Return to Play – Step Two: Effective Wednesday, June 30th, 2021

The Government of Ontario announced on June 24th that the province will enter Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen effective Wednesday June 30th at 12:01AM. Step Two of the Roadmap focuses on the resumption of more outdoor activities with smaller crowds where risk of transmission is lower. This includes: outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people & outdoor fitness classes, personal training and outdoor sports training (no contact) with no specified limit on the number of participants.

Public health and workplace safety measures will continue to apply across all steps, including maintaining physical distance, capacity limits and wearing face coverings in indoor spaces and whenever physical distancing is a challenge.

NOTE: Check with your Public Health Unit (PHU) to ensure that it has not issued instructions to businesses and the community which limit reopening or impose specific protocols for safely conducting activities locally.

Step Two – Implications for Basketball

  • Outdoor sports training may continue without contact, there is no limit on the number of participants as long as physical distancing can be maintained
  • Spectators are permitted at 25% capacity
  • Sessions may only be training for team members – No games or scrimmages permitted in Step Two.
  • Indoor use closed except for high-performance athletes and day camps or overnight camps
  • Coaches should be gradually phasing players back into activity in order to reduce risk of injury.
  • Players should bring their own basketball and water bottle – No sharing of equipment.
  • Coaches are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to each training session.

Registration Process

Players must be registered with Ontario Basketball for outdoor activities using the link below. Instructions on how to register through SportSavvy can be found here.

Register through SportSavvy

Clubs or Coaches interested in running their own programs will register their team through the link above for $50 per team, $5 for each player and $10 per coach. Registration will cover individual insurance. For outdoor space to be covered, insurance must be requested separately by the affiliated club. This is applicable until August 31st, 2021. In the event that indoor facilities are open clubs will need to request additional insurance certificates at that time. More on OBA insurance.

Coaches or Administrators on site must record the following information in relation to each activity:

  • Name and contact information for every participant.
  • Have players complete an Attestation of Health and declare no recent travel history.
  • OBA Participant Attestation template, as a Word document or .pdf:    Microsoft Word    PDF
  • This information does not need to be submitted directly to OBA but should be kept on file by the coach or administrator in case contact tracing is required.

Transfer Policy

Due to the nature of the team registration, Ontario Basketball’s Transfer Policy will be temporarily waived.

Funding Opportunities

  • Ontario Basketball announced last week additional funding available to affiliated member OBA clubs as they prepare for return to play. This is intended to cover expenses incurred up to December 31, 2020. Applications close on June 30th.
  • The Coaches Association of Ontario announced today their Return to Coaching Community Grant, which will help coaches with return to play costs (including purchasing PPE and individual sporting equipment). Applications close on August 8th.

ICYMI:

  • Clubs or Coaches interested in running Ontario Basketball’s Mega Hoops program can now purchase kits through the OBA online store. The program is comprised of eight one-hour sessions geared at the Active Start and FUNdamentals age groups and includes a basketball and t-shirt for every participant. Package costs are: $300 for a package of 10; $500 for a package of 25; $1000 for a package of 50.
  • Check out our outdoor court map and add your local court information!

Further details on Step Three and beyond of provincial re-opening will be determined and announced at a later date.

For more information on what is and is not permitted in Step Two of re-opening, please see the Government of Ontario’s media release: Ontario Moving to Step Two of Roadmap to Reopen on June 30

For details on Step One: Ontario to Move to Step One of Roadmap to Reopen on June 11

 

Disclaimer: 

The information included in this post is current for the time of publishing and is aligned with the current recommendations from national and international bodies, and the Ontario government. However, recommendations may change depending on daily provincial, local and global COVID-19 situation reports; local resources, including local Public Health Unit (PHU) authorities, should also be consulted for up to date information.

This is Ontario Basketball’s recommendation based upon the regulations, but it is subject to the interpretation of the Ontario government and local health units. Until COVID-19 is fully eradicated, there will still be a risk of contracting the virus when participating in any public activity.

The information and recommendations outlined above should be used to develop individual plans that evaluate the unique risks that each training environment presents. The above information is to supplement and not to replace applicable law and the information provided by public health authorities. Individuals, in consultation with a medical professional, should also assess and evaluate their own personal risks. The above information is not legal advice.

The enforcement of the above guidelines and any additional restrictions is solely at the discretion of the local PHUs and other authorities. Ontario Basketball strongly recommends that member clubs notify local PHUs about their intention to use these guidelines, highlighting the proposed times, locations and planned activities. Any additional recommendations or restrictions from the local PHUs would be enforceable on a case-by-case basis and would be in addition to those listed in these guidelines.