(updated on 11/20)

Dear Field Hockey BC Members,

Please take the time to read the message below from viaSport’s CEO, Charlene Krepiakevich, regarding new province-wide restrictions coming into effect immediately. As stated by the communique, “By order and direction of the PHO, all individuals, places of work and businesses in B.C. must significantly reduce social interactions and travel”.

With that in mind, sport practice can only continue under the following conditions:

• No spectators are allowed at any sport activities under the order. The only people allowed to attend are those that provide care to a participant or player (e.g. providing first aid).
• Travel to, from and between regions for athletic activities like games, competitions, training and practice is restricted under this order.
• Games, competitions, training and practice can continue without spectators and restricted to your local community. Until the written Order and public health guidance are released, we recommend that sport organizations err on the side of caution and stay close to home for now.
• Masks are required in all indoor public settings. We recommend that sport organizations err on the side of caution and wear a mask in all indoor public settings, including lockers, change rooms, etc.
• High performance athletes already training in B.C. and identified by CSI-Pacific are excluded from the sport-related restrictions. 

Dear sport leaders,

I hope this email finds you well. In the event that you missed the message from B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) on province-wide restrictions coming into effect November 19 at midnight, here is what we know.

By order and direction of the PHO, all individuals, places of work and businesses in B.C. must significantly reduce social interactions and travel. The order is in effect from November 19, 2020 at midnight to December 7, 2020 at midnight and includes information about sport activities.

At this time the written order has yet to be posted; however, information is posted on the Province’s website here with the following referring to sport:

Games, competitions and practices can continue under these conditions: 

• No spectators are allowed at any sport activities under the order. The only people allowed to attend sport activities are those that provide care to a participant or player. For example, providing first aid. 
• Travel to, from and between regions for athletic activities like games, competitions, training and practice is restricted under this order.
• Games, competitions, training and practice, such as those outlined in the viaSport Phase 3 Guidelines, can continue without spectators and restricted to your local community. Until the written Order and public health guidance are released, we recommend that sport organizations err on the side of caution and stay close to home for now.
• Masks are required in all indoor public settings. We recommend that sport organizations err on the side of caution and wear a mask in all indoor public settings, including lockers, change rooms, etc.
• High performance athletes already training in B.C. and identified by CSI-Pacific are excluded from the sport-related restrictions. 

Since the announcement earlier today, we have heard from many of you as you seek clarity on travel, allowed activities and new safety precautions. Please continue to raise any questions you have about this order with us. We will continue to work with the Province on ensuring sport can continue to be safely played in B.C. during this pandemic.

Sincerely,

 
Charlene Krepiakevich
CEO, viaSport

by viaSport

The order and direction of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) about Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley restrictions is now final and posted on the Provinces’ website.

The Order and what it means to sport:

The Order States: “No person or municipality may provide or host and no person may participate in an indoor sport unless the sport involves no physical contact between the participants.”

• Clarification: Indoor sports can only conduct physical distanced activities. This does not mean all indoor sports are in Phase 2. Some Phase 3 activities may be possible as long as physical distance can be maintained along with other safety measures that we have implemented in return to sport (e.g., increased cleaning protocols).

The Order States: “No person may attend as a spectator at an indoor sport activity unless this is necessary to provide care to a participant.”

• Clarification: We understand that “unless necessary to provide care to a participant” can be interpreted many ways. We are working with public health to provide more clarity.

The Order States: “No person may travel to or from the affected area or between the regions of the Fraser Health Authority and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority for any sport related activity, including practice, training, games or tournaments, unless they are an identified by Canadian Sports Institute Pacific as a high performance athlete affiliated with an accredited provincial or national sports organization and are already training in the affected area and subject to the safety guidelines of their provincial sports organization.”

• Clarification: The Order now clearly states that travel is not permitted for these or any sport activities. However, high performance athletes and their coaches are permitted to travel to, from and between the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Health regions. High performance athletes are individuals that have been identified to a targeted athlete list with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific by their PSO or NSO.

The Order States: “No person or municipality may provide or host and no person may participate in a group indoor fitness activity until guidelines for group indoor fitness activities have been approved by the provincial health officer and the person or municipality who provides or hosts the activity has submitted an updated safety plan in accordance with those guidelines with respect to the activity to the Medical Health Officer and the safety plan has been approved. Once a safety plan has been approved, it must be posted in a place easily visible to participants.”

• What it means: Group indoor fitness activities (e.g., dance, spin, etc.) will need to have an approved plan before they are able to reopen and operate again. This Order is NOT required for sport. We understand that some sport organizations have been receiving conflicting information directly from health officials, but now that the Order is available we will work with health agencies to improve the interpretations and communication.

Provincial health officer orders are always a last resort, but right now these additional measures are required in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions. We need everyone to re-double our efforts to protect our communities.

Please access http://ow.ly/tiyU50CiX7D for more information.

The application deadline for this position has been extended to Sunday, November 15. You can access the PDF version of this document here.

FHBC Board of Directors – Community Recruitment Notice

Vacant Position of Coaching Director

Dear Field Hockey BC Members,

On behalf of the Field Hockey BC (FHBC) Board of Directors, I am writing to inform BC stakeholders that there is an exciting opportunity for an individual to apply for consideration to become a voluntary member of the FHBC Board of Directors. The Board Member vacancy is in the position of Coaching Director, a position that provides for Society leadership and oversight across both the coach development and coach education portfolio. The FHBC Board of Directors are keen to consider the appointment of a Coaching Director to take on the reins for this portfolio for the remainder of the current term (to February 2022 when this position is next due for election).

A summary of the duties of the Coaching Director is as follows:

• Provide strategic and policy oversight targeted at the promotion of formal coach education course delivery (NCCP) and other instructional activities throughout BC for the development of coaches;
• Promote and encourage the development and circulation of instructional materials for coaches (professional development for coaches);
• Assess the strategic merit in offering a formal provincial coach mentorship and coach talent identification pathway;
• Serve as a member of the Board of Directors, be a member in good standing of the Society, and wherever possible:
  • Attend all FHBC Board Meetings;
  • Attend the FHBC AGM (held in the calendar month of February annually).

And through the recruitment and support of a Coaching Standing Committee:

• Assist in the development of a strategy to recruit people into coaching;
• Provide coaches with up-to-date coaching resources;
• Implement the mandatory coach certification levels, as appropriate;
• Consider innovative ways in which to further the coach educational learning experience;
• Consider a mentoring and talent identification process/program within FHBC programming;
• Ensure that coaches are duly recognized (coaching awards).

I would very much like to invite anyone interested in this role to return an expression of interest to info@fieldhockeybc.com with the title “Coaching Director” by a deadline date of November 15, 2020. Such an expression of interest should include a brief statement as to your motivation for consideration, your background, qualifications and/or experience in the field of coaching and what excites you about this opportunity. I very much thank you for your due consideration and assistance in moving this portfolio forward.

Yours in sport,

Margaret Johnson
Vice-President
Field Hockey BC
October 23, 2020