The Review

COVID-19 and Hockey Play/Practice

Posted On: Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Public Health has recently investigated cases of COVID-19 associated with hockey teams. To ensure a safe return to hockey, the Ontario Hockey Federation and the province have provided guidance to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Public health works with teams to ensure safety of the team and the community. Public Health reminds hockey associations, parents, and players of the need to follow standard precautions, association guidelines and provincial law to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Hockey Play/Practice

Currently there are no outbreaks; that is, evidence of transmission from person to person, within hockey teams in Grey Bruce.

At this time, the Public Health recommends play and practice be limited to only within Grey and Bruce Counties. Hockey teams/leagues from the red (control) level or grey (lockdown) should not be playing with teams in Grey and Bruce Counties. As such, facilities should not be providing rentals to teams from those areas that prohibit team sports.

Public Health recommends limiting travel for only essential reasons, such as work, school or for medical reasons. Recreational, non-medical, social or leisure related reasons for travel would not be considered essential and are discouraged as per the provincial direction. For more information, please see: COVID-19 and Considerations for Travel (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca).

Individuals should be mindful of the risk of participating in team sports, and should not socialize with the team before and after training or the game

Across Canada, sports-associated transmission of COVID-19 has occurred from improper use of locker rooms, participants carpooling and socializing outside of their household, belonging to more than one team, improper travelling, and not wearing masks. It is extremely important that everyone abide by standard COVID-19 precautions and the rules for hockey, given that if transmission occurs within the team, it is likely that transmission will continue within households and workplaces as other jurisdictions have seen.

Additional Recommendations for Hockey:

Stay home if you have symptoms. If you get tested, and your symptoms have resolved, you must isolate until you received your results
Limit carpooling and socializing to those within your household
Wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers your mouth and nose when in an indoor area (e.g., entering/exiting facility, while coaching, as a spectator, etc.). For more information and exemptions (e.g., playing hockey), please see: FAQ for Wearing Masks and Face Coverings
Co-ordinate hockey teams to create a league that contains no more than 50 players. The league may only play and practice with members of the same league. A hockey association cannot expand leagues/bubbles/cohorts or join another league for additional play or practice if the resultant group has more than 50 players
Do not coach or play in more than one league
Maintain a two-metre physical distance (e.g., in the change rooms, spectator stands, players benches)
Limit time spend in change rooms. Use change rooms for changing only. Do not use change rooms for socializing, sharing food or beverages, etc.
Avoid physical contact during play
Clean and disinfect your equipment regularly. Do not share sports gear with other people
Practice frequent hand hygiene by using an alcohol-based hand rub or washing your hands with soap and water
If possible, play outside rather than indoors. Consult your municipality for outdoor rink protocols