COVID – Confederation Hockey Club

Confederation Hockey

COVID-19 Update - January 8, 2022

The Confederation Hockey Club continues to monitor the developing COVID-19 situation, taking our lead from the Government of Alberta (“GOA”), Alberta Health Services (“AHS”), the City of Edmonton, Hockey Edmonton and Hockey Alberta.

As the spread of the Omicron variant grows, we have received an increased number of COVID-related inquiries from our players and volunteers. Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions and a reference to the applicable guidelines from the GOA and AHS (as at today’s date).

If I or my player test positive for COVID, how long should I stay away from the rink? Alberta’s new isolation requirements were effective January 3 and require as follows:

Fully vaccinated (2 doses or 1 dose Janssen): Isolate for 5 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition. For 5 days following isolation, wear a mask at all times when around others outside of home (including on the ice during games and practices).
Not fully vaccinated (1 dose or less): Isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms or until they resolve, whichever is longer, if symptoms are not related to a pre-existing condition.

If I or my player test negative but have symptoms, how long should I stay away from the rink? Stay at home and away from others until symptoms resolve. See isolation requirements here.

What if I or my player are a Close Contact or a Household Contact, but have tested positive for COVID recently? If you had COVID-19 in the last 90 days, and have recovered, you do not need to stay home unless you develop symptoms. AHS guidelines for Close Contacts and Household Contacts can be found here.

The health screening feature on TeamSnap tells me to stay home but AHS/GOA guidelines do not require me to isolate (or vice versa). What should I do? We continue to encourage teams to use the health screening feature of TeamSnap. We recognize that the questions and guidelines on the screening questions are general and with how quickly the guidelines are changing, are not necessarily up to date. The purpose of the Health Screening is to prompt all players and volunteers to self- evaluate their health and risk status before all team events. At times, the questions may not align with AHS and GOA guidelines. We ask that all players and volunteers follow the most up to date AHS and GOA guidelines which can be found here.

See also this chart from Hockey Alberta to assist in determining whether and when you can return to play.

Finally, we encourage families to have open conversations with your coaches or manager to express your level of comfort with your child continuing to play should there be one or more positive cases on your team. We understand that the level of comfort with a positive case on your team will vary from parent to parent, player to player and team to team. One parent may feel comfortable with their player playing even with several teammates that tested positive over a period of time, whereas another may feel that one positive case is more exposure than they are comfortable with. These are personal decisions, and we encourage you to do what is right for your family and to refrain from judging what risk others may find acceptable. We are all in this together.

Stay safe.

Confederation Board of Directors

COVID-19 Update - October 5, 2021

The Confederation Hockey Club continues to monitor the developing COVID-19 situation, taking our lead from the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the City of Edmonton, Hockey Edmonton and Hockey Alberta.

A few updates and reminders for our Confed families as the season is underway:

Restriction Exemption Program: The City of Edmonton continues to require proof of vaccination, a negative test result or documentation of a medical exemption for entrance into City facilities. See our September 17, 2021 update for more details.
- Please cooperate with rink staff, who are doing their best to implement the City of Edmonton’s requirements.
- A parent or guardian should be present at the rink at all times for U7 and U9 players. Please ensure that the parent or guardian bringing the player to their practice or game is able to comply with City requirements to gain admittance to the rink.
Masking: Masking continues to be required for all indoor activities. While the City of Edmonton has clarified that coaches are not required to be masked while on the ice, Confed strongly encourages all coaches to remain masked at all times, both on and off the ice.
Team Snap: Please continue to complete health checks in Team Snap. Families are required to self-monitor for symptoms and decide whether players should play, having consideration to Alberta Health guidelines.

As always, we will share more information as it becomes available.

Thank you for your part in keeping our kids playing. Stay safe.

Confederation Board of Directors

COVID-19 Refund Update - September 24, 2021

For the 2021-2022 season we have edited our Refund Policy to extend refunds to September 30.

Players in U7 SR Timbits, U9, U11, and U13 that withdrawl on or before September 30, 2021 for COVID reasons are eligible to apply for a refund of 80% of fees minus $25 Administration Fee.

Players in U7 JR Timbits and U7 Discovery that withdrawl on or before September 30, 2021 for COVID reasons are eligible to apply for a refund of 100% of fees minus $25 Administration Fee.

COVID-19 Update - September 17, 2021

The City of Edmonton announced today that it will adopt the Government of Alberta’s Restriction Exemption Program. Starting on Monday, September 20, anyone 12 years of age and older using a public City facility (including arenas) will be required to show one of:

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

September 20 to October 25: proof of a single dose is considered acceptable as long as the dose was given more than two weeks before the time of entry
After October 25: proof of double vaccination is required

A recent negative test result

Tests must be privately-paid COVID-19 PCR or rapid tests completed within 72 hours before accessing a program or service
Tests must not be from Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories

Documentation of a medical exemption

During the initial stages of this program, please plan to arrive at the rink earlier than normal. Please be patient with City employees as they review patrons’ individual vaccination status or recent negative test results.

This program is a directive from the City of Edmonton. The Confederation Hockey Club must comply with the program if we wish to use City facilities.

For more information, please see:

City of Edmonton - News Release

Government of Alberta - COVID-19 Public Health Actions

All other COVID measures detailed in our September 15, 2021 email notification remain unchanged at this time, with the exception of this change regarding vaccinations.

As always, we will share more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience. Stay safe.

Confederation Board of Directors

COVID-19 Update - September 15, 2021

Pursuant to the restrictions announced by the Government of Alberta, effective September 16, 2021, youth (under 18) sport, fitness and recreation activities are permitted to continue as follows:

Indoor group classes, training and competitions are permitted, but participants must:
1. Screen for symptoms;
2. Maintain 2 metres distanced, except youth while engaged in physical activity; and
3. Wear a mask, except youth while engaged in physical activity.
Spectator attendance is restricted to ⅓ fire code capacity, attendees are limited to a single household or two close contacts if living alone and must be masked and maintain 2 metres physical distancing.

Confederation Hockey Club interprets these restrictions as allowing continued play, within the restrictions noted above. All players and coaches should continue to do health checks on Team Snap. All players, coaches and parents must remain masked when indoors; only players (not coaches) can remove masks while on the ice / engaged in physical activity. Some coordination may be required within teams to limit spectator attendance at practices and games.

Confederation Hockey Club continues to encourage other best practices to stay safe at the rink:

Vaccinations: There is no requirement from Hockey Alberta for an individual to be vaccinated to participate in amateur hockey with a Hockey Alberta member organization at this time. The Confederation Hockey Club continues to urge its eligible players, families and coaches to get vaccinated.
Continued health and safety practices, including:
1. Physically distance whenever possible, including in dressing rooms
2. Avoid handshakes, fistbumps, etc. whenever possible
3. Fill your own water bottle at home (clearly labelled)
4. Arrive partially or fully dressed in equipment whenever possible
5. Limit number of people in dressing rooms

We will share more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your support. Stay safe.

Confederation Board of Directors

2021-2022 COVID Information - Updated August 27, 2021

The Confederation Hockey Board would like to share information to families for the upcoming 2021/22 hockey season.

With Provincial restrictions lifted, based on Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan, Hockey Alberta has developed a Ready for Hockey’s Return resource document for participants.

Additionally, Hockey Edmonton has shared the following information:

The Edmonton Federation Hockey League and our 33 Member Associations continue to monitor the Covid-19 pandemic as the 2021-2022 season approaches. Many of our athletes will be returning to the rink over the next several weeks as conditioning camps and associations evaluations begin to take shape.

The EFHL had implemented several changes last season prior the start of the season in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus during the shortened season, some of these initiatives included the following:

Social distancing in dressing rooms and stands for players and spectators
Home team handles the off ice officials area of timekeeping and game sheet management and recommended volunteers from same household
No shaking hands of teams or referees before or after the game
Optional masking in facilities, dressing rooms and benches

These are some of the initiatives that were put in place last season to protect players, coaches and spectators. Until we have more information and are closer to the start of the season the EFHL has put out the following document to assist families by providing some best practices when returning to the game.

COVID-19 Best Practices 2021-2022.pdf

We realize players, parents, coaches and volunteers have varying levels of risk tolerance. We also know the most effective weapon in the battle against COVID is the vaccine. If they haven't already done so, we strongly urge eligible players, parents, coaches and all other team officials to be double vaccinated as soon as possible. It is the best, scientifically proven way to avoid contracting COVID. It also reduces the effects of the symptoms should you get the virus.

Confed Hockey understands that everyone has varying levels of comfort with respect to what COVID protection measures are necessary in a group setting. We are also aware that the majority of players in the Confed Hockey program are under the age of 12 and have not received a vaccine.

To ensure that our program remains an option for the maximum number of our families, Confed Hockey will require participants to complete their own health checks before coming to the rink. Participants should not attend the rink if they:

Have received a positive COVID test result or are waiting for the results of a COVID test
Are experiencing the following COVID symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition: cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell or taste
Are a close contact of a person who has tested positive for COVID
Have travelled internationally in the last 14 days

Other recommended measures for participants include the following:

Masking in facilities and change rooms
Arriving with equipment on to limit time in the change rooms
Maintain physical distancing in change rooms
No sharing of water bottles
If eligible, getting double vaccinated

We will share more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your support; we look forward to a great season and everyone working together.

Thank you,

Confederation Board of Directors

Resources:

Hockey Alberta - Hockey Alberta Ready for Hockey's Return 2021-2022

Hockey Edmonton Update

City of Edmonton Arena Use Guidelines

Alberta Health Services Open for Summer Plan