Athletics & Recreation

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From McGill’s earliest days, athletics have been a vital part of university life.

McGill was home to the first intercollegiate hockey, football, swimming and basketball teams in Canada, and it was here that the foundations of North American collegiate sports were established.

Athletics and recreation activities remain an exciting and essential part of the student experience. McGill’s varsity athletics program is among the largest in the country. In addition to its 30 intercollegiate teams and clubs, some 5,000 students participate on over 500 intramural teams per semester, and an extensive recreational program offers more than 125 fitness and recreation courses that attract 5,500+ participants. All in all, there are more than 8,000 Fitness Centre users.

Given its dedication to fostering excellence, it is perhaps not surprising that, over its more than 170 years of athletics history, McGill has seen 125 students and graduates compete at the Olympic Games, where they have won a combined 31 Olympic medals, nine of them gold. The University can also boast having had 55 McGillians play in the CFL, nine in the NHL, and three in the NFL.

Fueled by a renewed vision for excellence in athletics, recreation and wellness, McGill has ambitious plans to enhance its Athletics and Recreation installations and elevate its training, coaching and wellness programs to new heights of excellence.

Enhancing training, competition and recreation facilities

To perform at their best, McGill student-athletes must have access to the most up-to-date training and competition facilities. Although McGill’s sports facilities are in many respects among the best of their kind in Canada, they are under increasing pressure to meet the ever-growing demands of students and the wider McGill community. Several key facilities are outdated and in need of refurbishment.

Your support will allow Athletics and Recreation to:

Renovate and expand the McConnell Arena, allowing McGill’s two hockey teams to compete on an equal footing with other top Canadian university hockey programs
Make refurbishments to the Tomlinson Field House’s running track, team rooms and other competitive areas
Build a full-service athletics and recreation facility at McGill’s Macdonald Campus
Create a technology-forward commercial-grade wellness kitchen in the McGill Sports Centre

Supporting leadership and coaching for men’s and women’s teams

When elite student-athletes are deciding what university they want to attend, a key consideration is the level of coaching support they will receive. A&R is committed to hiring the most competent, motivated and inspiring coaches, and to enhancing coaching excellence by providing staff with more access to professional development opportunities and tools that will help them bring out the very best in their teams.

Your support will enable Athletics and Recreation to:

Create new named coaching positions that will attract more coaching talent to McGill
Establish a professional development fund to support regular workshops, courses and other training programs that elevate the skills and experience of assistant coaches to create a pipeline of qualified potential full-time coaches

McGill Athletics Supporting leadership and coaching for men’s and women’s teams

Achieving excellence and enriching the student-athlete experience

In today’s competitive university environment financial incentives are a critically important factor in the recruitment and retention of top student-athletes. And in the case of McGill, these applicants must also meet the University’s rigorous academic entrance requirements.

Your support will allow Athletics and Recreation to:

Increase the number of Athletics awards to entice top student-athletes
Establish a Road to Excellence Fund that will allow A&R to take advantage of strategic opportunities to elevate a team to the next level

Creating an innovative wellness program

There is mounting evidence that the development of healthy habits is essential for university students’ academic and overall success. This is especially the case with varsity athletes, who face unique challenges and stressors that can impact their overall wellbeing. A&R is developing a comprehensive wellness program that will give McGill athletes new tools to pursue excellence during and beyond their sporting careers, while offering benefits that extend across McGill’s campuses.

Your support will enable A&R to:

Support pioneering research in diverse wellness-related areas, including concussion prevention and treatment, sport nutrition, sleep and athletic performance
Develop a nutrition program for student-athletes, including the installation of new wellness kitchen
Provide workshops and seminars on safe sport to ensure that all student-athletes experience a welcoming, safe and inclusive sport environment
Create a career advancement fund to support initiatives that help student-athletes navigate their transition away from sport and into careers