OUA Announces Approved League Structures and Championship Formats for 2021/22 Varsity Season

June 23, 2021

Our Trent Excalibur varsity teams look forward to returning to competition in 2021/22 following the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announcement, outlining league structure and championship formats for the upcoming fall season.  

Prioritizing the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches and staff, the updates include a reduction in scheduled league competition, greater emphasis on regional competition, game caps on exhibition play, and training camp alterations to align with semester start dates.

“Our Excalibur student-athletes have remained positive and have committed to taking the next steps in their development and training on the field, water, ice, and courts, over the last year,” said Deborah Bright-Brundle, director of Athletics and Recreation at Trent University. “As we look forward to the 2021/22 season this fall, our Excalibur teams will be ready to compete at the highest level within the OUA and I cannot wait to see our One Excalibur family back together again in the fall.”  

OUA updates specific to Trent’s Excalibur varsity teams include:

• Soccer: A third division will be added for the 2021/22 soccer season, as the sport’s structure temporarily switches to an East, Central, and West Division. The schedule will also be reduced to 10 games.
• Rugby: The format for women’s rugby remains unchanged, maintaining the standard split between Shiels and Russell Divisions, respectively, while competing in a four-game regular season. On the men’s side, the division breakdown is the same (East, West); however, the regular season schedule sees a reduction from six games to four games, all being played within each team’s respective division.
• Volleyball: Will maintain a two-division set-up (East, West), with teams set to compete in a reduced 14-game regular season schedule.
• Rowing: Rowing championships will transition from a two-day event to a one-day event.
• Lacrosse, Curling, Cross Country and Golf: Regional qualifiers will take place ahead of the championships, with the number of teams/student-athletes advancing to the championship(s) dependent on the respective sport. Championships will take place as single day events whenever possible.
• Fencing: Championship structures will remain status quo pending further evaluation in the fall.

All plans outlined by the OUA remain subject to provincial and regional health guidelines and requirements. Further updates will be posted and shared on the Trent Athletics website.

For more details on the Excalibur varsity program please contact varsity@trentu.ca.

Together we are One Excalibur!