BC Athletics Updated Provincial Health Orders - June 16, 2021

Changes in Health Order issued on June 15, 2021

Please refer to our Step 2 Return to Sport FAQ for more details

Changes in the Health Order issued on June 2

Revised June 2nd, 2021

• Adults may now participate in “In-Club” events.
• Events are no longer restricted to “In-Club Performance Trials”. They may be classified as meets, mini-meets or competitions.
• Physical Distancing removed while in competition - OUTDOORS.
  • When outside of the competition area maintain 2m Physical Distancing. Masks to be used in situations where distancing may not be maintained (IE first aid treatment).
  • In event distancing has been lifted.
    • Sprints and lane events – every lane permitted.
    • Field size restrictions are removed, please set with advice of your Meet Officials, not to exceed the World Athletics (Rule 215) per heat athlete tables.
      • 800m = all lanes and boxing permitted.
      • 1500m = 16
      • Steeple / 3000m = 18
      • 5000m / 10,000m = 18
      • The two week recommendation has been removed for Distance Runners.
    • Jumps – maintain 2m distance when not in jumping.
    • Throws – maintain 2m distance when not throwing.
• Cohorts are not required, adults may participate with varsity and youth;
• A maximum of 50 people may be on site, including athletes, coaches, officials and trainers – FOR VARSITY AND ADULT GROUPS, OR A MIX OF YOUTH & ADULT.
  • There are no size restrictions on youth groups, but BC Athletics recommends to keep the youth group size under 100 at any one time / within the capacity of the event area, unless otherwise stated by your municipality or facility.
  • Rotating groups are permitted, sanitizing touch points in between groups. Limit interaction between groups.
  • No spectators.
• Travel:
  • Athletes may only travel to their home club or facility for training, practices or events (within their region)
  • CSIP athletes may travel within their region (Lower Mainland / Interior – North / Island) for competition and training.
  • Sport Canada athletes may travel within the Province for competition and training.
  • CSIP and Sport Canada athletes must have been in the Province prior to November 19, 2020 to be eligible under the high performance exemption.
    • Athletes that meet BC Athletics Performance Standards may be added to the CSIP list, when standards are achieved, apply online.

 

Safety and Sport Requirements remain in place, including attendance tracking and symptom checks.

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GENERAL SPORT REQUIREMENTS

1. Social Gatherings:
   1. No in-person social gatherings of any size (indoor and/or outdoors), before or after sport.
2. Training Environment Safety - Daily Screening:
   1. A daily screening should already be included in every club and training groups existing COVID-19 safety plan. Conduct routine daily symptom screenings for all coaches, volunteers, and participants. Wellness questionnaires and use of self-assessment tools are recommended.
      1. BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.
      2. SAMPLE Athlete Check-In Document

3. Attendance Tracking:
   1. Organizers must collect the first and last names and telephone number, or email address, of everyone who attends a training session or competition.
   2. Retain this information for thirty days in case there is a need for contact tracing on the part of the medical health officer, in which case the information must be provided to the medical health officer.
   3. Destroy the information after thirty days.
   4. Avoid having athletes change training groups from day to day or week to week.
4. 2nd Claim Club Memberships:
   1. Athletes who hold a 2nd Claim Club Membership, are asked to select a single club for this period and train with just one club.
5. Mask requirements in public INDOOR settings:
   1. As part of the Province-wide restrictions currently masks are required for all public indoor settings.
   2. As outlined in the mask mandate order, masks are required for everyone in many public indoor settings. A face shield is not a substitute for a mask as it has an opening below the mouth.
   3. The Ministerial Order for Face Coverings (M012) remains in place; however, Section 4G of the order outlines that face coverings are not required while participating in a sport activity at a sport facility. Masks are required within the facility when not participating in the sport (or off the field of play). Standards for exercise differ and should follow Indoor Exercise Requirements
   4. For more information please refer to the Province-wide restrictions and the mask mandate order contained within.
6. Spectators
   1. No spectators are allowed at any youth, varsity or adult sport activities under the order. The only people allowed to attend sport activities are those that provide care to a participant or player. For example, care provider, coaches or person designated to provide first aid.
7. For all age groups, except CSIP, ONLY travel to your home club / facility is permitted, where your club / group regularly trains or practices.
8. Individuals should avoid carpooling with other club/group members.

 

FROM THE ORDER PUBLISHED ON MAY 28.

G. SPORT FOR CHILDREN OR YOUTH

1. A person may permit an inside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide, or may participate in sport for children or youth, if the following conditions are met:

a. participants maintain a physical distance of three metres from one another and do not engage in handshaking, high fives, hugging or similar behaviour;

b. the focus is on activities that have a low risk of COVID-19 virus transmission;

c. no person is present as a spectator, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a child or youth who is a participant.

2. No person may permit an inside place to be used for, or may provide, or may participate in sport for children or youth in an inside place, unless the conditions in section 1 are met.

3. A person may permit an outside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for sport for children or youth.

4. A person may provide or participate in sport for children or youth in an outside place.

5. No person may permit an outside place to be used for, or may provide or participate in sport for children or youth in an outside place, unless the conditions in section 6 are complied with.

6. No person may be present as a spectator at sport for children or youth, in either an inside or an outside place, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant.

 

F. VARSITY SPORT

1. A person may permit an inside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide, or may participate in varsity sport in an inside place, if the following conditions are met:

a. the participants are members of a varsity sport team;

b. participants maintain a physical distance of three metres from one another when engaged in sport and do not engage in handshaking, high fives, hugging or similar behaviour;

c. the focus is on activities that have a low risk of COVID-19 virus transmission;

d. no person is present as a spectator, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant;

e. a participant only trains or practices with the post-secondary institution with which the participant is enrolled, or with respect to which the participant is a confirmed recruit, as permitted by and in accordance with the  requirements of the body which governs the varsity sport.

2. No person may permit an inside place be used for, or may provide, or may participate in varsity sport in an inside place, unless the conditions in section 1 are met.

3. A person may permit an outside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide or may participate in varsity sport in an outside place, if the following conditions are met:

a. no more than 50 persons participate in the varsity sport, including coaches, managers, trainers, and any other person involved in an official capacity;

b. no person is present as a spectator, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant.

4. No person may permit an outside place to be used for, or may provide or participate in varsity sport in an outside place, unless the conditions in section 3 are met.

5. No person may be present as a spectator at varsity sport, in either an inside or an outside place, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant.

 

G. GROUP SPORT (Adult Sport)

1. A person may permit an inside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide, or may participate in group sport in an inside place, if the following conditions are met:

a. only two persons participate;

b. the participants maintain a distance of three metres from one another while engaged in the group sport, unless the participants reside in the same private residence;

c. there are no spectators, unless the presence of a spectator is necessary in order to provide care to a participant

2. No person may permit an inside place be used for, or may provide, or may participate in group sport in an inside place, unless the conditions in section 1 are met.

3. A person may permit an outside place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide, or may participate in group sport in an outside place, if the following conditions are met:

a. no more than 50 persons participate in the group sport, including coaches, managers, trainers, and any other person involved in an official capacity;

b. no person is present as a spectator, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant.

4. No person may permit an outside place to be used for, or may provide or participate in group sport in an outside place, unless the conditions in section 3 are met.

5. No person may be present as a spectator at group sport, in either an inside or an outside place, unless the presence of the person is necessary in order to provide care to a participant.

 

H. TRAVEL FOR SPORT

1. No person may travel for children and youth team sport or group team sport, including for training, practice, games or tournaments.

2. Section 1 does not apply to travel by a person to the person’s home club at which the person regularly trains or practices.

3. Despite section 2, a person to whom section 2 applies may not travel for individual sport, or to the person’s home club sports facility, in contravention of an order restricting travel within the Province made under the authority of the Emergency Program Act.

 

I. HIGH- PERFORMANCE ATHLETES

1. Parts, E, F, G, and H do not apply to high-performance athletes.

2. A person who is a high-performance athlete who was training in the Province as of November 19, 2020 may train, practice, compete and travel for that purpose if the person follows the COVID-19 safety protocols of the provincial or national sports organization with which the person is affiliated.

3. Despite section 2, a person to whom section 2 applies may not travel for the purpose of training, practising or competing in contravention of an order restricting travel within the Province made under the authority of the Emergency Program Act.

 

High Performance Sport Definitions and Requirements of BC Athletics and CSI-P

1. High performance athletes, professional athletes and professional performers are not included in the age restrictions and travel portions of the order, but have specific travel restrictions below from OTP/CSI. To qualify as a high performance athlete, you must be:
   1. Identified by the Canadian Sports Institute Pacific as a high-performance athlete affiliated with an accredited provincial or national sports organization.
2. Continuing to follow the safety guidelines of the local and your provincial sports organization.
3. Current guidelines limit group gatherings to a maximum of 50 (all persons on-site) and continued use of physical distancing (3m) outside of competition, mask and hygiene measures.
4. Competitions - High Performance athletes may participate in competitions that are within their health region. These competitions can be outside of their home club, mixing with other high performance athletes. Clubs should host high performance events or sections separate from Club competition events.
5. In order to become an eligible High Performance Athlete and participate in High Performance Competitions:
   1. BC Athletes must be enrolled in the BC Athletics High Performance Program (identified athlete list) - will link once on the website.
      1. Those BC athletes who meet the core and performance are eligible to apply (BC Athletics High Performance Criteria)

 

Expansion on High Performance Travel Restrictions​​​ Clarifications

1. CSI Pacific is asking National Sport Organizations NOT TO TRAVEL into British Columbia during this restriction period for sport training. CSI Pacific is asking National Sport Organizations NOT TO TRAVEL into British Columbia during this restriction period for sport training.

2. Those National Sport Organizations with established training groups in B.C. with CSI Pacific identified athletes who have athletes and staff already training in British Columbia can continue to follow the provincial health order exemption.  Accredited BC Provincial Sport Organizations with CSI Pacific identified athletes have exemptions to continue sport in the province, but must be aware of guidelines below:
   1. Athletes and staff who may be returning to their training group from outside of BC or travelling into BC must continue to follow OTP SMAC guidelines which state that:
      1. Inter-Provincial Travel: Sport team members (athletes and staff), on return to a BC training environment from inter-provincial travel, require a 14-day self-isolation period prior to return to facilities and training groups. This can be shorted to a 5-7 day self-isolation period upon return, with a negative COVID-19 test performed on the fifth day (or later) after their return.
         
         Approved High Performance Athletes entering British Columbia, must follow the same guidelines, requiring a 14-day self-isolation period prior to return to facilities and training groups. This can be shorted to a 5-7 day self-isolation period upon return, with a negative COVID-19 test performed on the fifth day (or later) after their return.
         
         Sport team members traveling within BC only (i.e. not leaving the province) do not need to self-isolate after their travel.
      2. International Travel: Sport team members (athletes and staff), on return to a BC training environment from international travel must adhere to the current federal government mandated 14-day quarantine period. This cannot be shortened for any reason, unless an exemption is granted directly to the sport organization by the Government of Canada.

3. No athlete or staff will be able to use CSI Pacific / AC Hub facilities unless the above guidelines are adhered to. No athlete will be allowed to compete in approved High Performance meets unless they appear on the BC Athletics Targeted Athlete List, another Provincial Branch High Performance List (approved by AC), or the Athletics Canada CAPP list (see above).

4. CSI Pacific is able to facilitate asymptomatic testing to assist in returning to training. Please view our COVID webpage at http://www.csipacific.ca/covid-19 for more information

This PHO Order is in place until further order or revision by the PHO Office, at which time government officials will determine if extensions or changes are required based on COVID-19 transmission data. For now, we ask that you share this information through your membership as soon as possible, however, recognize the challenge this may pose during the spring season.

More information on BC Athletics "Return to Sport" policies and guidelines can be found online here.