Six Pack for Selkirk — BCCAA denies college application
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By Bruce Fuhr,
The Nelson Daily Sports
It’s definitely a step back for the athletic program at Selkirk College.
The Castlegar campus athletic department has had its application for dispensation denied by the British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) Executive.
The college wanted the BCCAA executive to allow only the women’s volleyball team to participate during the 2010-11 season.
The application was made after it was realized that the men’s team could not fulfill its league requirements as some of the men’s student athletes could not fully commit to the BCCAA league schedule.
However, the request was denied due to the fact that league schedules are based on both genders traveling and competing at the same time.
“This was a tough decision for all parties,” said Athletic Director Kim Verigin. “The good side to all of this is that Selkirk College is still a member of the BCCAA and the Executive is very supportive of our situation.”
The BCCAA league Executive Committee recommended that Selkirk College play an exhibition season and use the year to rebuild the program.
“The men’s and women’s teams will continue to operate with regular weekly practices,” explained Verigin. “We are currently working to confirm a competitive exhibition schedule for 2010-11 and we will continue to support the student-athletes and coaches who have committed to both programs.”
Overlaying this issue, declining enrolment in volleyball programs in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions and a changing dynamic within the BCCAA league has made it difficult for smaller colleges like Selkirk to recruit student-athletes and stay competitive.
Many BCCAA institutions are in transition to make the jump to Canada West (Canadian Interuniversity Sport)—the highest level of intercollegiate sport available in Canada.
“We are hopeful that this year will be a positive turning point for the volleyball program,” said Verigin. “But, we are not certain. We are going to have to work hard and see what the future will bring.”
Currently there is no senior boy’s team at L.V. Rogers in Nelson.
The only real volleyball program is run at Mount Sentinel where the South Slocan school continually puts competitive teams on the floor that competes not only locally but provincially.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
