There was a bulletin from Springbank Hockey today that stated that all City arenas will require vaccination. Springbank and Edge will not. (Spoiler tags for size.)
Spoiler!
September 19, 2021
The last few days have once again been extremely challenging for Springbank Minor Hockey. We were very pleased to learn that the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions will permit Youth Hockey Calgary to continue to operate programming. These announcements empowered facility operators who operate the arenas that we utilize to determine whether or not vaccines or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test will be required as a condition of access. Hockey Calgary and its member associations, including Springbank Minor Hockey (“SMHA”), are entirely dependent upon these facilities to operate our youth hockey programming.
Currently, SMHA has the following information:
all City of Calgary rinks, YMCA rinks, Winsport and 7 Chiefs arena have announced that they will adopt a Restriction Exemption Program (“REP”) as permitted under the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions and will require all eligible youth participants ages 12 and older to provide proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the applicable event in order to access their facilities (at this time, the city has not made a decision about permitting access for those with health exemptions) . The REPs at these facilities will go into effect no later Monday, September 20, 2021.
Springbank Park for All Seasons (“SPFAS”) and the Edge School have elected to implement business capacity and operating restrictions for their respective facilities as permitted and outlined under the Alberta Government’s latest public health restrictions rather than adopt an REP for youth sports programming. Under these restrictions, no vaccinations will be required for youth participants under age 18, but youth participants must screen for symptoms, maintain 2 metre distancing (except while engaged in physical activity) and wear a mask (except while engaged in physical activity). Spectator attendance is restricted to 1/3 fire code capacity and must comply with all other physical distancing and masking guidelines. As with anything, there is a possibility for this to change.
Accordingly, SMHA will be required to follow the rules established by the facilities that we utilize which results in the following for our Membership:
Programming Participation
Participants under the age of 12 (not eligible to be vaccinated as a result of age) are not impacted by this announcement and programming can continue for the participants as is currently offered. Once a participant is eligible for a vaccination, they will then be required to follow the guidance provided below.
Youth participants ages 12-17 registered in our programming participating in activities at SPFAS and Edge, will not be required to be vaccinated as these facilities are not currently adopting an REP for youth sports programming. As a result, this participant group will not be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to participate in our youth hockey programming events offered at SPFAS or the Edge School. Please note that this approach is entirely the discretion of these facility operators and subject to change at any time.
All youth participants ages 12-17 will be required to comply with any applicable REP or other requirements in place at all other facilities (city or outside city) which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the event;
All adult participants ages 18 or older in our U18 or U21 hockey programs will be required to comply with all REP or other requirements in place at all applicable facilities which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours prior to the applicable event.
All non-participating attendees (audience) will be required to comply with any applicable REP or other requirements in place at the respective facility which may include providing proof of vaccination or a privately-paid negative PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of the event;
Withdrawal from Programming
Members who no longer wish to have their youth participate in our programming as a result of these restrictions may request to withdraw their participant(s) from SMHA prior to 11:59 pm MT on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. Withdrawing by this deadline will result in the following refunds:
o U7, U9 and U11 participants will be entitled to a refund of their full registration fees less $150 as such age groups have had previous access to and use of ice paid for by SMHA; and
o U13, U15 and U18 participants will be entitled to a refund of their full registration fees less $75 as such age groups have not had any significant access to or use of ice paid for by SMHA;
Any withdrawal requests received after this deadline (Wednesday September 22, 2021 at 11:59pm MT) will be processed in accordance with the current Refund Policy of SMHA which is available on our website;
Members who choose to withdraw for any reason are removing the youth participant for the entire 2021/22 season. Withdrawn members will not be permitted to re-register for our 2021/22 hockey programming should the applicable public health orders or applicable facility rules and regulations be modified or repealed;
• It is the expectation of SMHA that members who do not withdraw their youth participants from our youth hockey programming prior to this deadline are fully committed to participating in our programming at all applicable facilities, will comply with all applicable facility REP or other requirements and will not restrict their attendance to only those events hosted at SPFAS, the Edge School or any other facility not adopting an REP for youth programming. This conduct will severely compromise the efficient operation of SMHA and may be detrimental to the other players on these teams. This conduct may result in disciplinary action being instituted against these members and their youth participants in accordance with the Association’s bylaws.
We certainly understand how difficult this decision will be for some of our member families. However, any threats, harassment, or abuse of any of our volunteers or any facility staff of any kind will not be tolerated. Members engaging in these activities will be immediately suspended, their youth participants will be immediately expelled from all hockey programming, no refunds will be given per the Association’s bylaws and Refund Policy and registration for any future hockey programming offered by Springbank Minor Hockey may not be permitted.
We continue to appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time as we try and navigate the overwhelming complexities of this situation.
Sincerely,
SMHA Board of Directors
I know in our assoc. that all the arenas we go to requires at least 1 vac. A few parents are mad, and they’ll have to miss evals because of the 2wk timeframe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Northendzone
While I miss watching my son play hockey, I do not miss the rollercoaster of emotions that September brought with tryouts/evaluations
AHS clarifying yesterday (overnight) that youth sport is not required to follow the restrictions exemption program, children are not required to be vaccinated/negative test to participate. They have asked all recreation facilities to observe these guidelines.
ahs clarifying yesterday (overnight) that youth sport is not required to follow the restrictions exemption program, children are not required to be vaccinated/negative test to participate. They have asked all recreation facilities to observe these guidelines.
Not surprised, but her language is soft (She just "encourages" it.)
big weekend in our house my son made U15 AAA Major as a first year. Super proud of him I can't wait to see how he grows as a player and a kid this year.
We had a Jamboree with the other Major teams from around NB over the weekend, really eye opening for him and me, the size of the kids and the speed of the games was really impressive.
He said in the car on the way home. "This isn't Peewee hockey!"
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Scores? As in personal rankings from each session? Nope.
Our association just displays the progression each night by posting pinny numbers.
Ours does that as well. The only problem is that you get to know other kids numbers and see where they are. We also have a “skills” sessions before the actual evals that place the kids in a groups of 8-10.
i am sure i saw a tweet from Hockey Calgary that indicated the player was in the shower when the video was taken. given the tweet was from HC it made me think that perhaps the team was one of the AA teams rather than a AAA team which is governed by Hockey Alberta.
anyways, my thought was that this aspiring videographer should be suspended for the balance of the season for sure
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i am sure i saw a tweet from Hockey Calgary that indicated the player was in the shower when the video was taken. given the tweet was from HC it made me think that perhaps the team was one of the AA teams rather than a AAA team which is governed by Hockey Alberta.
anyways, my thought was that this aspiring videographer should be suspended for the balance of the season for sure
This is basically child pornography.
Saw that yesterday as well, and agree that a season long suspension is warranted. IMO, this should be stipulated somewhere in the rules or code of conduct and the suspension should be automatic and strong enough to act as a deterrent. Our association already had a "no phones in the dressing room rule", but it is not enforced. Parting all kids from their phones is not really a realistic solution, even less so to expect the coaches to collect and distribute them after each practice.
when my son played AAA hockey, the team got some type of phone bag and the boys were supposed to put their phones in there as they entered the room and pick them up on the way out .
Would likely work ok on game days because coaches are there. on practice days, not as well. As a parent i have no idea, because i never went near the room.
i wonder how many associations have addressed this kind of dumbness directly, or if it is a policy that has been overlooked as technology has evolved.
I wonder if there will ever be a follow up to this story when the dust settles. to me it would be good for others to see the punishment
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If I do not come back avenge my death
i am sure i saw a tweet from Hockey Calgary that indicated the player was in the shower when the video was taken. given the tweet was from HC it made me think that perhaps the team was one of the AA teams rather than a AAA team which is governed by Hockey Alberta.
anyways, my thought was that this aspiring videographer should be suspended for the balance of the season for sure
the supper time news last night specified it wasn't the U18AAA team, but that was the only clarification
when my son played AAA hockey, the team got some type of phone bag and the boys were supposed to put their phones in there as they entered the room and pick them up on the way out .
Would likely work ok on game days because coaches are there. on practice days, not as well. As a parent i have no idea, because i never went near the room.
i wonder how many associations have addressed this kind of dumbness directly, or if it is a policy that has been overlooked as technology has evolved.
I wonder if there will ever be a follow up to this story when the dust settles. to me it would be good for others to see the punishment
Great idea but how kids put their “real” phone in the bag?
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Going well for us. This is our first year with 2 in full time (one U9 and one U13). Last year there was not as many ice times with COVID and the year before my younger was in Timbits. It is a pretty hectic schedule...
Glad to be back on the ice with both my boys though. 7AM ice times can eff off.
U11 and U9. Head Coach in one and Assistant Coach in the other. Six ice-times a week + practice planning makes it essentially a second job. I love it though and I love that we are back to "real" hockey.
Both teams are undefeated in the seeding round so curious to see where we end up.
U-18 this year, we're destroying everyone in seeding round, I'm scared they'll move us up and it'll be the opposite.
But if you are destroying everyone then it does make sense to move the team up, that's the point of a seeding round. If you are winning that easily in the current division I would expect the team would still be competitive in the next division. It's fun to win but not if it's a blowout every game, and the kids are not going to progress skillwise as much this season if they are not challenged.
