Vince Longboat was surveying the scene at Brock University\u2019s Alumni Field on a sunny Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Longboat and the men\u2019s lacrosse team he is the head coach of was the first Brock Sports team to officially begin a training camp since the COVID-19 pandemic brought sporting activities and the world to a halt more than a year and a half ago.<\/p>\n
The Badgers knocked off the rust as they ran through drills and scrimmages \u2014 looking to get their playing legs back before hosting McMaster University on Saturday, Sept. 18 to kick off the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) season.<\/p>\n
\u201cA little shaky at the start, but everyone is excited to be back on this field and putting in the effort,\u201d said Longboat after conducting his first training camp session Friday, Sept. 3. \u201cThat\u2019s all I ask of these guys. Give me 100 per cent and we\u2019re going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the Labour Day long weekend, Brock men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams will open training camps across six different facilities as lacrosse, rowing, soccer, rugby, golf, softball and baseball get underway.<\/p>\n
Before they are allowed to participate, each student-athlete goes through a COVID-19 vaccination verification process as Brock continues to prepare for a safe return to campus this fall.<\/p>\n
Students taking part in high-contact sports such as rugby, wrestling, hockey and basketball go through a rapid antigen screening test provided by the University before they take part in each training session.<\/p>\n
This period of training camps is also serving as tryouts for each team.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Sept. 4, the men\u2019s and women\u2019s soccer teams have such a large group of students attending tryouts they\u2019ve split their camp into multiple sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cMyself and the coaching staff are excited to be back on the pitch and working with our student-athletes again,\u201d said men\u2019s and women\u2019s head coach Lucio Ianiero. \u201cWe\u2019ve been in touch with our players during the entire pandemic and know how hard they worked to prepare for this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brock\u2019s winter sports teams begin their training camps during the week of Sept. 13 to 17 with hockey, volleyball, swimming, track and field and fencing getting started.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Sept. 16, the Badgers women\u2019s basketball team opens training camp as it look to defend the Ontario Unviversity Athletics (OUA) championship it won in 2019-20.<\/p>\n
The Badgers have a cast of new faces and begin their title defence without a few core players from the championship team, including OUA Player of the Year Melissa Tatti and star shooting guard Jessica Morris.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to meld these new players, put them together and create a cohesive group,\u201d said head coach Mike Rao, who was named U SPORTS and OUA Coach of the Year in 2020. \u201cOur University is a place where student-athletes can go on to do greater things. That\u2019s our culture. There\u2019s a desire to learn and work at the game from our players on and off the court.\u201d<\/p>\n