Squamish Minor Hockey Association Urging Compliance with COVID-19 Protocols

Squamish Minor Hockey Association Members,

We have received several complaints since October 5 regarding SMHA members and guests, including players, coaches and spectators of home and away teams, who have not been following the COVID-19 Protocols in place at Brennan Park. As a result, our ability to have spectators attend games and practices is at risk.

Please review the updated COVID-19 Protocols noted below, and have conversations with your children, family, friends and visiting teams to ensure they are aware of the requirements. 

The most recent changes are highlighted below. There are different protocols for practices and games given games could have more than 50 people in attendance.

Our association has a zero tolerance policy for offenders who refuse to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination. To assist with this, coaches will be provided additional masks for players who may forget theirs at home.

These protocols are subject to change. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact your Division Director.

SMHA Players and Team Officials

• Players and team officials are to arrive no sooner than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled ice time.
• Players and team officials born in 2016 or earlier (5+) must wear a mask unless they are within the field of play (ice surface, benches, penalty box). Masks must be worn in change rooms.
• Players and team officials are not required to show proof of vaccination to enter the facility. This includes parents and guardians assisting young players in the dressing room.

SMHA Parents & Caregivers
Spectators are permitted to watch practices inside Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Please note, Brennan Park has the bleachers closed at this time due to the emergency exit stairs not yet being completed, and spectators are only permitted along the boards of the ice between the visiting bench and where the bleachers start or in the hockey lobby.

All spectators of practices must adhere to the following procedures:

• Spectators born in 2016 or earlier (5+) must wear a mask while in BPRC, including lobbies, washrooms, and activity rooms.
• Spectators will enter the facility through the main entrance doors and then enter the hockey lobby no more than 5 minutes before practice to allow for social distancing between programs and ice times.
• Spectators are only permitted along the boards of the ice and in the hockey lobby.
• Parents and caregivers assisting children in changerooms must return to the area along the boards of the ice or the hockey lobby after assisting the player.
• No congregating on the BPRC lobby. All spectators must go directly to the hockey lobby or along the boards of the ice.
• All spectators must leave the facility immediately following the practice.
• Spectators for SMHA practices may not exceed 50 people.

SMHA Players, Team Officials, and Visiting Teams

• Players and team officials are to arrive no sooner than 45 minutes prior to the scheduled ice time.
• Players and team officials born in 2016 or earlier (5+) must wear a mask unless they are within the field of play (ice surface, benches, penalty box). Masks must be worn in change rooms.
• Players and team officials are not required to show proof of vaccination to enter the facility. This includes parents and guardians entering the facility for a few minutes to assist young players in divisions U11 and under in the dressing room.
• Only parents and guardians of players in divisions U11 and under will be permitted in the dressing room to assist young players prior to games.
• Parents and guardians assisting young players in the dressing room must exit the arena and re-enter through the BC Vaccine Card checkpoint at the entrance of the hockey lobby.
• Parents and guardians who are not vaccinated cannot stay and spectate – they must leave the facility immediately after assisting the player.

SMHA Parents, Caregivers, Spectators and Visiting Team Spectators
Spectators are permitted to watch games inside Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Please note, Brennan Park has the bleachers closed at this time due to the emergency exit stairs not yet being completed, and spectators are only permitted along the boards of the ice between the visiting bench and where the bleachers start or in the hockey lobby.

All spectators must adhere to the following procedures:

• Spectators born in 2016 or earlier (5+) must wear a mask while in BPRC, including lobbies, washrooms, and activity rooms.
• Spectators will enter the facility through the main entrance doors and then enter hockey lobby.
• Spectators are only permitted along the boards of the ice and in the hockey lobby.
• No congregating on the BPRC lobby. All spectators must go directly to the hockey lobby or along the boards of the ice.
• Spectators will be permitted inside the facility 5 minutes before their players’ scheduled ice time to allow for social distancing between programs and ice times. Please note the hockey lobby door will be closed and locked 15 minutes after the start of the scheduled ice time.
• Spectators born in 2009 or earlier (12+) must show their BC Vaccine Card to a representative of the home team (ie. manager, safety person, volunteer) to enter the facility. Note: this is the BC Vaccine Card with the QR code, not the card that was issued at the time of vaccination. For more details on the BC Vaccine Card, including how to get one, visit www.gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard.
• Spectators 19+ must also show government issued photo ID.
• Spectators will be required to show proof of vaccination and ID each time they enter the facility.
• All spectators must leave the facility immediately following the game.
• For this weekend (Oct 23/24) the maximum number of spectators permitted in the facility for games is 104 people.

In all cases, players, team officials, visiting teams, parents, caregivers and spectators are not permitted inside BPRC if they: 

• Are sick or required to self-isolate.
• Are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, extreme fatigue or tiredness, body aches, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, loss of sense of smell or taste, loss of appetite, headache, nausea or vomiting.
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

During a public health emergency under the Public Health Act, the Public Health Office can make orders as needed. You must follow the orders. Some orders can be enforced by police or other compliance and enforcement officials. People who don’t follow these orders could be fined. Furthermore, failure to comply will result in disciplinary action with the SMHA Disciplinary Committee, and if required, police will be called for anyone refusing to leave the facility without showing proof of vaccination or refusing to wear a mask. Please be aware that those checking for proof of vaccination will be volunteers.

SMHA will continue to monitor the regulations set by the BC Public Health Officer, the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association, ViaSport, and Brennan Park Recreation Centre. Please note these procedures may change as regulations continue to evolve.

If you have questions or concerns regarding these requirements, please contact your Manager or Division Director.