MANAGERS & TREASURERS

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.

Game Jerseys

• Jr. Inferno HOME and AWAY game jerseys will be distributed before the first Game Cycle for each age division. Jersey pick-up will be ECTAS.
• Parents must provide a Jersey Deposit cheque in the amount of $200 payable to Girls Hockey Calgary, dated December 31, 2020 in order to receive their player's jersey.

Game Socks

• U7 players will each receive one pair of 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.
• U11 players will each receive one pair of free HOME socks  through the McDonald's atoMc Hockey program. Players can purchase AWAY socks through GHC.
• U9, U13, U15 and U18 players can purchase HOME and AWAY socks through GHC.

Scheduled Games start Dec. 1, 2020. There are four 3-week cycles planned, until the end of the season.

Each Cycle will operate as follows:

• 2 weeks of practice (development) where teams will skate with only the 16-19 players that have been assigned to their team (some ½ ice)
• 1 week of game play, where team will play 1 other team in their division 3 times over the course of a week (total of 32 – 38 players competing), for U9 teams will only play 2 games during this time frame.
• Following the game week, the ‘competition cohort’ will begin dissolution and each team will practice on their own for 2 weeks (14-days) to reset the cohort.
• Teams will then partner with a different team forming a new ‘competition cohort’ to play another series followed by a 2-week practice/isolation period.
• This process will continue. Teams will play a total of 4 different teams during the ‘Regular Season’, barring any other delays.
• This same format has been being utilized in other leagues in the province and the HC ‘Elite’ Program since October with a great deal of success.

NOTE: As per the Government of Alberta and Hockey Alberta, Tournaments are not permitted.

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.

Coaches will either be classified with a cohort as a ‘Cohort’ coach or a ‘Physical Distanced’ coach. ‘Cohort’ coaches are part of the cohort, do not need to physically distance and are part of the cohort number. ‘Physical Distanced’ coaches must always maintain appropriate distance from all members and are not part of the cohort number. Most of the coaches at the U7 and U9 level will be ‘Cohort’ coaches. Most of the coaches at the U11 and older levels will be ‘Physical Distanced’ coaches, however, ‘Cohort’ coaches can be used at this level provided the cohort does not exceed 50 total members. A coach may be part of a ‘Cohort’ coach in one cohort and also a ‘Physical Distanced’ coach with a different cohort.

When participating via Cohorting:

• Team officials are to wear masks while on the bench but can remove them while coaching/ instructing on the ice.

When participating via Physical Distancing:

• Team officials must maintain two-metre physical distancing from all other participants, and wear masks within the dressing room.
• Team officials are to wear masks while on the bench but can remove them while coaching/ instructing on the ice.

Identification – Hockey Calgary and its member associations are working on a protocol to visually identify ‘Physical Distanced Coaches’ on the ice so that players are aware of who they need to maintain appropriate distance from at all times.

All GHC teams from U11, U13, U15 and U18 require a Goalie Coach. During the "Development Phase," groups can identify one Goalie Coach per Cohort. During the "Competition Season," all GHC teams from U11 to U18 require a Goalie Coach.

Like an injury, coaches will have full authority to deny a player participation if they believe the player is sick. In this situation, the Team 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, we should avoid any situation where a coach must deny participation.