Amateur football programs across Canada face huge burdens following ‘expensive’ rule changes

Fallout from the recent Canadian Football League (CFL) rule changes continue, as amateur football programs across the country begin to digest its implications.

University and high school teams are already feeling the economic pressure of operating costs, so these new rule changes don’t look like they are happening anytime soon.

These are big economic implications for amateur teams already feeling the pinch, as one expert that spoke with CHCH News said these changes could cost upwards of $2 million.

“Not a lot of people know this, but the game originated here,” said Jeff Robertshaw, the defensive coordinator with the St. Mary Crusaders.

Robertshaw knows a thing or two about football.

He started his career in Hamilton, got picked up by McMaster University and went on to play five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL. He understands change is needed to grow the game, but he’s going to miss some parts.

“It was kinda tied with rugby – that’s why the goal posts are there,” said Robertshaw. “I’m sorry to see that part of history being changed.”

“Even the changes that the CFL made a couple of years ago with the hashmarks, they closed the hashmarks in tighter, I don’t believe that’s happened in the OUA (Ontario University Athletics) on their fields yet,” said Sean Dennison, the head coach of the senior football team at St. Mary Highschool.

After 13 years growing the senior football program at St. Mary Highschool in Hamilton, Dennison has seen the cost of running his program skyrocket.

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Knowing the potential price tag of the CFL rule changes, he doesn’t expect change at the high school level anytime soon.

“The cost of football is expensive to a school,” said Dennison. “To add in moving uprights or redoing turf because of an endzone change or a centerfield change, it’s expensive.”

These athletes are used to change at the amateur level OUA or high school, but with these economic factors to the CFL rule changes, it might not happen anytime soon.

Football Canada has released a statement regarding the rule changes, it says in part:

“This review will take time and we will carefully consider any potential impact on our membership including adjustments to field dimensions and upright positioning. No immediate changes are being considered.”

U Sports, the governing body of university sports in Canada, has also weighed-in, saying they are taking time to consider all factors before deciding what the future will look like.

“In my opinion, the CFL is the overall governing body of Canadian Football,” said Tom Sterling, the host and producer of the At The 55 Podcast.

Before he founded At The 55 Podcast, Sterling spent 2011 to 2015 on the McMaster Marauders’ offensive line.

Sterling has also coached at the OUA and high school level. He says not enough people were consulted in developing these changes.

“It’s a huge burden on some of these universities,” said Sterling. “I’ve seen reports from a few that say it’s going to be up to $2 million to change the field structure.”

With the high cost of these rule changes, amateur football programs across Canada are in wait-and-see mode, digesting all the factors.

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