OBA basketball activities to resume on January 31, with spectator limits
* Updated January 31, 2022 *
The Government of Ontario announced on January 20 that additional public health measures enacted on January 5, 2022 will be gradually eased effective January 31 at 12:01AM. Indoor sports will be allowed to resume, subject to:
- Capacity limits at 50% in indoor public settings, including non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities;
- Limiting the number of spectators to 50% capacity or 500 people, whichever is less;
- Requiring proof of vaccination (or medical exemption) for all patrons 12 years and 12 weeks of age or older;
- Requiring masks or face coverings to be worn at all times, except for when engaging in athletic or fitness activity, or consuming food or drink. Mask requirements do not apply to children under 2, nor to anyone with a medical condition that inhibits their ability to wear a face covering.
Subject to any additional local public health restrictions, the Ontario Basketball League (OBL), club and team activities (practices, training, etc.), and sanctioned tournaments will be able to resume effective January 31.
The detailed regulations, shared on January 28, also include:
- Removing the requirement for most businesses to collect patron information for contact tracing. This is aligned with recent changes to the testing and case and contact management guidance and will allow businesses to focus their efforts on the enforcement of other public health measures in these settings, such as masking requirements. Public health units continue to have the ability to raise awareness of significant exposures warranting notification, such as through news releases.
The chart below, provided by the Government of Ontario, summarizes the gradual easing of public health measures across the province. On February 21, spectator limits at recreational facilities are expected to be lifted – Subject to stable or improving health indicators.
Enhanced Proof of Vaccination
Since January 4, 2022, the Province has required that enhanced QR code vaccine certificates be shown by participants and patrons and the ‘Verify Ontario’ QR code scanning app be used by facility operators in settings where proof of vaccination is required. OBA participants are encouraged to download/print the enhanced vaccine certificate with the QR code if they have not done so already at the link below.
Get your enhanced vaccine certificate
Ontario Basketball League & OBA Championships
As a result of the provincial announcement on January 20, subject to any additional local public health restrictions, the OBL will be allowed to resume effective the weekend of February 5-6, 2022.
Updated OBL schedules for all age divisions can be found here. If any changes or cancellations are required after the detailed Regulations are released, we will advise affected OBA participants as soon as possible.
The remaining OBL weekend games will determine a team’s re-ranking placement for the OBL Championship weekend. As this has been a relatively condensed and restrictive competition season, the OBL Championship weekend results will be weighted heavily when determining final rankings for OBA Championships. Teams who are not participating in OBL but are still interested in registering for OBA Championships are welcome to still do so.
OBA Championships deadlines will be extended for an additional 2 weeks from current deadlines to accommodate the halt of basketball activities in January. Updated Championship registration deadlines are listed here. Please note that due to current COVID-19 limitations at facilities, participation may be capped at a certain number of teams for each event.
As always, facility-specific COVID-19 policies (i.e., spectator policies and other requirements of patrons) are summarized here. OBL patrons are reminded to respect the rules of each facility.
Links
O. Reg. 364/20: RULES FOR AREAS AT STEP 3 AND AT THE ROADMAP EXIT STEP