Bulletin #:   I2020-063

Date:           June 15, 2020

To:               Club Membership

CC:              Ontario Soccer Board of Directors, Staff

From:          Johnny Misley, Chief Executive Officer

Subject:      Province of Ontario Announces Further Regions Moving to Stage 2 of their provincial plan

Ontario Soccer, in consultation with Canada Soccer and governmental sport and public health advisors, continues to monitor the most recent developments surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Ontario Government announced last week that it is increasing the social gathering limits from 5 to 10 people and that it will be taking a regional approach, in their Stage 2 plan, for the re-opening of the economy.

Also included in this announcement was the directive that Outdoor Amateur Team Sports can begin “training” under Ontario Soccer Phase 1 in specific regions of the province. This directive took effect, Friday, June 12, 2020. 

At the time, it announced the Public health unit regions which were allowed to move into Stage 2 as of Friday, June 12.

The Province of Ontario has now added to their Stage 2, seven (7) new Public Health Unit Regions as of June 19, 2020 shown in bold below (with applicable District Soccer Association inserted):

• Algoma Public Health (Sault Amateur Soccer Association)
• Brant County Health Unit (Hamilton Soccer)
• Chatham-Kent Public Health (Lambton-Kent Soccer Association)
• Durham Region Health Department (Durham Region Soccer Association) NEW
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit (Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association)
• Grey Bruce Health Unit (Southwest Regional)
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (East Central Ontario Soccer Association)
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit (Hamilton Soccer) NEW
• Halton Region Health Department (Peel Halton Soccer Association) NEW
• Hamilton Public Health Services (Hamilton Soccer) NEW
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (Southeast Ontario Soccer Association)
• Huron Perth Public Health (Southwest Regional)
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health (Southeast Ontario Soccer Association)
• Lambton Health Unit (Lambton Kent District Soccer Association) NEW
• Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit (Southeast Ontario Soccer Association)
• Middlesex-London Health Unit (Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association)
• Niagara Region Public Health Department (Niagara Soccer Association) NEW
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Soccer Northeastern Soccer Association)
• Northwestern Health Unit (Soccer Northwestern Soccer Association, Soccer North)
• Ottawa Public Health (Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association)
• Peterborough Public Health (East Central Ontario Soccer Association)
• Porcupine Health Unit (Sudbury-Regional Soccer Association)
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts (Sudbury Regional Soccer Association)
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services (Southwest Regional)
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit (Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association)
• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (Huronia District Soccer Association)
• Southwestern Public Health (Lambton Kent District Soccer Association)
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit (Soccer Northwestern Soccer Association)
• Timiskaming Health Unit (Soccer Northeastern Soccer Association)
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (Southwest Regional)
• York Region Public Health Services (York Region Soccer Association, North York Soccer Association, Scarborough Soccer Association) NEW

The following regions will remain in Stage 1 of the provincial plan until it is safe to move into Stage 2:

• Peel Public Health (Peel Halton Soccer Association)
• Toronto Public Health (Toronto Soccer Association, North York Soccer Association, Scarborough Soccer Association)
• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (Essex County Soccer Association)

The above regions and District Soccer Associations have not been approved as of yet to commence with Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play “Phase 1 Training”.

Ontario Soccer is mirroring the Government of Ontario regional approach for the restart to sports this summer, with 31 Public Health Units now cleared to move to Stage 2 of the government’s plans.

Please be advised of the following critical sport specific steps and directives from Ontario Soccer in alignment with Canada Soccer on soccer’s implementation plan.

1. Ontario Soccer has now been provided through the Province of Ontario, direction on Return to Play safety protocol and guidelines.
2. Canada Soccer and the Ontario Soccer Board of Directors have both approved Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Guide and Plan. The plan can now be implemented by Ontario Soccer affiliated Clubs and Academies where regionally permitted to do so.
3. All affiliated Clubs and Academies must read and understand Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Guide (the plan) – Protocols and Recommendations document.
4. All affiliated Clubs and Academies must prepare their own Return to Play Plans for use within their membership. Use of Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Guide (the plan) is encouraged.
5. All affiliated Clubs and Academies must complete Canada Soccer's Risk Assessment Tool. Please do not complete this tool until you have completed step 3 and 4 above. Do not forward or share the online link tool with others. 

The Canada Soccer Online Risk Assessment Tool was sent directly to Club and Ontario Registered Academy Administrators last week. If you believe your Club or Academy Administrator has not received the Online Risk Assessment Tool, please contact Patty Forbes, Director, Administrator.

The Ontario Soccer Return to Play Guide/Plan consists of a three-phase approach that includes:

Phase 1: Return to Training (modified training)  

Conditions: All Phase 1 Return to Train conditions are met

Restrictions: No contact, no league, exhibition, festival or tournament games

Phase 2: Return to Training and Modified Games (enhanced training & modified games)

Conditions: All Phase 2 Return to Train conditions are met

Inter-squad and Intra-squad modified games permitted (only within the Club/Academy)

Restrictions:   No league, exhibition, festival or tournament games

Phase 3: Return to Soccer (regular competition, games and training)

Conditions: Social distancing restrictions have been lifted

Restrictions: None

The phases outlined above apply equally to all recreational, competitive and high performance level soccer.

Note: Ontario Soccer will determine timelines for each Phase in alignment with the Province of Ontario provincial health authorities involving government orders, restrictions and guidelines. This will be communicated via future Action Bulletins when applicable.

Return to Play Education Webinars for Ontario Soccer membership will be scheduled starting the week of June 22, 2020. It will include a 30-minute presentation on the Return to Play Guide and 30 minutes for questions and answers. Please look for upcoming Information Bulletins with further details. Pre-registration will be required.