Over the last few days I've heard from plenty of people. Coaches, administrators, alumni and student athletes all with a fairly unified opinion on USPORTS and Football. Many want me to go on an old school rant. I must be getting older because I only want to discuss solutions. /1

The USPORTS age cap is potentially exposed to a fatal legal challenge either as it stands currently or if it is temporarily altered. It's likely that institutions can't discriminate based on age in one contact sport but not others. Students should have equal access to sport. /2

Anecdotally, concerns around safety are not backed by well-developed data or research. However well intentioned, the rule is arbitrary as it stands. /3

As an NSO, Football Canada regulates the game based on age groups. We have a membership policy which allows for organizations of a national scope to join FC as an associate member. Uni football could join as an associate and the NSO would create an age classification. /4

This would also bring the top tier of amateur development into structured dialogue with the rest of the Canadian football community on rules, safety, coaching development, events, recruiting, grass roots, high performance and even compliance. /5

The sport needs to determine a stable path for growth and development as we extricate ourselves out of the pandemic over the next year. While we have this pause, we have the opportunity to embrace structures which function, and forgo those which have failed to deliver. /6

Football is unstoppable in this country when we are unified. We continue to struggle with that unity. Our challenges are a clear signal to all stakeholders that it is time to come together into central discussion. It's time to seize the opportunity presented to us for change. /7

Normally, I'd want to discuss one-on-one with folks, but this is one of the few university football issues which reminds me of the passion and dedication we have to amateur football in Canada... so transparency it is. /end