WELCOME BACK TO IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN 1 | 12 a message from ONTARIO LACROSSE about this Return to Play Guide The Ontario Lacrosse Association is proud to be a leading lacrosse community both at home in Canada and throughout the world where our members can enjoy, value and celebrate the benefits of active participation and excellence in women’s field lacrosse, minor & men’s field lacrosse and box lacrosse. Since 1994, lacrosse has been declared Canada’s Official Summer Sport. It is a fundamental part of our heritage, and we look forward to being together again to play, coach, officiate and watch this great game. In January of 2020, the Province of Ontario identified the first recorded case of COVID-19 in Canada. Since that time, the world we knew changed drastically. The OLA’s Board of Directors and Return to Activity Task Force members carefully examined available resources to eventually navigate the process for and possibility of returning to play, while remaining committed to our foundation of prioritizing the health, safety and wellbeing of the Ontario Lacrosse community. As the final installment of our Return to Activity series, this Game On! Guide lays out the general requirements to create a safe environment to protect our sanctioned members at all levels and disciplines of play. We recognize that players, coaches, officials, team support staff and administrators will all need to make adjustments as we transition back to play in the middle of our traditional lacrosse season, and our path will be guided by common sense and flexibility throughout the 2021 season. Our collective return to lacrosse will not be linear, and it will require flexibility from everyone involved. It is imperative that the resumption of lacrosse training activities and games not compromise the health of individuals participating or the communities in which we operate. Provincial, municipal and community restrictions throughout Ontario have necessitated specific measures to allow us to return to the sport we love, and it is important that they are followed for the benefit of everyone. The Ontario Lacrosse Association has worked diligently with its members and experts to prepare our participants in the safest possible manner. Certain sections within this guide remain incomplete. As the Provincial Government continues to work through the resumption of society, access to safe sports opportunities remain a priority. Some information has not yet been shared with Provincial Sports Organizations including the OLA, but will be become available in the coming days and weeks. As information continues to be published, this guide will be updated with the latest information. On behalf of the OLA’s Board of Directors and staff, I extend a heartfelt thank you to Ontario Lacrosse community for your continued support throughout the last year and a half. We look forward to seeing you all on the fields and floor across Ontario again soon! Wishing everyone continued health and safety. Yours in lacrosse, Jim Bomhof, Ontario Lacrosse Association President Jim Bomhof 2 | 12 Vaccination rate plus key health indicators training: STEP 1 Step 1 Based on trends in key health indicators, including the provincial vaccination rate, Ontario is expected to enter Step 1 of 60% the Road Map on June 11, 2021. Step One is very similar to “Red Zone” under the previous colour coded framework. This section is subject to municipal or community regulations, which may differ slightly from provincial guidance. Adults with one dose Group Limits Practice / Training Spectators Permitted with restrictions 12 Participants Max Skills & Drills Sessions Only One Parent / Guardian For Each Outdoors first (10 Players + 2 Coaches) 3m Distance / No Contact Participant Under 18 Years Old Outdoor team sports – training Facility Limits Registration Travel only, group of 10 players Based On Facility Protocols Completed Online Travel Between Health Units maximum, 3 metres distance at And Community Regulations Must Include Pre-Screening Is Not Currently Restricted all times Closed for indoor use except for high-performance athletes, social services and physical therapy Record Keeping Risk Management Hygiene Maintain Attendance Club Safety Plan Required Shared Equipment Begins: Records For 1 Month Sanitized After Use June 11, 2021 +21 days before the next stage 3 | 12 Vaccination rate plus key health indicators playing: STEP 2 Step 2 Ontario will remain in Step 1 for approximately 21 days, and will move to Step 2 when the province has vaccinated 70% of adults 70% with one dose and 20% of adults with two doses, as well as if there are positive trends in public health system indicators. Adults with one dose 20% Fully vaccinated League Size Practice / Game Play Spectators Permitted with restrictions No Limits On League Size Rules Must Be Modified To Open To 25% Of The Open indoors with small numbers Or Participant Groupings Avoid Physical Contact* Usual Seating Capacity and face-coverings, and expand outdoors Outdoor sports leagues allowed League Structure Hygiene Registration with some restrictions Leagues And Zones Can Shared Equipment Is Completed Online Schedule Outdoor Games Sanitized After Use Must Include Pre-Screening Waterloo Region will not be part of the movement to Step 2 until approved by the Region’s CMO. Record Keeping Risk Management Face Masks Maintain Attendance Club Safety Plan Is Required Masks Are Worn When Scheduled Start: Records For 1 Month For Presentation On Request Players Are Not Participating June 30, 2021 * Temporary modified game playing rules for this period +21 days before the next stage are part of a separate “Step 2 Playing Rules” document 4 | 12 Vaccination rate plus key health indicators playing: STEP 3 Step 3 Ontario will remain in Step 2 for at least 21 days, and will move to Step 3 if the province has vaccinated 70-80% of 70-80% adults with one dose and 25% of adults with two doses, as well as if there are positive trends in the public health system. Adults with one dose 25% Fully vaccinated League Size Game Play Spectators Permitted with restrictions No Limits On League Size Information Coming Soon Information Coming Soon Expand indoors where face Or Participant Groupings coverings can’t always been worn Indoor sports leagues allowed League Structure Hygiene Registration with some restrictions Information Coming Soon Shared Equipment Is Completed Online Sanitized After Use Must Include Pre-Screening Outdoor sports leagues allowed with some restrictions Indoor training for professional Risk Management or amateur athletes and/or Record Keeping Face Masks competitions with restrictions Maintain Attendance Club Safety Plan Is Required Masks Are Worn When Records For 1 Month For Presentation On Request Players Are Not Participating Projected Start: July 21, 2021 5 | 12 facility safety Equipment Benches Dressing Rooms Pathways • Players and coaches only touch • Players should be spaced evenly • If dressing rooms are used, • Follow all entry and exit the ball or goal nets with their apart on benches with physical players and officials must wear instructions sticks - officials do not touch the markers to use as guides face masks until the beginning of balls at any time the game/session • Use physical distancing markers • Shared surfaces (benches, gate (pylons, sticks, etc.) • Participants’ equipment should be latches, etc.) must be disinfected • Players must be spaced evenly kept on at all times during a game after each cohort’s event apart in dressing rooms, with • Shared pathways should be (extra equipment should be stored physical markers used as guides utilized single file inside of the vehicle) • Non-playing personnel on the bench must wear their masks at • Where dressing rooms are not • Parents, guardians and spectators • Personal water bottles with all times used, players and officials should must wear masks at all times names clearly printed on the front arrive to each game/session should be used • Minor officials and table dressed and ready to participate • Communicate separate entrance personnel must wear their masks and exit pathways to participants • Coaches should have access to at all times to minimize crossover sanitizing products Staying Safe Volunteers, parents, guardians, spectators, players, coaches and officials all have a role to play in keeping programs safe for everyone involved. There will be continual adjustments to the way that we move through the Ontario Steps, but patience and understanding will help to make the experience enjoyable for everyone. Lessons and guidance from Public Health Authority measures and community experiences over the last year (schools, workplaces, gyms, etc.) all apply during OLA sanctioned programs and events. 6 | 12 communications officer Clear and open communication will be an important part of returning safely to the field / facility so that all members understand what protocols and guidelines are in place. Each club must assign a person who will be responsible to ensure all updated and relevant information is passed on to everyone. Communications Officers are responsible for: Ensuring club representatives have all current information from the municipality or community concerning facility use, including all face mask requirements for non-participating persons Liaising with the appropriate OLA Sector Vice President to provide timely feedback of unique circumstances not included within this guide Receiving and storing all session attendance information within the club for the purpose of contact tracing in accordance with the OLA Privacy Policy and OLA Confidentiality Policy Cooperate and release information only to the appropriate public health authorities for the purpose of contact tracing when requested to do so Ensuring that a physician has provided medical clearance for anyone who has contracted COVID-19 Maintaining regular contact with the officiating communications officers to maintain an open dialogue and to assist in keeping up to date with any changes to the information in this guide The Ontario Lacrosse Association recommends that clubs host pre-activity meetings with players (age-appropriate), coaches, parents and administrators to communicate a number of important topics.