University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Windsor, University of Western Ontario and McMaster University.

“This is a testament to the leadership across the OUA in supporting us during this difficult time,” said Copeland.

These training opportunities also will provide an opportunity for the Warrior players and coaches to share their experiences and insights regarding the issue of banned substances. “It is important to get this issue out of the shadows of the dressing room and demonstrate to players the risks involved in using banned substances.”

The team will also participate in a one-week training camp together with more than 200 athletes on other Warrior teams as part of a unique collaborative training camp model. Approximately 60 football players are expected in camp.

In addition, the Canadian Football League will be supporting public appearances by league officials throughout the season to help educate players about the league’s new substance abuse policy. Other educational programs are being developed with the league.

Waterloo’s athletics department also will be implementing a number of new educational initiatives in addition to other recommendations included in the review that were announced today. These include:

* The athletics department is working closely with the Taylor Hooton Foundation ([url]www.taylorhooton.org) to develop a comprehensive educational program that will benefit student-athletes, coaches, training staff, and strength and conditioning staff.

* Educational seminars delivered by foundation president Donald Hooton are scheduled for Sept. 16 and 17 and attendance will be mandatory for all University of Waterloo interuniversity athletes which number more than 560. In addition, the athletics department will invite coaches and health educators from our local high schools to attend these sessions to learn more about the scope of this issue in our high schools.

* The athletics department will require all coaches, full-time training staff, and strength and conditioning staff to undertake specially designed on-line coaching seminars developed by the Taylor Hooton Foundation. It is expected that approximately 100 of these leaders will complete the course.

* All CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) athletes will continue to complete the educational requirements mandated by the CIS and delivered through the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). In addition, all other athletes who compete in OUA sanctioned sports will be required to complete the CIS educational program.

* The athletics department will collaborate with University of Waterloo’s health services to develop educational strategies targeted at students in general as well as those in highrisk groups about the perils of appearance and performance enhancing drugs.

* Individual team orientation sessions will be conducted with each of Waterloo’s 32 interuniversity teams which will provide further emphasis and discussion on the issue of performance enhancing drugs.

* Canadian Olympian and International Olympic Committee member Becky Scott will be conducting a public lecture at the University of Waterloo on Sept. 21. She is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s athlete committee and is a tireless advocate for drug-free sport.

* The athletics department looks forward to actively participating in the CIS anti-doping symposium on Friday, Nov. 26, in conjunction with the 2010 Vanier Cup at Université Laval in Quebec City and sharing Waterloo’s experience and findings with the CCES Task Force on the use of performance enhancing substances in football.

The athletics department also will create a football advisory committee in support of the program moving forward.

“I’ve had tremendous support from people who want to be a part of rebuilding this program, said Copeland. “Many people genuinely want to see our program succeed, including University of Waterloo administration.”

About Waterloo

The University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle, is one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities. Waterloo is home to 30,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students who are dedicated to making the future better and brighter. Waterloo, known for the largest post- secondary co-operative education program in the world, supports enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery.