The Carleton University women’s field hockey team has high aspirations—obtaining varsity status.
Entering their second year of existence, the team has been classified as a Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) club. This means that they receive their funding directly from CUSA rather than from Carleton Athletics.
The team has applied to athletics for approval to take the next step towards varsity: becoming a competitive athletic team.
The women’s field hockey team filed an application on June 7, but did not recieve a response until Sept. 28.
They have not yet been informed of a decision, according to Halley Chopra, the captain and president of the team.
“Our goal was to be a competitive [recreational] team by this year . . . it almost feels like we are a year behind,” Chopra said.
Tom Huisman, the manager of interuniversity sport and interim club commissioner, headed the committee this summer that chose which teams would be promoted from CUSA club to competitive club.
He said the five key aspects considered during this procedure are potential risk, mission and goal, student interest, leadership, and what sort of competition would be available for the team.
Huisman said that in term of the length of the application process, this is a unique case, and could not commit on when it will get resolved, but expects it to be sometime before the winter term
Chopra, a fourth-year civil engineering major, helped start the team and said they are ready to take it to the next level.
“We honestly have all our ducks in a line. We have the funding, we have equipment, we have everything—all we need is basically athletics’ permission,” Chopra said. “Just being known and having athletics supporting us is going to play a huge role in other universities taking us seriously too.”
Chopra added they have also recruited the talents of two-time Olympic field hockey player Ian Bird to act as head coach.
Being a Carleton club that falls under the umbrella of athletics has many benefits, including receiving additional funding and support, as CUSA is primarily an academic association. Additionally, as they are not technically an athletic club, the women’s field hockey team cannot call themselves the Carleton Ravens.
Carleton’s director of recreation and athletics, Jennifer Brenning, said they are currently embarking on a review this year to determine if sports clubs are being categorized properly.
Huisman said they will review the service levels they provide, the structure of the application review process, and the general model, while adding there is no strict limit for the number of varsity teams the university can have.
To get approval for varsity status, Brenning said the team needs quality coaching, an adequate competitive budget, facilities, and enough quality student athletes.
Carleton athletics and Chopra met at the end of September to review the team’s development, as well as the application filed in the summer.
According to Huisman, athletics is determined to see how they can support women’s field hockey, and if they can now grant them competitive club status, though they will not commit to anything at this time.
“There are still a lot of unknowns to work through . . . this is the start of the process,” Huisman said.
Although she is excited about the prospect of being on a varsity team, Chopra said she understands the necessary process.
“I do feel like we are ready [for varsity status] now, but being a competitive club could definitely help with our adjustment,” Chopra said.
Despite the frustration that resulted from a long summer of doubt, the two sides are focused on moving forward.
“We are relieved,” Chopra said. “The potential that our goal is one step closer to being reached is exciting.”
