Athletic Department

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General Information

Mission

As an integrated part of the Royal Military College (RMC), the Athletic Department supports the mission of RMC by providing operationally oriented physical education, competitive intramural sports, varsity and recreational club programmes for officer cadets. These programmes provide extensive leadership development opportunities in an atmosphere that helps instill the values of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the College and the Department. This is achieved through mandatory officer cadet involvement in physically and mentally challenging activities.

Vision

The Athletic Pillar of the Royal Military College will provide programmes of excellence that contribute to the development of outstanding leaders for the Canadian Armed Forces who value physically active and healthy lifestyles. These programmes will enhance the national reputation and profile of the College and help attract outstanding athletes.

Values

Loyalty

to your team and/or squadron including obedience of superiors, e.g., coaches and team captains. Loyalty should always be upward first.

Integrity

hinges on consistently giving precedence to ethical values in our decisions and actions.

Courage

Physical courage is a self-evident requirement for contact sports. Moral courage, related to integrity, is also necessary.

Diligence

Persistence, hard work, meticulous attention to detail and perfection of athletic skills all describe diligence in the athletic context.

Fairness

implies treating people, groups and situations justly, equitably, and without bias.

Responsibility

is the ethical obligation that exercises and maintains integrity. Responsibility implies an obligation to be accountable, competent, and caring.

Excellence

the desire to pursue excellence is fundamental to being an outstanding leader and officer.

Physically Active and Healthy Lifestyle

to maintain a good personal level of physical fitness and a healthy body.

Perseverance

striving to finish and/or to win against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, difficulties, pain and/or setbacks.

Goals and Strategies

The Athletic Department's goal is to help attract high quality officer candidates and to develop them into outstanding junior leaders.

Goals in the Department can be described as department or programme oriented and are as follows:

• to maintain diverse athletic programmes, i.e., Physical Education, Competitive Intramural Sports, Varsity and Recreation;
• to provide athletic programmes that encourage and provide opportunities for development of leadership, physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle;
• to take advantage of the flexible and willing support of the RMC Club and Foundation;
• to take advantage of the reduced Varsity programme to focus and increase College support for the remaining Varsity sports;
• to increase the presence of the RMC Athletic Department on the Internet and in local, provincial and national media;
• to improve upon the historic performance of RMC Varsity teams;
• to gain greater control or influence over the recruiting and selection process for candidates to facilitate the recruiting of Varsity athletes;
• to acquire expanded facilities to facilitate RMC hosting of athletic events and competitions;
• to establish a stable departmental budget; and to contribute to the rationalization and coordination of demands on officer cadets' time.

Facilities and Equipment

RMC's athletic facilities are shared with those of CFB Kingston and include a large triple wood floor gymnasium with various combinations of basketball, volleyball and badminton courts; one field house which includes one 200-meter indoor track and four large sports courts; one 25-meter, 8 lanes pool; one small warm-up pool; one weight training and cardio area; an arena; soccer and rugby fields; six squash courts, two martial arts rooms, and an artificial turf field covered year round by an air supported dome.

With its location on Lake Ontario, the College has excellent facilities for recreational sailing and boating.

In addition to the athletic facilities, use is made of nearby military recreation facilities, which include an eighteen-hole golf course.

Equipment is provided for participation in the Physical Education programme, Varsity programme, Competitive Intramural Sports programme and Recreational programme.

Programmes

Physical Education Programme

The aim of the Physical Education Programme is to:

• develop a basic knowledge of physical education theory and philosophy;
• develop physical fitness through a programme of strenuous physical activities;
• develop sports skills and introduce the fundamentals of team play as commonly practiced by members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF);
• develop skills in lifetime sports which have both a social and a fitness value;
• develop leadership and organizational abilities through opportunities in various team and individual activities and;
• expose, educate, and train the 5 domains of the Physical Education programme – Fitness, Sports, Aquatics, Unarmed Combatives, Wellness

Officer cadets participate in one compulsory 90 min period per week. The Physical Education Programme is dedicated to the development of officer cadets who are knowledgeable and experienced in fitness training methods, who are capable of performing a variety of sports skills and military activities, and who have the ability to organize and administer athletic events. Each officer cadet will complete the Health and Fitness Assessment each semester.

FORCE Evaluation

Each academic year, while at the college, every Regular Officer Traing Programme (ROTP) student must pass the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Minimum Physical Fitness Standard (MPFS) in accordance with CAF policy; currently the FORCE Evaluation is the MPFS.

Varsity Programme

The aim of the varsity programme is to achieve competitive excellence. This will mean different things to different sports; however, the aim in general is that:

• RMC becomes a highly respected opponent in terms of competitive challenge and sportsmanship;
• RMC is the smallest university member of USPORTS with a student population just over 1000 officer cadets in the undergraduate programme. It has to overcome a talent deficit through recruiting, outstanding preparation and performance;
• provide an opportunity for students to participate in organized, highly-skilled and competitive athletics;
• instill, through the demands of training and competition, self-discipline, the desire to excel and willingness to compete in a team effort;
• create a college "esprit de corps;"
• provide an opportunity for interaction with other contemporary university athletes thereby bringing RMC into the focus of the civilian community;
• improve physical fitness; and
• provide leadership opportunities.

The Royal Military College of Canada offers an extensive varsity sports programme for students capable of participating at a higher skill level.

RMC competes as a member of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) in the following sports: fencing (men and women), hockey (men), rugby (men), soccer (men and women) and volleyball (men and women).

The varsity programme is an extension of the physical education programme and thus contributes to the achievement of the overall aim by instilling a high degree of self-discipline, the desire to excel, and the willingness to sacrifice personal interest for coordinated team effort. The Varsity Programme also provides an opportunity for involvement with contemporary university students, thereby bringing the Royal Military College of Canada into the focus of the civilian community.

Competitive Club Programme

The aim of the Competitive Club Programme is to provide members the opportunity for training and competition that is appropriate for their level of competition. While in their competitive season, members are exempted from the Intramural Sports Programme allowing them more time to develop and improve their skills.

The clubs compete in various competitions at the Local, National and International level in the following sports: Rowing, Running (Cross-Country and Track), Sailing, Swimming, Taekwondo and Women’s Rugby.

Intramural Sports Programme

The Intramural Sports Programme has a two-fold purpose.

1. First, it provides each cadet with the opportunity to develop sports skills and apply the principles, which are taught in the Physical Education Programme.
2. Second, it provides each cadet with the opportunity to compete in a variety of team sports on a weekly basis.

The Intramural Sports Programme is composed of sports leagues within the college, where each squadron forms teams to compete. The programme is compulsory for cadets who are not varsity or competitive club athletes

The fall and winter term Intramural Sports Programme offers leagues such as soccer, hockey, ultimate, handball, water polo, ball hockey, basketball, dodgeball, and flag football. Optional Intramural sports offered are badminton, and squash.

The programme is organized on a seasonal basis. The fall programme runs from September to the end of November, and the winter programme runs from January to the end of March. Responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the programme is given to the cadets themselves under the supervision of the Intramural Coordinator, thus affording them an opportunity to develop qualities of leadership. In addition to playing, cadets are expected to learn and carry out the duties of team captains, game officials, and league convenors.

All officer cadets must participate in the Cadet Wing Fall and Winter Sports Days, which include, the Harrier cross- country race and Winter Sports Day. The Wing tournaments normally offer activities such as flag football, ball hockey, soccer, ultimate, broomball and volleyball.

Recreational Programme

The aim of the RMC Recreational Programme is to:

• Offer a diversified programme that supports the interests of the officer cadets;
• Provide opportunities for leadership training and development;
• Increase visibility by promoting club accomplishments;
• Offer an enjoyable programme that increases morale;
• Promote a balanced lifestyle

The RMC Recreation Association includes 17 Recreational Clubs and 6 Competitive Clubs. All students and staff at RMC are permitted and encouraged to participate in the Recreational Programme.

The Competitive Clubs are Rowing, Running, Sailing, Swimming, Taekwondo and Women’s Rugby.

The list of recreational clubs is subject to change depending on the interest but they currently are Astronomy, Aviation Enthusiasts, Bilingualism, Climbing, Chess, Curling, Debating, Judo, Expedition, Paintball/Airsoft, Photography, Rowing, Running, Sailing, Scuba, Sport Parachuting, Swimming, Taekwondo, Theatre, Multisport, War Games, Windsurfing, Women’s Rugby and Yacht.

Course Descriptions

The following courses are mandatory for all students enrolled in a 40-credit degree programme.

ATE101 Foundations of Fitness, Health and Sports

This is a twenty-four week introductory course designed for students in the first year of their programme. Students will actively engage in physical activity and injury prevention strategies regularly to gain the skills required to promote physical performance and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of these areas.

It is structured into five separate components: Introduction to Fitness, Sports, Wellness, Aquatics, and Unarmed Combatives. In order to successfully complete the course, students must pass all five components.

Note(s):

This is a mandatory course.

Contact Hours:

36

Credit(s):

0

ATE201 Foundations of Fitness, Health and Sports

This is a twenty-four week course designed for students in the second year of their programme to build and expand on concepts and principles learned in ATE101. The enhanced military focus will challenge students by placing them in environments outside of their comfort zones, aiming to develop their determination, resilience and grit. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects of these areas.

It is structured into five separate components: Fitness & Wellness, Sports, Aquatics, Indoor Climbing and Unarmed Combat. In order to successfully complete the course, students must pass all five components.

Note(s):

This is a mandatory course.

Prerequisite(s):

ATE101

Contact Hours:

36

Credit(s):

0

ATE301 Leadership Development in Fitness, Wellness, and Sport

This is a twenty-four week course designed for students in the third year of their programme. Students will choose two courses from a variety of fitness, sport and wellness offerings. In addition to focusing on participation, performance and teamwork, students will also develop athlete leadership skills and competencies through experiential learning. Emphasis will be placed on developing both the self and the team through shared athlete leadership development and sport psychology concepts.

It is structured into two separate 12-week units. Students are given the option to choose their preferred courses in both semesters, however the same course cannot be repeated twice.

Note(s):

This is a mandatory course.

Prerequisite(s):

ATE101, ATE201

Contact Hours:

36

Credit(s):

0

ATE401 Leadership Application in Fitness, Wellness and Sport

This is a twenty-four week course designed for students in the fourth year of their programme to support continued character development through participation and application of leadership skills in a fitness, wellness and sport setting. This course will empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to inspire others, promote healthy lifestyles and drive success in fitness, wellness and sports within the CAF. Both formal and informal athlete leadership qualities will be practiced and applied through 'on the job' learning with peers.

It is structured into two separate 12-week units. Students are given the option to choose their preferred courses in both semesters, however the same course cannot be repeated twice.

Note(s):

This is a mandatory course.

Prerequisite(s):

ATE101, ATE201, ATE301

Contact Hours:

36

Credit(s):

0