You can access the PDF version of this document here.

Dear Field Hockey BC Members

On behalf of all involved with Field Hockey BC (FHBC), I would like to thank the membership for its continued patience as we all navigate the complexities of the COVID-19 response. This is especially relevant to the ongoing effort being made to allow for the BC Organized Sport Sector to responsibly return to play.

Further to Communique # 1 circulated earlier this month, I wanted to reassure our membership that every effort continues to be made to develop a ‘phase one’ framework for a responsible return. FHBC has already completed a second edition draft framework for consideration in ‘phase one’, a framework that will assist our community clubs and associations to provide for a consistent return at the local community level. As we all adapt to the unique nature of the COVID-19 response, a third draft framework edition is pending upon receipt of the latest Provincial Health Authority guideline for sport. As a reminder, such a framework considers the essential areas outlined within Communique # 1 which are as follows:

• Field Facility Access – Field Management Plan
• Facility Operations – Park Management Plan
• Participants – Athlete and Coach/Leader Numbers, Protocols and Checklists
• Sport Programming (Recreation and Skills) – Lesson/Activity Plans and Management of Equipment
• Activity Liability and Accident Insurance and First Aid

In anticipation of requests for such a framework, it remains FHBC’s intention to take the following steps (PSO – Provincial Sport Organization – LSO – Local Sport Organization):

1. to receive the latest Provincial Health Authority and Work Safe BC guideline update from the Provincial Government (PSO)
2. to adapt the PSO recommended return to play framework as may be required – third edition (PSO)
3. to submit the PSO return to play framework for approval (PSO)
4. to liaise with club stakeholders and facility operators to frame what a return looks like at a local community level – based on the necessary guidelines and the PSO approved framework (PSO/LSO)
5. to develop individualized and/or collective club stakeholder frameworks for a ‘phase one’ return (LSO)

Your Society continues to work with Sport BC, the BCRPA, viaSport, Municipal and Private facility providers, and Provincial Government Agencies to consider the necessary environment for a responsible and confident return. In order to provide for such responsibility and confidence, two key areas are currently being considered at some considerable length (both of which are pivotal to a ‘phase one’ return):

1. An appropriate Permissions Protocol for a responsible, consistent, and confident return

Over the course of the last few days, the Provincial Government changed the permissions protocol for Organized Sports’ return to play from a Provincial Health Authority assessment and sign-off to an internal assessment and sign-off now deferring to the internal governance structure of each sport. As such, a deferral of this kind now requires a sports internal governance structure to interpret Provincial Health Authority guidelines and approve a framework for a responsible return. Certainly for FHBC and as is the case for the majority of Organized Sports across BC, this then falls squarely on the voluntary board governance structure of Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO’s). In light of this change in protocol and the obvious risks associated, a proactive lobby back to the Provincial Government is underway.

2. The necessary insurance liability and defense cost coverage to protect organized sport against COVID-19 related legal action

It goes without saying that in order for our sport to confidently return, there is a need for adequate insurance protection. This past week has seen insurance underwriters reinforce their position as it relates to COVID-19 and whilst the news is disappointing for most, it is not necessarily unexpected. What this means to Field Hockey across Canada and indeed a large percentage of PSO’s across BC, is that there is currently no provision for liability and defense cost coverage associated with COVID-19 related claims or lawsuits. Field Hockey’s insurance underwriter ‘Markel Canada Ltd’ states “regardless of the organization having the Contagion Exclusion or not, Markel will not provide defense for COVID-19 related claims or lawsuits”. Again in light of this change in insurance coverage and the obvious risk associated, both a proactive lobby back to the Provincial Government, as well as, a similar approach to the insurance industry is underway.

So understandably as your heart potentially drops from reading this information, rest assured that field hockey in BC remains at the forefront of the political and bureaucratic effort to see organized sport responsibly return. Your PSO will be ready to assist in the creation of local community return to play planning and we will be ready to submit field hockey’s ‘phase one’ return to play framework for consideration and approval at the first opportunity.

With the seemingly daily changing COVID-19 response, please remain patient, optimistic and most importantly safe, as we all look forward to a responsible, consistent, and confident return.

Yours in sport,

Mark Saunders
Executive Director
Field Hockey BC                                                                                              May 15, 2020

On May 8th the Board of the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame announced the names of the athletes and builders who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.

In addition to four athletes – Bobby Ross (Rugby), Bob McLaren (Athletics), Joanne Mick (Softball) and Donnie Orr (Boxing) – our very own Pat Hall will be inducted as a Builder for Multi-Sports, along with the Vancouver Island Soccer League.

By Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame:

“For over 50 years, Pat has been involved with Field Hockey locally, provincially and nationally at all levels of the game from junior to senior. From 1961 to 1988, she was an active player with the Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association (VILFA). She began coaching in 1970 and umpiring in 1973, co-founding the South Island Field Hockey Umpires Association in 1988.

Although retiring as an umpire in 2000, Pat continues to coach teams in various divisions. Pat served on the executive of the VILFA for over 40 years and has held many positions on the Boards of the BC and Canadian Women’s Field Hockey Associations.

She has received numerous awards over the years including Victoria Sports Person of the Year, Sport BC President’s Award, VILFA Life Membership and, in 2013, the VILFA introduced the Pat Hall Officials Development Award.

Her contributions to Softball are almost as numerous. She became involved with the Stuffy McGinnis Softball League in 1960 and served as President from 1975-1993. From 1987 to 1999, Pat was Softball BC Senior District Coordinator and in 1996, led the restructuring of junior softball into three levels.”

Click here to read the full article.

You can access the PDF version of this document here.

‘Phase One’ – Recreational Activity and Skills Training

Dear Field Hockey BC Members

Over the past few days, Field Hockey BC has been involved in a number of digital forums targeted at an environmental analysis into what an appropriate and responsible return to play may look like, whilst of course adhering to current COVID-19 protocols, policies, and restrictions in place. As well as attending a number of informative Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) meetings, Field Hockey BC has also been invited by both Sport BC and the BCRPA to assist in helping to map out a set of principles and protocols that look to a return to recreational and skills based outdoor play. It is important here to emphasize that such an environmental assessment for a potential return MUST maintain social distancing and health and safety regulations in place and at this time ‘game based’ field hockey play is not in the frame. As an example, current areas for consideration include but are not limited to the following:

1. Field Facility Access – Field Management Plan
2. Facility Operations – Park Management Plan
3. Participants – Athlete and Coach/Leader Numbers, Protocols and Checklists
4. Sport Programming (Recreation and Skills) – Lesson/Activity Plans and Management of Equipment
5. Activity Liability and Accident Insurance and First Aid

As a passionate organized sport community, it is evident and understandable that many of us are eager to know when and under what conditions field hockey will be permitted to return to play. Field Hockey BC’s call to our community members continues to be one for patience as we work through what must be a consistent and responsible return.

Having said that, this does not mean we wait for planning and preparation to begin and as a result Field Hockey BC will continue to work with our organized sport, recreation, governmental, facility, and health sector partners to plan and prepare for a phased return to play. Investigation into the potential parameters for a ‘Phase One’ return began in earnest this week and as well as taking a provincial lead in the development of an environmental road map, Field Hockey BC will be compiling and circulating a series of community surveys that assist our sport specific planning for each phase of a responsible return.

What we do know for ‘Phase One’ consideration is that Field Hockey BC will be required to submit a recreational/skills-based action plan that MUST be vetted by the appropriate sport, recreation, and health authority. Sports will only be permitted to return to play having secured the appropriate permission to do so and NO CONSIDERATION will be made available until the Provincial Government announces the opportunity to do so.

In anticipation of questions here, it is very likely that such a ‘Phase One’ action plan will need to be followed by everyone within our field hockey community with limited or no flexibility in interpretation. To aid such an action plan and present a fun, safe, and progressive environment, Field Hockey BC will be looking to compile a library of activity options and we will be reaching out to community members for assistance and input into the ongoing development of such resources.

As we collectively look to navigate the COVID-19 response, we continue to encourage you all to stay safe and well and where appropriate invite you to take advantage of field hockey professional development opportunities and digital resource information available. We look forward to adding to this communique in the days and weeks to come.

Yours in sport,

Mark Saunders
Executive Director
Field Hockey BC                                                                                              May 1, 2020