Dear Ontario Volleyball Family,
On Monday July 13, 2020, Premier Doug Ford announced certain approved communities of Ontario could move into Stage 3 of the Ontario Re-Opening plan as of Friday July 17, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and then subsequent communities on Friday July 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
In Stage 3 of Ontario’s Re-Opening Plan, gathering sizes for outdoor training is up to 100 participants and indoor training is up to 50 participants. In addition, game play is now allowed by the government. However, deliberate physical contact is prohibited during game play but breaching physical distancing while on the court is allowed.
To coincide with the Premier’s announcement, the Ontario Volleyball Association is excited to release the approved Outdoor Volleyball Return to Play Protocols - Version 2.0. These Protocols will provide Clubs and beach volleyball service providers in Stage 3 communities with the tools necessary to help bring back beach and grass volleyball in our province and give guidance on how to reintroduce game play while avoiding deliberate physical contact while in game settings or in training.
The Stage 3 documents include:
- Outdoor Volleyball Return to Play Protocols Version 2.0
- Return to Play Protocol Acknowledgement Form
- Daily Health Screening Questionnaire
- Session Participation and Health Screening Tracking
- Ontario Volleyball COVID-19 Waiver
- Club Assessment Risk and Mitigation Tool
- OVA Return to Play - Team Training Drills Without Contact
- Club Education Tools
- COVID-19 Club Response Plan Template
- Back to Operations – Starting the Conversation with your facility tool
We appreciate that after reviewing the documents there may be some questions, so we will be holding a Townhall session on Zoom on Monday July 27, 2020 at 7:00pm. You must register in advance by clicking here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIvcuGvpjIvH9Owire-pMMfKFCmGHkwiVSk.
After registering via Zoom, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting and how to pre-submit questions. If you are unable to attend, we will be posting the video recording to our Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
These Protocols and supporting documents are necessary in order to support a safe return to the sport and are based on current Ontario statutes and regulations, current public health requirements and directives, and OVA’s desire to make our sport safe for all. These Protocols are subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws, regulations, by-laws and orders as they may exist from time to time.
Return to Play Protocols and documents may be updated at any time; please be sure that you are referring to the most recent version which will be posted from time to time on Ontario Volleyball’s website at https://www.ontariovolleyball.org/ova-return-to-play.
The OVA’s Outdoor Volleyball Return to Play Protocols – Version 2.0. must be followed by all member clubs, athletes, coaches, or service providers offering outdoor/beach volleyball programming if they are in Stage 3 approved communities. Failure to follow these protocols will result in your activities not being covered by OVA insurance and potential fines and other penalties from local bylaw authorities. If you community is still a Stage 2 community, you must continue to follow the OVA’s Outdoor Volleyball Return to Play Protocols – Version 1.3.
As a part of the protocols, the following must be completed prior to delivering outdoor volleyball programming in your community:
- Review the Outdoor Volleyball Return to Play Protocols – Version 2.0
- Complete the Club Assessment Risk and Mitigation Tool
- Fill out the OVA Return to Play Protocol Acknowledgement form and email it back to the OVA office via info@ontariovolleyball.org.
- Draft and implement all required plans, policies and mitigation strategies required per the Protocols
- Follow physical distancing government regulations at all times, except when athletes are playing on court.
- Be aware of which stage your Club or program falls in within Ontario’s Re-opening plan
- Follow all Government and public health protocols and laws for a safe return to sport.
The OVA staff are continuing to work diligently on the creation of the Indoor Volleyball Return to Play/Activity Protocols for Stage 3 ready in the coming weeks. We appreciate your patience as we work through these unprecedented times.
In order to continue to offer safe training opportunities that respect current public health rules, many procedures and mitigation strategies will have to be put in place by clubs, coaches and organizers running outdoor volleyball activities as of July 13th. Physical distancing must be respected, and all individuals must stay at a minimum of 2-metres apart at all times while off the court.
The OVA believes that sports are an essential ingredient for the physical and mental health of all participants. The 12,000+ members of the OVA are positive about carefully returning to their favourite sport, even if volleyball must be modified to respect the current government orders.
Please continue to check the Ontario Volleyball COVID-19 page on our website dedicated to resources, communication and Return to Play information