With just 36 sleeps until registration day, we wanted to let all of our participants, supporters and volunteers know what actions we are taking to help ensure the safety of all of our participants as we restart. As all of us have seen since March of 2020, taking reasonable precautions can make a difference, and we want to continue to do that, while still ensuring that everyone involved enjoys the experience of being involved in a team sport. Above all, we ask that everyone be kind, patient, and understanding throughout the season as we gat back to basketball.
Below is the Return to Play Protocols document that we as a league have developed, based on the ALCDSB guidelines and guidelines from the KFL&A Health Unit, along with our own ideas to help allow a safe return to play.
Pete Petersen Basketball League COVID 19 Protocols
2022-23 Season
All eligible individuals are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, unless there is a medical reason to not receive a vaccine, by the Ministry of Health and the Ontario Chief Medical Officer.
This protocol applies to the following groups and is subject to change dependant on any specific decisions by the ALCDSB or the KFL&A Officer of Health regarding restrictions:
a) All executive members and league volunteers
b) All players
c) All visitors to the gyms on game nights
For League executive members and volunteers only:
1. You must present a valid vaccination certificate provided by the Ministry of Health showing that you are “fully vaccinated”. By definition this is two doses, although booster doses are recommended.
2. Written proof of a medical reason, provided by either a physician or nurse practitioner that sets out.
a. That the person cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19. Please refer to approved medical exemption requirements, as stipulated by the Ministry of Health). The exemption must clearly indicate the reason why the individual cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19 (i.e., clear medical information that supports the exemption).
3. Individuals subject to this protocol who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or who do not disclose their vaccination status, must complete a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 and demonstrate a negative result prior to entering the gyms on game nights. This test must be completed at the gym in the presence of a league executive member and at no cost to the organization.
For all players and visitors to the gyms on game nights, league executive and volunteers:
If you have any of the following symptoms do not come to the gyms:
• Fever (feeling hot to the touch, a temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or higher)
• Cough that’s new or worsening
• Shortness of breath (feeling out of breath, unable to breathe deeply)
• Sore throat
• Runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
• Stuffy or congested nose (not related to seasonal allergies or other known causes or conditions)
• Lost sense of taste or smell
• Headache that’s unusual or long lasting
• Digestive issues (nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain)
• Chills
• Muscle aches that are unusual or long lasting
• Extreme tiredness that is unusual
Signs reminding participants of these symptoms will be posted at gym entrances.
If you test positive for COVID 19 we ask that you not return to play for five days or until you have a negative COVID test.
On Game nights and during organized group activities:
1) Hand sanitizer will be available at a location to be designated and at the scorers tables in each gym. We encourage all players to use the hand sanitizer when entering the game.
2) Chairs will be spaced out in the gym more than they have been in the past and we encourage mask wearing if you are a spectator. Anyone wishing to wear a mask in the gym is doing so by choice and no questioning of this decision will be tolerated.
3) Our traditional post game hand shake line will be discontinued. Alternatives to this sportsmanship gesture will be determined in each division.
4) Hand held electronic whistles will be available for game officials wishing to wear a mask.
5) For player evaluation nights we will be restricting the number of player participants to 24 per session (30 for Graduate Division evaluations)to minimize the number of people in the gym.
6) Passive screening signs will be posted at the entrances to the gyms.
7) For the two ball tournament in November we will be restructuring the event to reduce crowd size at any one time in the gym.
8) A sneeze guard with a pass through window will be used at the St. Francis of Assisi canteen.
