(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport wrapped up its
annual winter meetings this past week at the Westin Nova Scotian in
Halifax, N.S.
Phil Currie, executive director of Atlantic University Sport,
chaired the meetings which were attended by representatives of all
11 member institutions.
“These meetings are always such a positive and productive
time for AUS,” said Currie. “As a group, we continue to
work towards our common goal of creating Canada’s ultimate
student-athlete experience. Now that we are into the second year of
our strategic plan, it is great to have these opportunities to meet
as a membership, review our successes and continue to find things
to improve upon.”
The work that takes place at these meetings typically includes
receiving reports from the various AUS committees, approving the
2014-15 AUS budget, working on the development of the 2014-15
playing schedules and reviewing motions that come from coaches
associations of the fall sports.
In addition to the above, highlights of other items discussed at
these meetings are as follows:
2015 Subway AUS women’s basketball
championship:
In 2015, the Subway AUS women’s basketball championship will
be hosted by the AUS office at the Halifax Metro Centre in
conjunction with the Subway AUS men’s basketball
championship.
The two championships will be held at this common venue on the same
weekend. Brought forward as a potential pilot project by the AUS
scheduling committee, the membership agreed to test this new format
for the 2015 championship season.
“Our thinking here is that this will not only help to elevate
the profile of AUS women’s basketball, but it will bring a
whole new dimension to this event and better both the
student-athlete and the fan experience,” said Currie.
AUS football game-day dress roster increased
Effective for the 2014 season, the game-day dress roster for
Atlantic University Sport regular season and post-season games has
been increased to a maximum of 48 players per team. Previously, the
limit had been set at 45 except for interlock play with RSEQ teams,
where each team could dress 48 players.
This was a motion forwarded by the football coaches to the sport
committee and agreed to unanimously by the football schools.
Note: The RSEQ dress limit is currently 48 and the OUA limit is
47. Canada West has a regular season maximum of 42 for visiting
teams, 50 for home teams and 45 for post-season play.
AUS market-driven sports strategy
At the 2013 AUS management council meetings, AUS market-driven
sports were identified as football, men’s and women’s
basketball and men’s and women’s hockey, based on the
rationale that they have a higher profile, the potential to
generate revenue for universities and are in highest demand from
fans, sponsors and media.
Moving forward with the development of a new conference-wide
marketing strategy, AUS will now be developing marketing strategies
specific to each market-driven sport.
These will be discussed and finalized at the AUS Annual General
Meetings in May, also hosted in Halifax. Their implementation will
help set a conference-wide standard for hosting and better the
student-athlete and fan experience at AUS events.
2014 Fall AUS championship hosts announced:
As the scheduling process for the 2014-15 season progresses, the
following dates and locations have been confirmed for the fall AUS
championship events:
• Saint Mary’s University will host the 2014 cross
country championship on Oct. 25, 2014.
• Acadia University will host the 2014 women's rugby
championship on Oct. 24-26, 2014.
• Memorial University will host the 2014 men's soccer
championship on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2014.
• Dalhousie University will host the 2014 women's soccer
championship on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2014.
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