Field Hockey BC

Organized Sport Sector now able to return to Tournament and Event delivery

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Return to Sport Restart 2.0 – by viaSport

Access the chart here.

NOTE: Previous Return to Sport Plans had sport groupings (i.e. Group A, B, C, and D sports) as well as a cohort model. These concepts no longer apply to the Return to Sport Restart 2.0. The focus for Restart 2.0 is indoor and outdoor. Sports must follow the restrictions based on if the sport is taking place indoor or outdoor (e.g. if a typical indoor sport shifts to an outdoor setting, the sport follows outdoor rules).

DISCLAIMER – VIASPORT BC RETURN TO SPORT GUIDANCE: viaSport’s role in the Return to Sport process is to communicate timely updates and information to help the sport community plan its return. This information from viaSport is not intended for legal purposes and all sport organizations and participants are reminded to follow all current health orders and recommendations set out by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer. For the full disclaimer, please click here.

RELEVANT LINKS
• viaSport Frequently Asked Questions
• Gathering and Events Order
• Travel Restrictions in BC
• WorkSafeBC
• B.C. Centre for Disease Control
• Mask Mandate Order
• COVID-19 (Limits on Actions and Proceedings) Regulation
• Workplace Safety (December 16, 2020)
• Government of BC COVID-19 Restrictions Information

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Documents & Older Communiques

Communiques

• March 20, 2020 – COVID-19 Consideration and Planning
• Communique #1 – Preparation for a Potential ‘Phase One’ Return to Responsible Play
• Communique #2 – Preparation for a Potential ‘Phase One’ Return to Responsible Play
• Communique #3 – Preparation for a Potential ‘Stage One’ Return to Responsible Play
• Communique #4 – Framework Approval for the ‘First Stage’ Return to Responsible Play
  
• Communique #5 – Responsible Return to Play – First Stage
• Communique #6 – Responsible Return to Play – Second Stage Framework Creation and Approval
• Communique #7 – Responsible Return to Play – Second Stage
• Communique #8 – Responsible Return to Play – Second Stage Update
• November 11, 2020 – New Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley Restrictions
• Communique #9 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Interpretation
• March 17, 2021 – PHO Order Update: Adult Outdoor Sport
• April 23, 2021 – New Travel Restrictions in BC
• Communique #10 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Interpretation (May 25th)
• Communique #11 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Interpretation (Second Edition from May 25th PHO Announcement)
• Communique #12 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Interpretation (from June 14th PHO Announcement and June 15th PHO Order Revision) 
• Communique #13 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Interpretation (Second Edition following the June 14th PHO Announcement and the June 15th and June 17th PHO Order Revision)
• Communique #14 – COVID-19 Response: Pending PHO Order Revision (Proof of Vaccination) – Advance Notice
  
• Communique #15 – COVID-19 Response: PHO Order Revision (Proof of Vaccination) – Gathering and Events
• Communique #16 – COVID-19 Response: FHBC (PSO) Return to Responsible Play Protocols – ATTESTATION PROTOCOL
• Communique #17 – COVID-19 Response: FHBC (PSO) Return to Responsible Play Protocols PHO ORDER REVISION – YOUTH SPORT SUPERVISORS PROTOCOL (PROOF OF VACCINATION)
• Communique #18 – COVID-19 Response: FHBC (PSO) Return to Responsible Play Protocols PHO ORDER REVISION – YOUTH SPORT SUPERVISORS PROTOCOL (PROOF OF VACCINATION) – Second Edition
• Communique #19 – COVID-19 Response: Organized Sport Sector now able to return to Tournament and Event delivery

Documents

• Field Hockey BC Regional Event Planning
• Modified Rule Changes and Guidance – Responsible Return to Play – August 2020
• Safe Return to Play: COVID-19 liability Insurance

Return to Play Frameworks & Attestation Form

• 2020 First Stage Responsible Return to Play Framework (amended October 22, 2020)
• 2020 Second Stage Responsible Return to Play Framework (amended September 29 2020)
• Template – COVID-19 Questionnaire and Attestation

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Responsible Return to Play FAQ

Can a member request a refund of the FHBC Membership Fee?

Membership registration fees will be refunded to all those registered members that do not get, or choose not to have, any opportunity to be active in field hockey programming or events in the current season.

Refunds must be requested by the member to FHBC. Any and all members not requesting an individual FHBC membership registration refund, will have their membership remain active until the end of the membership year (August 31, 2021). Should such registered members not have an opportunity to play field hockey in any capacity in the current season, then the option remains to request a refund or a credit to the following season.

Once a Field Hockey BC member has actively participated in the current membership year, regardless of the extent of such participation, membership fees are regrettably not eligible for reimbursement nor eligible for proration. This applies to both Field Hockey BC and Field Hockey Canada fees that form the full field hockey membership registration fee. Such a policy has recently been reviewed by the FHBC Board of Directors and applied to COVID conditions with the decision that membership fees would only be reimbursed to those members who have not actively participated.

For Club Fees’ refunds, please contact your club directly.

Can coaches and officials participate in more than one cohort?

The LSO’s safety plans – based on the  PSO’s (Provincials Sport Organization) framework and viaSport guidelines – will guide what an official can or cannot do. The FHBC framework and viaSport guideline continue to allow flexibility of movement for coaches or officials who are taking theses roles exclusively and that are able to maintain physical distancing protocols at all times. In this case, the PSO framework whilst recommending that officials be restricted to a single cohort, does allow movement to a second cohort as long as the official is able to maintain physical distancing protocols at all times. If an official cannot maintain physical distancing at all times then they are required to restrict participation to a single cohort.

Whose responsibility is it to provide sanitizing stations to the participants?

This would be a decision for the facility operator in the first instance and thereafter the LSO (Local Sport Organization).

Whose responsibility is it to put up signage related to COVID-19 measurements at the facility?

Signage for activities are responsibility of the LSOs running the activity.

Should volunteer Safety Officers have a FHBC Membership?

Yes. The FHBC Membership provides insurance coverage for every registered member involved in the activity, including full liability coverage to COVID-19 relate cases. Therefore, Safety Officers should register under the “Officials” membership type.

Is the Attestation Form completion and collection mandatory?

Yes. Attestation form completion by each participant ahead of every training session is mandatory. Attestation Forms are required to comply with health screening prior to activity, in the ability to track activity participants, and should an outbreak be applicable, to identify the contact group and monitor the isolation period required. It is understandable that this is a logistical challenge, however, it is in place to protect everyone associated with the activity.

Can an activity extrapolate field ratios and cohort limits by just 1 or 2 people?

No. Field ratios and cohort limits were developed to allow for the confident application of physical distancing rules and follow the PHO recommendations.  The zonal configuration and assessment of participant ratios was also made in consultation with technical and management staff at the club level in BC.

Does FHBC needs to approve the club’s safety plan?

No. FHBC does not need to approve the LSO plan; the LSO is required to formally approve it.

Can players share or be loaned equipment for sessions, if they don’t have them?

No. As much as we recognize the additional cost of such equipment to players, safety must come before convenience for a responsible return to play. The protocol should be for no sharing of equipment. For players who may have limited financial resources, KidSport and JumpStart financial assistance programs that could help in securing an individuals equipment by offsetting their player registration costs.

What should be done if a participant develops COVID-19 symptoms during a session?

This speaks to the framework requirement for an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to be in place for the facility and session (illness policy and exit protocol from the facility). Any participant exhibiting signs of illness should follow a facility exit protocol as soon as signs of illness are identified and then follow a minimum of a ten-day period prior to return to activity. It further recommends that the participant obtain a referral to a health care provider should the following symptoms be evident:

– COVID-19-like symptoms
– Common cold symptoms
– Influenza (flu) symptoms
– Symptoms of any other infectious respiratory disease

Should such symptoms lead to a COVID positive test, then provincial and/or municipal health authority direction takes precedence for return to activity.