Updated Arena Protocol
Submitted By Info on Saturday, October 24, 2020
The Town of Whitby held a meeting to provide an
update to the arena protocols and discuss issues that continue to occur at the
arenas. The
October 23rd Updated Arena Protocol has
been posted on the WGHA website.
Feedback from the Town identified a
number of areas where arena protocols are not being followed.
It was noted that the following issues continue to occur within the arenas:
- Physical distancing protocols are not being followed and must be adhered to while in the arena, even with masks on.
- Masks must be worn by players at all times while in the arena. When a player removes their helmet after a practice or game, they must immediately put their mask on.
- Players must come partially dressed and leave partially dressed. This includes bottoms and an upper base layer.
Players will not be able to enter the arena if they are not partially dressed.
The entire team will be stopped from entering until those players are dressed appropriately, which will result in a shortened ice rental. Teams must enter as a group. This includes the players, bench staff and parents. Late arrivals are not permitted - no in and out privileges will be permitted
Parents cannot open doors for late parents. This puts the accuracy of our COVID protocols and contact tracing in jeopardy
After exiting the ice, players are to remove their helmets, put on their mask and then remove their gloves and skates. Players must quickly exit the arena. The maximum allotted time to exit is 10 minutes in order to keep the next rental on time. Spectators will remain at the Team’s designated change space within the arena for the entire ice time until they leave with their participant.
- Spectators are not permitted to gather or spectate in the lobby areas of the arenas at any time.
This behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in lost spectator privileges.
- Coaches and bench staff are responsible for ensuring all players and spectators have exited the arena following the completion of their ice rental. This is consistent with previous season's responsibilities.
- The total number of Spectators permitted to be in the arena at any one time is limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person. One spectator per participant will be permitted.
The WGHA has already sent out communication requesting that spectator attendance be severely limited for practices (particularly for U13 teams and above). If you do not need to be there do not be there.
Please remember these Arena Protocols are in place for the safety of our players, bench staff, spectators and rink staff.
The Town has given all user groups, a short window to improve compliance with the protocols otherwise we will lose dressing room privileges as well as the ability to spectate.