VARSITY BLUES 2020-21 STUDENT-ATHLETE HANDBOOK Your mental health is important! In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health illness* Mental Health Resources For YOU EMBEDDED COUNSELLOR U OF T MY SSP GOOD 2 TALK Book your confidential appointment Talk to Someone Right Now with 24/7 After hours? Always available 24 with Health & Wellness: Emergency Counseling Services: hours a day 416-978-8030 (Option 5) - Identify yourself My SSP: 1-844-451-9700 as a varsity athlete. Outside North America: 001-416-380- 6578 *According to CAMH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health ii | Student-Athlete Handbook 2020–21 Table of Contents Varsity Blues Student-Athlete Rights 4 Section 1 A Tradition of Excellence 5 Section 2 Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport Model 7 Section 3 Varsity Blues Expectations of Behaviour 9 Section 4 Eligibility 17 Section 5 Student-Athlete Services 19 Section 6 Athletic Scholarships and Financial Aid Awards 24 Section 7 Intercollegiate Program - Appeal Procedures 26 Section 8 Health Care 28 Section 9 Leadership and Governance 30 Section 10 Frequently Asked Questions 31 Safety Information for Students, Staff and Faculty 32 Helpful University Resources 33 Important Numbers Executive Director of Athletics Assistant Manager, Student-Athlete Services Mental Health Resources For YOU (Athletic Director) Steve Manchur Beth Ali 416-946-0807 416-978-7379 [email protected] [email protected] Manager, Marketing and Events Manager, Intercollegiate Sport Mary Beth Challoner Melissa Krist 416-946-5131 416-946-3712 [email protected] [email protected] Coordinator, Athletic Communications Assistant Manager, Intercollegiate Jill Clark Blue & White and Club Sports 416-978-4263 Kevin Sousa [email protected] 416-978-5431 [email protected] Student-Athlete Handbook 2020–21 | 1 About the University of Toronto The University of Toronto was founded as King’s College in 1827 and has evolved into a large and complex institution. It now occupies three campuses: Scarborough, Mississauga and the historic St. George campus. It has federated with three smaller universities which are on the St. George campus, and is affiliated with several colleges and institutes. There are ten fully affiliated teaching hospitals in metropolitan Toronto. Faculty conduct research in many places in Canada and around the world. U of T is Canada’s most important research institution and has gained an international reputation for its research. It enrols more students, employs more faculty, and offers a greater range of courses than any other Canadian university. A liberal arts education is the heart of the undergraduate curriculum at Toronto, and the Faculty of Arts and Science has more students than any other faculty. The education of students for the professions has always been an important part of the University’s role, and the University accordingly maintains a wide range of professional faculties. The University’s insistence on the importance of research in all disciplines has made it the major centre for graduate education in Canada. In many fields it produces a majority of the nation’s doctoral candidates. The quality and range of the programs - undergraduate, graduate and professional - attract students from all parts of the province, from around the country and from abroad. To support its work of teaching and research, the University has collected a library that is the largest in Canada and among the best in the world. The University maintains many laboratories and specialized aids to research. The Library and many of these research facilities are available for use by members of other universities. The University of Toronto Press Inc. is the chief institution of its kind in Canada and one of the most important scholarly publishers in North America. Letter from the Executive Director of Athletics Varsity Blues, SPORTS and U of T regulations to which each varsity student-athlete must comply. Welcome to the 2020-21 varsity season. It also contains the programs and services offered to varsity student- athletes and a staff list in case you need assistance. Finally, please stop by and introduce yourself to me and the intercollegiate staff. Our offices are There are four pillars to the Varsity Blues Program – athletic excellence, located on the second floor of the Varsity Centre Pavilion and the Goldring academic excellence, leadership development and community service. Centre for High Performance Sport. These four pillars serve as the framework for our program and set the priorities by which we operate. Striving for excellence as a Varsity Blue requires extraordinary dedication, perseverance and commitment. It is Go Blues! important to remember that the skills that have made you a successful student-athlete, such as commitment, discipline, determination and work ethic, are also going to help you achieve academic, personal and professional success. In this student-athlete handbook, you will find detailed information Beth Ali regarding the varsity program. In particular, it outlines the OUA, U Executive Director of Athletics 2018-19 Academic Excellence Award Winners Varsity Blues Student-Athlete Rights All Varsity Blues student-athletes have the right to: • Be treated with dignity and respect by coaches, teammates, other • Have their athletic performance evaluated without regard to their student-athletes, spectators and staff from the Faculty of Kinesiology sexual orientation, religious beliefs, race, socio-economic status or and Physical Education and the University; gender identity; • Expect that their coaches, managers, medical and program staff • Participate in all intercollegiate or team social functions with the understand and are sensitive to the challenges facing all student- partner of their choice when partners are invited; and, athletes in terms of sexual orientation, religious beliefs, racial issues, socioeconomic status, gender identity, athletic and academic potential; • Strive for athletic and academic excellence at the University of Toronto with the support of their coaches, academic faculty and • Be proud of who they are and be physically safe; program staff. • Be as open about their identity as they choose to be; 4 | Student-Athlete Handbook 2020–21 1974 Men's Cross Country was inducted into the University of Toronto’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 Section 1. A Tradition of Excellence Welcome to the University of Toronto! As a Varsity Blues student- the longest-running championship record of any swim team in Canada athlete, you are about to embark on your journey and become part and several hundred members of Varsity Blues teams have qualified for of a rich tradition. With 42 teams and over 800 student-athletes, the Olympic Games and FISU (international university) Games, as well as University of Toronto operates one of the most in-depth, comprehensive Commonwealth and Pan Am Games. and diverse intercollegiate programs in North America. With a rich and storied tradition dating back to the 1890s, the Varsity Blues are one of The Varsity Blues teams are coached by some of the most talented, the most iconic brands in Canadian university athletics. acclaimed and successful coaching staff in North America, including national team and Olympic coaches. U of T teams have won every major Canadian university sporting championship over the past century, from football’s Vanier Cup to women’s ice hockey, and have won more provincial and national championships than any other university. Varsity Blues swimmers have Student-Athlete Handbook 2020–21 | 5 Cheer Toronto! Toronto! Toronto Varsity! Shout, fight for the Blue and White And honour of U of T Rippity rappity rippity rappity ree* Toronto! Toronto! Toronto Varsity! Questions: Go Toronto! *sometimes said as rip rap ree 6 | Student-Athlete Handbook 2019–2020 Section 2. Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport Model University Division Toronto Division Blue and White Division • A comprehensive student-athlete development program • A student-athlete development program that includes • Provide students with a competitive sport opportunity to that includes the provision of competitive sport the provision of competitive sport opportunities at the represent their university against other Ontario institutions opportunities at the provincial and national level provincial level within a defined length of season and resource allocation • Resources to compete for provincial and national success • Programs within this division will be allocated the • May compete within the OUA, a PSO or they may choose to • Compete within OUA and U SPORTS structure resources needed to compete for provincial success create a competitive structure by accessing existing clubs • Strong connections to the provincial and national high • Compete within OUA structure or leagues within the Greater Toronto Area performance sport structure Basketball M+W Field Hockey W Baseball M Badminton M+W Curling M+W Football M Golf M+W Lacrosse W Figure Skating M+W Fencing M+W Hockey M+W Rugby W Rowing M+W Mountain Biking M+W Lacrosse M Soccer M+W Swimming M+W Rugby M Softball W Tennis M+W Track/XC M+W Volleyball M+W Squash M+W Wrestling M+W Water Polo M+W Funding for league, play-offs, and partially funded for non- Funding for OUA league and play-offs Funding for the cost of OUA or PSO championships and conference competitive opportunities honoraria for coach; partial funding for student-athlete preparation and apparel 12 month training programs 6-8 month training programs with partial support for 4-6 month