KMHA FAQ 2020/2021 Covid19 Impacted Season
Updated October 1, 2020
As you can imagine everything involving return to hockey is changing on a daily basis, our RTH task team is currently in the process of creating a RTH Plan that will require KMHA Board and HEO approval, it will be communicated to you once complete.
Registration Questions:
Q. Will KMHA members in good standing who choose not to register for the 2020/2021 season be allowed to register as KMHA members in good standing for the 2021/2022 Season?
A. Yes, if you are a KMHA member in good standing from the 2019/2020 and choose not to play in 2020/2021 you will be accepted back as an existing KMHA member in 2021/2022.
Q. Can a player register for only one session either the 1st or the 2nd but not both?
A. Registration for the season is for both sessions together with a withdrawal date for session 2 of before November 1. See our return to hockey page for full details
https://kmha.ca/2020/08/10/kmha-is-pleased-to-announce-its-return-to-hockey/
Cost and Refund Questions:
Q. What happens if the season or a session gets cancelled?
A. Please refer to KMHA refund policy for this season
https://kmha.ca/2020/08/10/kmha-is-pleased-to-announce-its-return-to-hockey/
Q. Will there be something equivalent to team fees within the teams to pay for additional ice, clothing, off ice activities?
A. No, there will not be fixed team fees until League play resumes.
Q. Do the KMHA fees cover the cost of all the hours included by the associations program?
A. Yes, the registration fees cover the full cost of the program being offered by the association. Teams may decide to fund additional ice or activities.
Q. Can coaches get additional ice and if so, how is that paid for?
A. Coaches may get additional ice for the team. Those choosing to participate in the additional ice will share the cost evenly.
Q. Can coaches engage instructors from outside the team?
A. Outside instructors can be used but only for additional ice or off ice activities where families have an option to partake in the cost or opt out. There should be no additional cost for instructors added to the ice sessions KMHA has provided as part of the program.
Q. Can coaches and groups purchase further ice from the KMHA?
A. If KMHA has additional ice, teams will be able to purchase it.
Cohort and Team Formation Questions:
Q. What is a cohort?
A. Cohorts are groupings of players and volunteers that are allowed to share KMHA provided ice together.
Q. What is a team?
A. A team is a subset of players and volunteers within a cohort?
Q. Will we have teams during the 2020/2021 season?
A1. At this time, there will be informal teams. Players, coaches, and trainers will be placed in informal teams by the association. If all governing bodies approve regular league play, sort-outs and tryouts would take place and formal teams would be created.
Q. Why is KMHA not already running tryouts?
A. HEO recently passed the following motion:
“Be it resolved that, dependent upon Public Health Officials direction, tryouts for the Legacy AAA League shall not commence before November 12th and shall be completed by December 6th. Tryouts for the AA/A League shall not commence before November 26th and shall be completed by December 12th. Tryouts for the B Leagues shall not commence before December 10th and shall be completed by December 26th.”
Please note all dates are dependent upon Public Health Officials direction and can change.
Q. If regular league play does not resume for Session 2, how will cohorts and teams differ from session 1?
A. While KMHA reserves the right to adapt the program, if League play does not resume, then session 2 cohorts and teams will be similar as session 1.
Q. What is the size of the cohorts and teams KMHA will be forming?
A. At this time, cohort sizes will be up to 50 people and teams will have approximately 8-10 players. Team sizes may vary but both will be based on current Ontario and facility guidelines. Cohort`s include team officials such as coaches and trainers.
Q. How many people are allowed on the ice surface at once?
A. Within the City of Ottawa thecurrent on ice limit of 25, which includes all players, officials, and volunteers, and spectator limit of 25 is set by facility guidelines. This number is subject to change.
Q. How will KMHA determine the player cohorts and teams?
A. As best as possible, players will be assigned to a “cohort and a team” based on their previous level of play (last season) and this year’s registration numbers. Please know, we will do our best to balance these “teams”.
Q. Is it possible through HEO to create mini districts and allow us to bubble with other associations?
A. At this time, KMHA will group players within our association.
Q. Will players be allowed to move from one cohort to another cohort?
A. At this time there will be no player movement between cohorts. This includes the concept of affiliation.
Q. With the new HEO protocols, will KMHA coaches and volunteers be allowed to work with multiple Cohorts of players?
A. To the best of our ability, KMHA volunteers will be assigned to one cohort.
Q. Will team officials who have multiple children be allowed to switch Cohorts in session 2 to be with their other child?
A. To the best of our ability, KMHA volunteers will be assigned to one cohort.
Format of Play Questions
Q. Will the Cohorts be able to play regular hockey games?
A. The current approach will not allow for regular hockey games. Ice sessions will be limited to skill development and modified or controlled scrimmaging within the health regulation guidelines provided by the province, city, and HEO.
Q. What exactly is a modified scrimmage?
A. A modified scrimmage is a scrimmage that follows HEO modified rules and is contained within one team.
Q. What exactly is controlled scrimmages?
A. A controlled scrimmage follows HEO modified rules and can be between two teams contained within one Cohort. The controlled scrimmage is officiated.
Q. Is physical distancing going to be observed for on ice activities?
A. At this time, yes, physical distancing will be observed.
Q. Who is responsible for making the decision to convert to a regular season?
A. This decision would be a collaborative decision. Health regulations from the government would need to allow for it. HEO as a governing body would need to approve it.
Health Precaution Questions: KMHA will be following current Ottawa Public Health Guidelines
Q. If my child has symptoms of Covid-19 but has not been diagnosed can we still bring them to hockey?
A. No, if your child is feeling sick in any way precaution should be taken. The player should remain out of the hockey environment and contact their physician or Ottawa Public Health Authority for required steps to be taken.
Q. What do I do if my child or parent/ family member tests positive for COVID-19?
A. If a player, parent, or family member tests positive for COVID–19, the player and their family will need to stay out of the hockey environment. They should contact their physician or Ottawa Public Health Authority for instructions.
Q. If someone on my child’s team tests positive for COVID-19, will the Cohort be allowed to continue to play hockey?
A. If someone on your child’s team tests positive, Ottawa Public Health Authority guidelines will determine contact tracing and isolation requirements.
Q. If a participant is currently isolating, can they come to the facility for hockey?
A. If a participant or person they are residing with is in isolation, neither the participant nor those they are residing with can be in the hockey environment until all Ottawa Public Health Authority requirements are met.
Q. Should players/parents/coaches wear masks entering the facility and dressing room?
A. Everyone should follow the current City of Ottawa and facility guidelines.
Q. Will there be a standardized health check of some type before attending sessions?
A. Yes participants will need to complete a wellness questionnaire (s) before each session. This information will be collected online and verified at the facility by a team greeter.
General:
Q. Does KMHA have a policy for siblings/twins? Can it be requested that they are in the same grouping if at the same age?
A. Yes, the KMHA has a policy for siblings/twins and it is, where siblings/twins wish to play together, they will be placed in the level afforded by the lower evaluated sibling. This policy will be adapted for use in forming teams as well.
Q. Can cohorts or teams source ice outside of Ontario?
A. No, cohorts and teams cannot source ice outside of Ontario or the HEO region as the health guidelines are not consistent.
Q. Do players need to come to the rink already dressed except for skates, helmets, and gloves?
A. Players will need to follow all facility guidelines.
Q. At younger age cohorts where goalie equipment is shared and rotated how will this be handled?
A. Association provided goalie equipment cannot be shared across multiple players. KMHA will distribute goalie equipment as best as possible to full or part time goalies that need it. The equipment is not to be rotated through the cohort or team.
HEO Guidelines:
HEO’s return to hockey documentation is for all hockey organizations in Eastern Ontario. These organizations include Junior Hockey, U18 AAA Leagues, Minor Hockey Associations running programs of more than 100 teams and Associations of less than 10 teams. As each organization is unique the documentation is meant to provide guidelines and allows for delivery differences between organizations based on need. Below is a link to the HEO Return to Hockey Covid-19 Response Page
http://www.hockeyeasternontario.ca/pages/extras/rth.htm