Georgina Women's Hockey League Follow

GWHL Return to Play Plan - September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020 GEORGINA WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE
Return to Play Plan, September, 2020

GENERAL:
-Participants to follow all guidelines implemented by the Town of Georgina. -No spectators allowed in the facility.
-Face coverings must be worn at all time until you are about to go on the ice. Once the game is completed face coverings must be put back on.
-Participants to gather as a group outside facility and enter as a group 15 min prior to game start time. Anyone arriving late will not be permitted to enter the facility. We also exit as a group.
-Before every game a COVID screening form is to be completed by all participants. Participants will not be permitted to play if the form is not completed
-A condition of registration and participation is that all participants must sign an acknowledgement/waiver which indicates that the Town of Georgina and Georgina Women’s Hockey League are not responsible for any transmission of COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease acquired from participating in the league. The leagues’ insurance coverage does not provide coverage related to the transmission of, or infection by, COVID-19 or any other transmittable disease.
-Any Pre-game and post-game handshakes are eliminated.
-Referees should verbally greet coaches as they generally do, but should not shake hands.
-If a participant/volunteer answers ‘NO’ to any of the screening questions they MUST stay home.
-Learn and follow the guidelines specific to the number of people allowed in the building and on the ice, and plan accordingly. Participants/volunteers to implement strict hand hygiene and physical distancing.
-When arriving at the facility, players to follow municipal guidelines in place for facility.
-Players to enter/leave facility dressed in as much hockey equipment as possible before and after on-ice sessions.
-Return to Play plan may be updated to keep current with any changes implemented by the Town of Georgina, Public Health, OHF, CARHA, OWHA, or other governing body. The current Return to Play plan will be available for viewing on the league’s website and Facebook page.
-Non compliance of Return to Play framework will result in loss of ice time

HYGIENE GUIDELINES
-Minimize going in and out of doors, including the dressing room.
-Facility doors are considered high-risk touchpoints. Use the elbow to open.
-Absolutely no sharing of drinks or food.
-Team warm-ups and practices should adapt to proper spacing; reduce the number of one-area stations, including the players coming together in one group.
-Paper towels/tissue can be on hand to wipe the face or blow the nose if on the bench. Ensure tissues are properly disposed of. Spitting and blowing the nose without tissue is absolutely forbidden.
-Players may have a marked water bottle, which is washed after each practice or game. -Wash your hands after using restrooms with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as outlined previously. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. -Some equipment should also be washed (jerseys, pant shells, socks) after each training session following manufacturer guidelines. It is important that players ensure equipment is kept clean.

POND HOCKEY FORMAT
-Games will be either 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 (plus goalies) in order to comply with municipal limits on numbers of players per team.
-Games will consist of 3, 12-minute periods of stop time play. An off-ice volunteer will monitor each game.
-All games are running-time and substitutions may be made “on the fly”.
-In order to reduce contact and encourage social distancing, there will be no stoppage of play after a goal is scored. After a goal is scored, all players from the scoring team must clear the zone before resuming offensive play.
 -Teams will switch ends after each period.

RULES

SCORING: Score from the “attacking” side of half only. Shot must be taken at OR over the half way mark which is determined by your Volunteer. After each goal give opposing team ½ ice until puck OR player crosses half.
OFFSIDE: “Floating Blue Line” rule will be used such that an expansion of the offensive zone occurs once a team crosses the opponent's blue line with the puck. The attacking team will then have half of the entire playing surface within which to control the puck, from behind the opponent's goal to the center line of the area.
SLAPSHOTS: Do not raise your stick or puck above the waist.
NO PHYSICAL CONTACT allowed of any kind. Abusive language by a player towards another player or volunteer will not be accepted. Abusive language to any official will result in a player suspension.
PENALTIES: all minor penalties will result in a penalty shot being awarded. Referees will have the discretion to also award a “penalty shot” to the opposing team when a minor penalty is flagrant and/or a team is consistently playing in a reckless manner. Penalty Shots will be taken from center ice immediately following the penalty being called. Following the taking of the penalty shot, all players on the team taking the shot must clear the zone before resuming the game. Major penalties will result in an immediate goal awarded to the opposing team and could result in a player ejection. A player that is ejected will have his/her case reviewed by the league.
SCORECARDS The league will prepare games sheets in advance so as to limit contact. One person from each team shall check off the names of the players that are in attendance (rather than having players sign) for that game and insert the jersey #.

PLAYER CONDUCT ALL CALLS MADE BY THE ON-ICE OFFICIAL ARE FINAL. Additional sanctions may be imposed by the League, upon review. Drinking is NOT permitted. Any player visibly intoxicated will not be permitted to play.