Lethbridge Kodiaks preparing for the fall

Lethbridge College is making plans for the fall when it comes to its on-campus fitness facilities, affecting Kodiaks Athletics, the fitness centre, Be Fit for Life classes and summer camps.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference cancelled its fall season with hopes of restarting conference play in January 2021.

Still, Kodiaks teams and student-athletes will be able to resume training in the fall on their usual schedules provided they’re following recommended health protocols.

Coaches will also be able to pursue exhibition games and competitions at the discretion of Kodiaks Athletics administration.

“As a teaching and learning institution, supporting student-athletes is part of our core business, so we are pleased to announce the Kodiaks will be able to resume training this fall,” said Paula Burns, Lethbridge College president and CEO in a release.

In December, the Kodiaks were announced as the hosts of the ACAC men’s and women’s soccer provincials with the games taking place at Comet Stadium in Raymond Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.

“It will feel very different not having our teams to cheer on this fall, and in particular, we were looking forward to hosting the 2020 ACAC men’s and women’s soccer championships in October,” said Burns. “However, we look forward to seeing a full house cheering on our Kodiaks as soon as that is possible.”

Kodiaks teams and student-athletes will have access to the PE Building, including the Val Matteotti Gymnasium and fitness centre.

As well, athletic scholarships for student athletes will also be honoured.

While due to the uncertainties and adjustments surrounding the upcoming season, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association has announced student-athletes participating in any ACAC-sponsored sport in 2020-21 will not be charged with a year of eligibility.

In order to prioritize the health and safety of the entire campus community, Lethbridge College’s fitness centre — which includes the gym, squash and racquetball courts, and the Val Matteotti Gymnasium — will remain closed to everyone except Kodiaks student-athletes this fall.

The decision aligns with the college’s re-entry strategy, which emphasizes keeping the number of people on-campus to a minimum in order to help ensure the safety of the students and employees who do need to be on-campus.

Refunds will be issued to members of the public who had purchased gym memberships. The college is developing this process and will be in contact with those eligible for refunds in the coming weeks.

The college will continuously evaluate its plans for the reopening of the fitness centre and hopes to welcome members back when it’s safe to do so.

Information as it become available can check the college’s FAQ page. Questions can be sent to FAQ@lethbridgecollege.ca. The continued closure of the college’s fitness centre and restricted access to its campus also affects both the Be Fit for Life centre and summer camps.

The college will not be offering any in person, indoor summer camps or Be Fit for Life classes this summer or fall.

Anyone who was taking part in a Be Fit for Life class that ended prematurely because of the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a discount code that can be used towards future classes, once in-person classes resume.

The code will be emailed directly to those who were affected.

Those who had registered for spring classes will receive a full refund and will be contacted directly.

Be Fit for Life and Corporate and Continuing Education are looking at options to potentially serve clients through online, outdoor or off campus Be Fit for Life or summer camps programming.

To stay up-to-date on the latest offerings, subscribe to the Corporate and Continuing Education newsletter.

All decisions have been made to align with the college re-entry priorities, the health, safety and well being of the college community, continuing to deliver on its mission as a post-secondary institution, supporting the economic recovery of our city, region and province and sustainability.

For up-to-date Kodiaks news, visit http://www.gokodiaks.ca.

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