Hockey Nova Scotia has released their plan today to get players back on the ice for the 2020-21 season.
The Rebound Plan meets public health guidelines in the province and aligns with Hockey Canada’s Safety Guidelines and the province’s approved COVID-19 Return to Sport Guidelines. It focusses on the health of players and provides guidance to help associations, leagues, and members get players safely back on the ice.
“The health and safety of our members and their families is our number one priority,” said Arnie Farrell, president of Hockey Nova Scotia. “This plan has been developed with public health advice in mind. This is about getting back to the sport we love safely. The game will look different for a while but skill development, having fun, being part of a team, and working hard won’t change.”
The following changes will be implemented this season and are subject to change.
The following guidelines are included in the plan. They may be reassessed if public health guidance changes:
- No tryouts in August or September for minor hockey associations.
- Players and coaches will arrive at the rink at a specific time and leave immediately following the hockey activity.
- Where possible, players, coaches, and officials should plan to arrive and depart the arena dressed in their hockey equipment.
- Players who are under age 13 can be accompanied by one guardian. Players aged 13 and above are encouraged to enter the rink without a guardian.
- Physical distancing of two metres (six feet) will be maintained at all times unless in a group of 10 or less as per the public health guidelines.
- When possible, groups of 10 should remain consistent for hockey activities.
- The sharing of water bottles and hockey equipment is prohibited. Water bottles must be filled at home and labeled.
- While on the ice, players and coaches must not remove their helmets and gloves.
- Hockey associations, leagues, programs must designate a League/Association Safety Rep. Each team must identify a Team Safety Rep.
- The Safety Repsare responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is distributed.
- Screening of players, coaches, officials, and administrators is mandatory. This will be done by the Safety Reps.
- Hockey Nova Scotia will provide specific training for Safety Reps and coaches.
Any summer hockey programming, including camps, must follow the guidelines set by the Rebound plan.
In addition to these protocols, Hockey Nova Scotia says each facility will also have its own health protocols which must be followed as well.
