Download the PDF version of this communique here.

Dear Field Hockey BC Members,

Following Return to Responsible Play meetings with viaSport BC this afternoon, I am writing to provide a community update following the latest Provincial Government announcement and PHO order revision, as well as a follow-up on the previous FHBC Communique #11 sent out on May 31st, 2021.

As promised, FHBC will be providing updates as new information is received regarding the interpretation of Provincial Health Office (PHO) order announcements and expectations for the Organized Sport Sector. As anticipated, there are again areas of this latest announcement regarding PHO order interpretation and ‘Restart 2.0’ that require further clarification, however the following is sent as both a reminder and in the case of points 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 11 an important update:

1. Both Adult members and Youth members may return to Outdoor field hockey activity.
2. Activity is NO LONGER restricted to a ‘Home Club’ and the associated local outdoor facility(s). Organized Sport travel within BC is now permissible having been re-designated and included under recreational travel within the latest PHO order revision. The ‘Home Club’ restriction is therefore removed.
3. See point 2 above – Travel is NO LONGER restricted to a ‘Home Club’ and the associated local outdoor facility(s) – noting adherence to the current PHO Regional Travel Restriction still applies.
4. Physical Distancing is no longer required for outdoor field hockey activity.
   • This is restricted to the designated field of play AND field infrastructure (team bench areas). Off-field physical distancing of 2m and associated COVID-19 safety plans must still be adhered to.
5. Adult group size on any single outdoor field facility should be restricted to within the ‘Rule of 50’. This group size limit includes Coaches, Officials, Managers, Trainers, and other Supporting Personnel.
6. BOTH Adult and Youth group size on any single outdoor field facility should now be restricted to within the ‘Rule of 50’. The previous discretionary maximum group size for Youth has now been revised to bring alignment between Adult and Youth activity. This group size limit includes Coaches, Officials, Managers, Trainers, and other Supporting Personnel.
   • Subject to Municipal and/or Operator/Owner rules and regulations, LSO’s may now decide what is reasonable in the numbers of Youth members able to access a single outdoor field of play facility. Municipal or Operator rules and regulations must be adhered to which may require adherence to specific group size limit set by the Municipality or facility Operator.
7. There is no need or requirement to form participant cohorts.
8. With no requirement for cohort modelling, members within a ‘Home Club’ may interact within a training and/or game play environment.
9. COVID Safety Plans must still be in place and adhered to.
10. Attestation Form completion ahead of participant activity is still required.
11. Outdoor Spectators (up to a maximum of 50) are now permitted. Municipal or Operator rules and regulations must be adhered to which may require adherence to a specific spectator size limit set by the Municipality or facility Operator.
12. The requirement for a new PSO Responsible Return to Play Framework aligning to ‘Restart 2.0’ still requires further viaSport BC and Provincial Government guidance.

Further FHBC Return to Responsible Play communiques to the membership will follow as FHBC receives greater clarity and interpretation over the days and weeks to follow. In the meantime, FHBC very much appreciates our memberships continued patience as we progressively move towards Step Three of the Provincial Government Restart 2.0 plan.

For further detail regarding Field Hockey’s COVID-19 response and to access information on the Provincial Government Restart 2.0 plan, as well as Responsible Return to Play Framework documentation, please refer to the Field Hockey BC website at: https://fieldhockeybc.com/covid-19-response/. Further reference material can be found on the viaSport BC website at https://www.viasport.ca/return-sport.

Yours in sport,

Mark Saunders
Executive Director
Field Hockey BC
June 15, 2021