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Jana G. Purden of the Edmonton Journal reports that the University of Alberta has cut its women's field hockey program. The decision was made without warning to team coaches or players.

The University of Alberta coach Stefanie Sloboda commented that the decision to cut the sport from the U of A could devastate the sport at a university level. The way in which the decision was made was also extremely disappointing. As described by Jana Purden in her article:

Sloboda recently returned from India, where Canada's national women's and men's field hockey teams were competing at an Olympic qualifier.

She said she walked into a meeting at the university last week expecting to discuss the renewal of her contract. Instead, she learned the program's funding is being withdrawn entirely, and the 16-member Pandas team will be removed from competition in Canadian Interuniversity Sport and Canada West University Athletics Association.

Their last season wound up in November.

"It was very confusing and very shocking," said Sloboda, who played on the team from 2000 to 2004 and has coached for the last five years.

"I feel like our hands have been tied."

There were 19 women lined up to play on the team next year, she said.

Reade said the program costs the university about $120,000 annually, and doesn't have the broader community support needed to bring in extra money through ticket sales, sponsorships or sports camps.

The full article is available online here: http://www2.canada.com/story.html?id=6247602

If you are upset about this decision, feel free to contact the director of athletics at University of Alberta. His contact information is available here: http://www.bears.ualberta.ca/en/ContactUs.aspx

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