2021 Bel-Air Football Club Return to play

Dear Parents / Players,

Welcome to the 2021 Football Season!

This year there are a lot of extra measures and protocols that have been added to ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers and families. This document will help outline the steps and required documentation from our governing body that will need to be completed by each participant/volunteer in order to step on the field. 

All Bel-Air Football families will be provided with forms from the OFA in addition to a contract tracing log that will be completed at every practice. 

While we will be collecting personal information regarding each coach, volunteer and player to comply with provincial and municipal regulations, this information will remain confidential , to be shared only when required for health and safety reasons and will be done in accordance with guidelines.  Logs will be kept on file for 5 years as per Ontario Health guidelines.

Everyone’s circumstances are different. If you don’t feel your child or children are ready to return to football, there’s no pressure. Everyone’s health, well being and safety are the priorities.

All my thanks to the Bel-Air Football Families 

John Smith
President
Bel-Air Copeland Lions / Norsemen Football Club


Bel-Air Football COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Players, Parents and Coaches

The health and safety of our players, families and volunteers is our number one priority. The below protocols will help ensure that we are able to provide the players within our club an opportunity to to play football this season. Our ability to continue our activities is dependent on 100% compliance in all areas from everyone. As a result of the directives outlined by the OFA,  Ottawa Public Health and in conjunction with the agreed protocols by all NCAFA teams, Bel-Air Football Club is enacting the following protocols:

Protocols Common to All: 

1. Physical distancing rules must always be followed (3m on the field, 3m off the field). 

2. No person should come to practice if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been exposed to anyone who has symptoms. A 14-day isolation period will be required before returning to practice.


Protocols for Bel-Air Football: 

1. Access to the field will be strictly limited. Only players, coaches and registered volunteers will be permitted access. 

2. We will sanitize all shared equipment (balls, bags, cones, etc.) before and after each practice. 

3. Coaches and volunteers must wear a mask when social distancing is not met. Players are not required to wear a mask during practice. 


Protocols for Parents: 

1. In order to allow for 3M physical distancing rules, we ask that only one parent per player attend practice. 

2. All parents present at practices must wear a mask. 

3. Parents may watch from outside the field area.

4. Parents must ensure their child arrives at practice READY TO PLAY and ON TIME. 

Protocols for Players: 

1. Players must arrive ON TIME, in the 20-minute window before the start of their practice. 

Late arrivals will experience delays getting on the field and will miss all or part of practice.

 2. Players must arrive READY TO PLAY / NO BAGS. Players must be “ready to play” when they arrive – cleats on, mouthguard in pocket, proper apparel for the weather (hat, sweater if needed), and water bottle in hand. No bags on the field. Bags must remain in your car. 

3. MANDATORY CHECK IN: Players must check in with their Team Manager, sanitize their hands, have their temperature taken, answer Covid Screening checklist and head straight to the pre-practice waiting area. Extra volunteers will be onsite to help with coordination for the first few practices. Players may not enter the field without checking in with the team Manager. 

4. Players must have their OWN water bottle clearly labelled with their names. No sharing of water bottles will be allowed under any circumstances,

5. NO LOITERING. At the end of practice, players must leave the field immediately, sanitizing their hands as they exit the field.  All players will be required to wear masks as they leave. If they are socializing with other team members outside of their personal bubbles after practice, masks should be on to minimize potential cross contamination of each cohort formed for practice.

If you are unable to abide by these protocols, for the safety of everyone else, you will be removed from the program until further notice.

Entering and Exiting John Smith Field / Raven Park

Fig. 1

Please note the MANDATORY CHECK-IN STATION between the pool and the clubhouse.

Our ability to continue our activities is dependent on 100% compliance in all areas from everyone. Please follow this plan as well as the COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Players,

Parents and Coaches

Access to the field will be strictly limited. 

Only players, coaches and registered volunteers will be permitted access.

You must provide a valid OFA# before stepping on the field. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Entering the field:

  • Each player will proceed to the MANDATORY CHECK-IN STATION
  • Each player will sanitize their hands at the MANDATORY CHECK-IN STATION

Exiting the field:

  • Players will sanitize their hands at the prior to exiting the field

Spectators:

  • will be subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures (2m)

Entering and Exiting McKellar Park

Fig. 2

Our ability to continue our activities is dependent on 100% compliance in all areas from everyone. Please follow this plan as well as the COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Players, Parents and Coaches.

Access to the field will be strictly limited. 

Only players, coaches and registered volunteers will be permitted access.

You must provide a valid OFA# before stepping on the field. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Entering the field:

  • Each player will proceed to the MANDATORY CHECK-IN STATION
  • Each player will sanitize their hands at the MANDATORY CHECK-IN STATION
  • Players will then proceed to the practice field

Exiting the field:

  • Players will sanitize their hands at the prior to exiting the field

Spectators:

  • will be subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures (2m)

Step by Step Guide to Participation

1 – Three Step Registration

Step 1: Register with Ontario Football Alliance

Step 2: Register with NCAFA

Step 3: Register with Bel-Air Lions / Bel-Air Norsemen Football

2 – Complete the following waivers for Players / Coaches / Volunteers:

SCREENING AND ATTENDANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE

INFORMED CONSENT

3 – Arrive Ready to Play

  • Players must be “ready to play” when they arrive – cleats on , mouth guard in pocket, proper apparel for the weather and water bottle in hand (NAME CLEARLY ON BOTTLE).
  • No bags on the field. Bags must remain in your vehicle or at home.
  • Waivers completed, signed and ready to be submitted.
  • CHECK-IN at designated CHECK-IN STATION (see map).

4 – Waivers / Spectators / Pre-practice

  • Players will submit their waivers and forms online
  • Players will sanitize their hands prior stepping on the field.

5 –  Exiting the Facilities

  • Players will sanitize their hands prior to exiting the field.

Trainer On Field Procedures

  1. If a player/coach demonstrates any COVID-19 symptom during a practice, they must be isolated immediately from the rest of the participants and given gloves and a mask to wear until they can return home.
  2.  He/she must immediately be sent home to self-isolate and the Safe Sport Officer should contact Ottawa Public Health for future steps.
  3.  If an individual who was present at the field tests positive for COVID-19, The Club appointed Safe Sport Officer must inform all individuals who were present at the field that day.
  4. Injured players who require treatment, Trainers responding to the incident MUST FIRST PUT GLOVES AND A MASK ON.

Keeping Equipment Clean and Disinfected

  • Encourage players to properly wash hands before and after practice, and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on site
  • Use sprays and wipes on the OPH’s Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19 list.
  • Per CDC COVID-19 guidelines: “Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces between uses as much as possible. Use of shared objects and equipment should be limited, or cleaned between use by each individual if possible.”
  • Clearly label all gear per POD/Cohort to avoid mix-ups.
  • Designated volunteer(s) to frequently disinfect shared items at practices.