Effective immediately, the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) are introducing health and safety measures for events moving forward.  The aim of these new policies is to provide a safe environment for participants and stakeholders as well as student-athletes as they travel between provinces for competition.  The new protocols match the guidelines set out by the Hurricanes earlier this fall.

• Effective immediately, individuals setting foot on the field of play (including student-athletes, coaches, team staff, officials, minor officials and game-day staff) who have at least one dose but who are not yet fully vaccinated (14 days after receiving their second dose), may participate only if they provide proof of a negative rapid test result on the day before and must provide proof of a negative rapid test result within 48 hours after competition;
• Effective immediately and until further notice, the wearing of masks is required for all spectators at indoor home games unless actively consuming food or beverage while seated. This will apply regardless of whether or not the wearing of masks is required by the provincial public health authority in the host provinces;
• Effective October 15, all individuals setting foot on the field of play (including student-athletes, coaches, team staff, officials, minor officials and game-day staff) must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (defined as 14 days after receiving a second dose) in order to be eligible to participate in competition;
• Those with approved vaccination exemptions for medical or human-rights based reasons will be subject to a regular minimum twice weekly COVID-19 testing requirement in addition to the pre- and post-competition testing requirements outlined above.

“We are extremely pleased that the ACAA has stepped up to follow our original directive and timeline for the mandatory vaccination of our student-athletes by September 30,” shared Director of Athletics and Recreation, Albert Roche.  “At the time we were the first collegiate program in Atlantic Canada to aggressively pursue this early deadline for vaccinations and we feel this conference-wide policy clearly illustrates our leadership in ensuring the safety of our student-athletes is a priority.”

Dr. Sandy MacDonald, President of Holland College, is pleased with this announcement and the direction the conference has chosen.

“Holland College values athletics and we want our student-athletes to confidently compete in a safe environment.  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 Holland Hurricanes, visit www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes, www.twitter.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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

-30-