Ontario Basketball Return to Play Guidelines for Phase 4

April 1 Update: Ontario Basketball’s Return to Play process is currently on pause as the province enters another lockdown period. No organized basketball activity should take place in Ontario during this time. All zones are now “Gray” lockdown zones as of Saturday, April 3, at 12:01 a.m per the Ontario Government and Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts.

Please refer to Ontario government Rules for Areas in Stage 1 (Gray zone) section 48 (4):

“For greater certainty, no indoor or outdoor sports or recreational classes are permitted at any indoor or outdoor sport and recreational facilities.”

The following OBA Return to Play Protocol will resume following the province-wide lockdown being lifted;

Ontario Basketball (OBA) is pleased to announce “Return to Play” guidelines for Phase 4 of our multi-phased approach to safely resuming basketball activities.

First and foremost, please remember that all the current restrictions and those that will come into effect as we reach next stages, are imposed by the Ontario Government and medical health authorities. Enforcement of government restrictions is subject to each public health unit (PHU) and individual facilities may choose to enact further restrictions.

Teams in Stage 3 regions (Green, Yellow and Orange zones) may now begin scrimmages within team practices and form cohorts of teams to resume competition with modified gameplay rules to avoid contact.

Restrictions differ by region according to public boundaries and have been given a color-coded framework. Find your zone using the Ontario Government’s PHU map or the Ontario Basketball Clubs by PHU tool.

Ontario Basketball recommends a two-week “conditioning window” for teams to ramp up activity before cohorting for OBA-sanctioned games. Please note that this phase of sanctioning will not include referees.

See OBA’s updated Return to Play FAQ page

A Town Hall live session by OBA is planned for Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 6:30pm to answer any questions. Watch on;
YouTube – https://youtu.be/-W6CvqEwGSQ

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/OBABBall/videos/149813077031176

This document outlines working timelines, recommendations, modifications, and precautions that support a phased Return to Play plan while following health and safety measures at all times. We encourage our members to read and share these guidelines for Phase 4 and the OBA will continue to update these guidelines as restrictions are lifted.