Although nothing has been approved and no direction given to date, there are a lot of discussion and rumours regarding recreation and sports for the remainder of 2020. It is safe to say that Physical Distancing will be in place until a vaccine is found. This will have an effect on occupancy numbers in Town facilities, in change rooms, player benches and on the playing surfaces, spectator seating and lobby areas etc. Another matter which will affect us all, is insurance coverage.
As we are finding out, all insurance agencies are putting out notices that most policies, if not all, will have exclusion for communicable diseases. This will also have an impact on building cleaning. This is what we have been informed of to date but again, nothing official. Hockey Canada and Skate Canada have been advised there is no insurance coverage for communicable disease such as COVOD-19. This will play a huge factor in how we proceed. No corporation or association will want to take this liability on. Due to this, strong restrictions will need to be put in place to ensure occupancy numbers whether in the building, on the playing surface, in change rooms, in player benches, in lobby and spectator seating to keep physical distancing. This will not be an easy task.
We have been informed of 3 scenarios for this coming season.
1) September start up for development and try-outs. The new winter ice season (house league and rep), will start September 25.
2) The new normal ice season will start up in January 2021.
3) The 2020-21 ice season will be cancelled. Due to physical distancing there is talk of running a house league type system for all age groups (rep and house league) to control numbers and participants at any one time. (A change room that normally held 20 people can now only hold 8 to 10). Moving to a 4 on 4 player ratio or 3 on 3 player ratio.
What we do know, this season if there is one, will be different. We have a long road ahead us with very little direction at this time due to the unprecedented times. As directives from our Governments and Sporting Governing bodies are given, we will all need to work closely to adopt.
The Town staff will do our best to work with each of you, and to allocate ice as fairly and as equally as possible so we can all deliver a safe program for our youth and adults.