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COVID-19

UPDATE - MARCH 13, 2020

ALL GAMES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

All games in the Players Ball Hockey League have been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. As many recreational, amateur and professional sports leagues have suspended operations, the safety and health of all of the participants, staff, spectators and families are the highest priority at this time. Although there have not been any infections in the league at the present time, the league has decided to suspend play until further notice.

The league will reassess weekly and hope to resume the season in the future. The league will provide updates and will follow the Local Public Health Organization's recommendations.

The Players Ball Hockey League hopes that all participants, staff and their families and friends remain healthy and safe during this difficult time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

May 31, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) and its Member Provinces are working diligently on a Return to Ball Hockey plan based on direction from governments and public health authorities. As provinces begin to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, The Canadian Ball Hockey Association will continue to provide information to keep players, parents, coaches, officials and volunteers updated.

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association Board of Directors have made the decision to extend the suspension of all CBHA sanctioned activities (including those of our member Provinces and Leagues), until the Provincial Health Authority in your Province has deemed it safe to do so, and a Provincial Association re-start plan has been approved by the CBHA. The Canadian Ball Hockey Association Board of Directors and its Member Provinces will provide another status update July 1st!

The health and safety of everyone involved in the game will determine when we return, not our desire to get back on the floor. When Canada is ready, the Canadian Ball Hockey Association will be ready. Until then, continue to follow the guidelines set by your Provincial Health Authority to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Only by working together will we be able to make a difference and safely return.

As the return to ball hockey plan progresses, it will do so at different speeds, and at different times, across the country, based on direction from health authorities. As such we have created the following set of procedures and policies to return to ball hockey.

1. Each Provincial Association must have a re-start plan that aligns with their Provincial Public Health Authority policy for restarting. Leagues within each Province must follow their Provincial Association re-start plan.

2. All Provincial Association re-start plans MUST be sent, along with the Provincial Policies/Directives pertinent to their Provincial Association to the Canadian Ball Hockey Association for approval before re-starting.

3. The Canadian Ball Hockey Association has the last right of sanctioning any ball hockey activity across the country.

4. Any unsanctioned activities will not have legal or insurance protection.

5. Any unsanctioned activities will be penalized accordingly.

To our Members, partners, local ball hockey leagues, volunteers and fans across Canada, thank you for keeping the spirit of ball hockey alive. Unprecedented times have called for unprecedented efforts at every level of the game. We hope to see you around the rink as soon as possible.

Board of Directors

Canadian Ball Hockey Association

April 17, 2020 UPDATE - CBHA

The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) is committed to providing its participants and other support groups related to our programs, a safe and healthy environment in which to enjoy the sport of ball hockey.

As such we have been closely monitoring the events relating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in all Provinces. The CBHA Board of Directors have made the decision to extend the suspension of all CBHA sanctioned activities (including those of our member Provinces and Leagues), effective Friday April 17, 2020 until Monday June 1, 2020. This date may change due to the nature of the situation. The CBHA Board of Directors and its member Provinces will provide a status update as we approach June 1st!

The Board is unanimous in their position that this is the proper and responsible action required to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved with CBHA sanctioned programs.

We realize during this difficult time that planning and operation of a ball hockey program is difficult to manage. The status related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in each province is different. Ultimately it will be Local and Provincial Health Authorities that will decide when it is safe for ball hockey to return. Provincial Associations and Leagues will need to decide their best course of action, to patiently wait to see when the seasons can begin or whether to cancel their season altogether. That is a decision for each to make and the CBHA fully supports either decision.

The CBHA will continue to monitor the situation and will keep our members posted on any new developments and actions that may be required.

The CBHA wishes to thank, in advance, all involved with CBHA programs and activities for their cooperation as we all navigate through this unique and difficult situation.

Board of Directors
Canadian Ball Hockey Association

COVID-19

UPDATE - MARCH 12, 2020

The Players Ball Hockey League is monitoring the Covid-19 virus.

Although there are no direct concerns with the league at this time, this could change at any time in the future.

If you are not feeling well and have any symptoms, please do not attend any games.

The league will update as we will follow Local Public Health Organizations and Hockey Canada recommendations.

During games, we recommend not sharing equipment (helmets, gloves), water bottles and keeping your gloves on at all times when engaging and fist bumping and remove any handshakes.

Below are some of the recommendations from Hockey Canada that should be considered at all times:

Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Make soap and/or hand sanitizer available in dressing rooms.
Avoid contact with sick people, including avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
Gloves should be worn by staff handling towels or laundry in the team environment.
Towels should not be shared on the team bench. Players should not share clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.
The Hockey Canada Safety Program recommends the following protocol as it relates to the use of water bottles:
- Good team hygiene includes ensuring all players and staff have their own water bottles to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria.
- Bottles should be labelled and washed after each practice or game.
- It is further recommended that officials avoid the practice of drinking from the goaltender’s water bottle. If officials require water during a game, we suggest they have their own water bottle at the penalty bench.
- There should not be sharing of water bottles in the penalty box, as well as no sharing of towels.
Avoid raw or undercooked animal products if having team meals, or if eating while travelling to events/tournaments.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, wash hands).
Advise players to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in the hockey environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection on to themselves.
Monitor illness and injury in all teams. Parents are urged to keep their children away from the hockey environment if they are showing any signs of infectious disease or virus.
Team members should be encouraged to self-report if they feel ill.
Fist bump with hockey gloves on, instead of shaking hands.
Monitor travel restrictions on the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website, which can be found at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.

Good hygienic practices will help to maintain a healthy team atmosphere and ultimately assist in keeping all participants healthy throughout the season.