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BC Wheelchair Sports Restart Plan Update – February 16
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massive-dev | September 13, 2021
The Provincial Health Officer has announced that B.C. is moving to a full reopening of sport. Effective February 16 at 11:59 p.m., the restrictions on sport will be lifted, allowing tournaments to proceed as usual and for venues to return to full capacity. All sport activities are now allowed for youth and adults. To support this transition and ensure the safety of the community, proof of vaccination and mandatory mask wearing indoors off the field of play remain in place. Participants are reminded that municipalities or facilities may impose their own limitations on activities and to continue to follow the fundamentals of keeping each other healthy, especially staying home if you are feeling sick and regular handwashing. It is the responsibility of the participant to keep up to date on the requirements of their training venues and to follow all rules while on site.
Below is the current PHO guidance as it relates to Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Athletics. Participants are encouraged to stay up to date on additional Public Health measures at the links below.
Any questions regarding the information contained in this document or the RTS process in general should be directed to Program Manager Michelle McDonell at michelle@bcwheelchairsports.com or the BCWSA Program Staff responsible for each sport.
General Guidelines – updated February 16, 2022
- All activities that would typically take place in a sport environment may continue including programs, events, camps and tournaments.
- Individuals should not attend any sport programming if they are unwell. Participants may use the COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool (https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en/) to assess their symptoms as necessary. It is the responsibility of the individual to monitor themselves for symptoms which may be related to COVID-19.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, follow BCCDC guidance
- There is no maximum group size for participants, coaches, volunteers, staff and officials.
- Physical distancing does not need to be maintained on or off the field of play.
- Full seated or standing spectator capacity is permitted.
Sport Guidelines
Outdoor
Masks are not required except when giving/receiving physical assistance as above.
Proof of vaccination is not required for outdoor sport.
Indoor
Per the PHO order on masks in indoor public settings all individuals over the age of 5, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear a mask in all indoor public spaces throughout B.C. (including fitness and recreation facilities) to help slow the transmission of COVID-19 as B.C. prepares for the fall and respiratory illness season. Masks do not need to be worn on the field of play while participating in sport.
Per the PHO order on gatherings and events all adult sport participants (ages 22+) must be fully vaccinated – having received two doses of a WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine** – and must provide proof of that vaccination status in the form of a BC Vaccine Card, in either printed or digital form, to their coach or another BCWSA representative before entering the sport facility or participating in sport.
Vaccine Cards MUST be scanned by the leader of the program using the BC Vaccine Card Verifier each time the individual arrives at a program or BCWSA event.
For the purposes of the vaccination requirement “participant” includes athletes, volunteers, officials, coaches AND all spectators aged 12 and older.
Additionally, all adults (19+) leading, supervising or assisting with a program for children or youth must be fully vaccinated (two doses) whether the sport takes places indoors or outdoors
Resources
BC Wheelchair Sports Resources
Outbreak Response Protocol
Personal Health Attestation
Government Resources
Province-Wide Restrictions – Province of British Columbia
Travel and COVID-19 – Province of British Columbia
PHO Order on Masks in Public Indoor Settings
PHO Order on Gatherings and Events
Proof of vaccination and the BC Vaccine Card – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
Other Resources
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