Changes due to the Red Zone restrictions, News, U18 - Team 5, U18, 2020-2021 (Elmvale Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2020-2021 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Organization | Dec 13, 2020 | Sherry Hall | 11849 views
Changes due to the Red Zone restrictions
As many of you already know, the Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit will be entering into the Red Zone starting on Monday, Dec 14th.  With this change comes additional restrictions as it relates to our hockey program.  The most significant being the elimination of games and scrimmages.

As such for our final week prior to our Christmas break (Dec 14-20), we will be practicing with our Game Play teams (the U7 groups break down will be communicated to you by the coaches).  We are currently working with Springwater to finalize the week's schedule, and it will be posted shortly, please refer to the website for the changes. 
Starting on Monday December 14th there will be changes within the arena as well. Change rooms will be closed and players are expected to come dressed , chairs in the lobby will be spaced out for skate and helmets to be put on . 
These are the directions from Springwater : 
  • Participants will need to enter the arena fully dressed, it is strongly suggested participants enter with skates and skate guards on.
  • Participants will be permitted to put the following pieces of equipment on in the arena lobby on the designated chairs: helmet, gloves, goalie pads, and stick.                            
    • A small duffle bag will be allowed to be kept under the participants chair in the lobby
    • Lobby washrooms will remain open
    • Electronic screenings and 15 minute time limits before and after ice times will remain the same this week
Next Session : 
As for the 2nd half of our season, we are working on finalizing a plan that will allow our players an opportunity to continue to participate affordably, and safely moving forward.  We will be releasing our plan by Friday, Dec 18th, and will require those interested in continuing with hockey for the remainder of the season to be paid in full by Dec 21st (Therefore the Monday, December 14th deadline is being extended).
Please note that as an organization we will both have to meet a minimum number of players in order to make the program financially viable, and also may need to limit numbers in certain divisions based on the current COVID-19 restrictions.  Once the plan is released those who have already paid will have the opportunity to withdraw from the program without penalty before the new deadline of December 21st.  After that we will once again not be offering refunds except in the situation where restrictions don't allow us to deliver substantially the program which is initially offered.

I have listed a few of the guidelines we will be examining to develop the next program based on the new restrictions under Red Zone: 
  1. Team sports must not be practiced or played within the facility, with the exception of training sessions for members of a sports team that do not include games or scrimmage games. Activities that are likely to result in individuals coming within two metres of each other must not be practiced or played within the facility.
  2. Groups must be 10 players and 2 coaching staff in the facility at one time . Therefore Springwater is requiring a "gap" between sessions so cleaning can be done before and after each group 
  3. Financially EMHA will need to look at what is cost effective with smaller groups on the ice. 
  4. From the OMHA guidelines posted on our website earlier :                                                                                  • Instruction training for registered players within Association                                                                    • Strict on-ice physical distance required                                                                                                 • Max 10 participants (players & coaches) on-ice  (SMDHU is allowing 10 players plus                          coaches)                                                                                                                                                       • Minimum 2 registered bench staff present                                                                                             • Recommend 1 on-ice coach                                                                                                                 • Recommend 1 off-ice trainer (behind glass) to allow for maximum on-ice participants 
  5. Red Zone will be in place until at least January 11th (28 days) 
Thank you for your patience as we sort all this out.
Tina Robertson 
EMHA President 
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