COHORT MANAGERS

The allowance of spectators is at the discretion of each facility. Spectators may be allowed in the facilities subject to physical distancing measures (based on current Government of Alberta and local municipal restrictions) and any specific directions provided by facility management. (Please note, as per Hockey Alberta guidelines, cheering and yelling is strongly discouraged as it presents a high risk of spreading droplets.) Where spectators are limited, Cohorts are encouraged to identify a spectator plan for their group which is inclusive and fair. Visit our Arena Guidelines page for more resources.

Respecting facility rules is extremely important for Hockey Calgary and our association to remain in good standing with our ice providers.

In some cases, yes. However, facility guidelines and GHC policy must be followed.

FACILITY COVID-19 POLICIES FOR DRESSING ROOMS

If dressing rooms are available and parents are allowed within the dressing room, they must wear masks and practice physical distancing. As much as possible, parents/siblings should be kept out of participant spaces (e.g. dressing rooms, play surfaces) unless necessary for equipment support.

PARENTS IN THE DRESSING ROOM

GHC must meet, at minimum, the dressing room policies of our governing bodies. As these policies often regulate the boundaries of the "lesser represented gender" (on a co-ed hockey team, this is typically a female), GHC has enacted specific policies that address our all-female teams. The privacy and dignity of our players is the first priority. We also hope to provide a positive and exciting dressing room atmosphere for our female minor hockey players.

For younger age divisions (U7 and U9) parents are generally allowed in the dressing rooms to assist players in dressing and tightening skates. Coaches may ask parents to leave for "Coach Talk, however the Female Dressing Room Supervisor must remain in the dressing room at all times. Coaches may ask families to minimize the number of people (parents, siblings) in the dressing room for space reasons. This must be clearly articulated to the team.

At older levels (U11 upwards), no males are permitted in the dressing room outside of “Coach Talk” times. Players are expected to dress by themselves and tighten their own skates. Players who need assistance in tightening their skates may leave the dressing room for help. Generally, parents in the older age divisions should not be in the dressing room as this is a private, comfortable space for our players to prepare and bond.

MALES / COACHES IN THE DRESSING ROOM

For U11, U13, U15 and U15 age divisions, no males are permitted in the dressing room outside of “Coach Talk” times. “Coach Talk” routines at practices and games should be clearly articulated to the teams and no more than 15 minutes prior to ice time. Players arriving late for a game must not undress during Pre-Game “Coach Talk” and must wait until the coaches leave the room. Players must not remove equipment (with the exception of Helmet and Gloves) during the Post-Game “Coach Talk." Players arriving late must not undress during Pre-Game “Coach Talk” and must wait until the coaches leave the room.

FEMALE SUPERVISOR IN THE DRESSING ROOM

There must be a female supervisor at all times, including during "Coach Talk." The purpose of this role is to:

• Support the players in maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive dressing room atmosphere.
• Support the players in remaining on time for any pre-game expectations (dry-land warm-up, dressed for coach talk, etc).
• Support the players in any equipment needs or other issues.
• Monitor and enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics Policy (GHC Policy Manual).
• Monitor and enforce the Dressing Room Policy (GHC Policy Manual), which includes the use of cell phones (see below).
• Report any issues to the Cohort Manager.

CELL PHONES IN THE DRESSING ROOM

The use of cameras, video equipment, audio equipment, camera phones and other cellular phones is strictly prohibited in the team dressing rooms at any time. (This is often a rule for recreation facilities, who also prohibit the use of any electronic device, such as a cell phone, with the ability to take photos or record audio or video, in or around any dressing room, washroom or shower.)

Teams may have music in the dressing room. Use of a cell phone is permitted for this purpose ONLY, and its use must be clearly articulated to the team and monitored by the Female Dressing Room Supervisor. In the case of special events (e.g., championships, etc), where no other location can be found for a photo, cell phones may be permitted in the dressing room for this purpose ONLY and all players must be appropriately dressed.

GHC will not be distributing our Jr. Inferno Game Jerseys during the "Development Phase."

Mini Game Jerseys / Practice Jerseys Options

• Mini Teams can wear a Black or White jersey during Mini Games. (All players should have a Black and White jerseys as per Evaluation requirements.) Coach Leaders can determine assignment of Light / Dark jerseys during practices.
• If available for your age division, Cohorts can borrow retired GHC jerseys previously used in past Evaluations. The Jr. Inferno Equipment Coordinator will be reaching out to AGCs to confirm how many sets are available. These jerseys must be retained by one player until instructed otherwise. (For example, players keep one jersey until Mini Team rosters are shuffled at the mid-way point of the Development Phase. At that time, one volunteer may collect and clean all of the jerseys and redistribute as required.)
• Cohorts can use sponsorship to purchase jerseys for a Cohort. As per GHC policy, all sponsorship must be approved by our VP Marketing. These jerseys should be retained by one player until instructed otherwise. (For example, players keep one jersey until Mini Team rosters are shuffled at the mid-way point of the Development Phase. At that time, one volunteer may collect and clean all of the jerseys and redistribute as required.)
• Parents should not be required to purchase any additional practice jerseys during the Development Phase. If a Cohort unanimously decides to purchase practice jerseys for the Development Phase, please know that Mini Teams will be shuffled at the mid-point of the Development Phase, therefore player colours will likely change.

Mini Game Socks / Practice Socks

• U7 players will receive free knit socks as part of the Tim Hortons Timbits Hockey Program. These do not have to be returned at the end of the season.
• GHC has ordered both Home (White) and Away (Red) Kobe K3G Association Game socks for all U9 to U18 players, which will be available to purchase after the Evaluation Phase. More information will come from your AGCs.
• Parents should not be required to purchase any additional socks during the Development Phase.

During the Development Phase, Mini Games will be scheduled by each Association in partnership with Hockey Calgary. Hockey Calgary will determine guidelines for number of games, length, use of officials, bench protocol, etc. These modified Game Play Guidelines will be specific to each age division and will address:

• Target Practice to Game Ratio
• Game Maximums
• Ice Surface Format (1/2, Full-Ice)
• Game Length
• Period Length
• Officiating (i.e. Coach Officiated, etc)
• Penalties 

NOTE: As per the Government of Alberta and Hockey Alberta, Tournaments will not be permitted during this phase.

Hockey Calgary has identified Cleaning and Disinfecting Best Practices for U9 goalies so young hockey players can have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the position this season. The general guidelines are:

• U9 goalie equipment should not be shared between cohorts
• U9 goalie equipment should be cleaned and disinfected prior to changing players within the cohort.

Each GHC U9 goalie bags will include a copy of the Cleaning and Disinfecting Best Practices and a disinfectant spray suitable for both nonporous (hard surfaces) and porous (soft surfaces). Hockey Calgary has contacted equipment manufacturers to ensure the product used should not damage the equipment or accelerate the wear on the equipment.

Cohort Managers are not part of the Cohort and must always maintain two-metre physical distancing from all other participants and wear masks within the dressing room.

Cohort and Mini Team Coaches have full authority to deny a player participation if they believe the player is sick. In this situation, the Cohort Health & Safety Coordinator and the Chief Safety Officer (ghchealthandsafety@gmail.com) should be made aware.

However, if parents and players are honest in their pre-participation symptom screening via TeamSnap Health Check, we should avoid any situation where a coach must deny participation.