PJHA COVID Mitigation Plan for 2020/21 season
As a sanctioned USA Hockey Association, Potsdam Junior Hockey Association (PJHA) is considered a responsible party, required to have a COVID19 Mitigation Plan, and responsible for adhering to all local, state and federal COVID19 regulations. This document outlines PJHA’s plan for managing hockey within the regulations and requirements set forth by NYS Department of Health, NYS Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey. Additional guidance documentation can be found at the links below:
•https://www.nysaha.com/
•https://www.usahockey.com/playersafety
•https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SportsAndRecreationMasterGuidance.pdf
It is understood the association will follow all local and state regulations first, followed by NYSAHA and USA Hockey Return to Hockey Guidance Documents. PJHA will work cooperatively with all arenas it rents ice from, including but not limited to Pine Street Arena, operated by the Village of Potsdam, to support and enforce all requirements and mitigating plans required by the arenas. As conditions, requirements and regulations continue to change, the association will continue to adapt and update its program to meet the published requirements. PJHA has created a Return to Hockey Committee consisting of Board Members, Coaches and Parents. The responsibility of this committee is to monitor state and local government websites for updates or changes to COVID-19 guidelines.
As of 8/24/2020, Ice Hockey is considered a high hazard sport by NYS DOH. Due to this, the following limitations have been imposed:
• Individual or distanced group training or activities only
• Organized no/low-contact group training, clinics (e.g. sport camps and clinics)
The association will follow all requirements contained with the New York State Reopening New York Sports and Recreation Guidelines.
As of 9/16/20, these guidelines specifically call out:
For any indoor sport or recreational activity, limit capacity to no more than 50% of the maximum occupancy for a particular area, inclusive of employees, patrons/players/spectators.
• For the 2020 season no more than 25 players will be allowed on the ice at any time.
• Participants will be allowed only 2 spectators.
GENERAL RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES
Screening
Until further notice, participants and spectators will be required to answer the questions stated below before coming to the rink for any PJHA session. These will be posted on the entrances to Pine Street Arena.
If anyone answers “yes” to any of the questions below or has a temperature above 100.4 Fahrenheit, they will not be allowed to participate.
1. Have you or anyone in your household had a sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, loss of smell, loss of taste, diarrhea, vomiting, fever at or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 14 days?
2. Have you or anyone in your household been tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results or tested positive requiring mandatory quarantine per DOH guidelines?
3. To the best of your knowledge have you been in close proximity to any individual who tested positive for COVID-19?
Any individual answering “yes” or having a temperature above 100.4 should follow their physician’s recommendations for when it is safe to return to activity.
The screening process for players may utilize the Team Snap App for the specific age level with parents acknowledging their child has passed screening and will be at the ice slot.
STAY HOME if you are or your child is sick or has been exposed to an infected individual.
Personal Hygiene
1. Wash hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
2. Do not touch your face.
3. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your elbow, dispose of the tissue and wash/sanitize hands immediately.
4. Do not share water bottles, towels or other equipment. Mark it clearly so you know which one is yours.
5. Clean/disinfect equipment after each use, including chair or bench where participant dresses.
a. All participants will be required to have disinfectant wipes/spray in their hockey bags in order to spray down and disinfect their assigned chair and seating area at the arena before and after use.
Social Distancing
1. Participants and spectators are required to maintain social distancing measures (6 ft. apart) whenever possible off the ice.
2. Participants will be required to dress at home to avoid locker rooms; locker rooms will be used only if social distancing can be maintained. Otherwise chairs will be spread around the rink perimeter for participants to put skates on. Masks will be required until participants put helmets on and step onto the ice.
a. Participants and families should remain in vehicles until 10 minutes before their time slot. This allows other groups to vacate building and eliminate large groups.
b. Participants will be required to remain in their chairs (spaced 6ft apart around rink) until ice is ready, once Zamboni doors are closed, mask is taken off, helmets are put on and participants are instructed one by one to go on the ice.
c. Participants and families once ice time is over need to proceed to chairs one by one, take off helmets, put on masks, remove skates, disinfect chairs and any other areas touched and leave arena as quickly as possible. Do not stick around to talk and socialize.
3. A rink diagram will be utilized to show dressing areas as well as enter/exit. Time slots starting on the even hours will utilize Zamboni end of Pine Street. Odd hours will enter by Rink manager office and use high school locker room end.
a. For emergencies all exits can and will be utilized.
4. Documentation will be required for each ice slot noting who was sitting where and who participated. The Team Snap App along with Rink Diagram will be utilized. Parents may be asked to: Utilize a designated seating chart for every ice slot, OR to help with documenting who sat where, next to whom, and who brought child for every ice slot. This documentation aids with contact tracing.
5. Group discussions/on-ice meetings will be limited so players are not in close proximity for extended periods of time.
a. Coaches, parents and kids should not congregate in groups.
6. Benches will be used only if social distancing can be maintained.
7. Coaches, parents and spectators should follow social distancing measures.
8. All unnecessary physical contact, such as high fives, handshakes, fist bumps, or hugs are discouraged.
On-Ice Programming:
PJHA will continue to follow the guidelines set forth as described above. With that, each age group will be allotted up to 2hrs/3hrs per of ice per week, some groups may have less due to ice availability. Registration is based on this allotment. This may be broken out into multiple shorter sessions depending on ice availability and scheduling. If additional ice time becomes available, the coaches, team manager and parents will discuss and clear with PJHA Board (treasurer, master scheduler) before proceeding. Additional ice (beyond ice time designated during the registration period) will be paid for additionally by individual teams. Practice plans, drills both on and off the ice will follow USA Hockey’s Return to Rink Guide. Sample drills, and plans are available on USA Hockey’s Website. In addition the association has developed sample on-ice plans to support PJHA’s coaches. These drills and exercises will:
1. Maximize ice space by utilizing stations.
2. Will emphasize skills, skating and player development.
Personal Protective Equipment
Off-Ice:
1. Participants are required to wear a face covering/mask when entering/exiting the facility and within the facility when not on the ice.
2. Coaches, parents and spectators should all wear a face covering/mask while indoors.
On-Ice:
1. Face coverings are not required by participants once their helmet is on and they step onto the ice.
2. Your helmet facemask is a personal choice, but a full, clear polycarbonate shield or clear shield cage combination may provide a higher level of protection.
3. Wearing a face covering/mask during on-ice practice or games is a personal choice. However, participants must wear a face covering/mask for on-ice practices and games where they are required by local and state government order and/or your ice rink facility.
4. There are some potential disadvantages of wearing a face covering/mask during high intensity exercise:
• The CDC recognizes that face coverings/masks may be uncomfortable to wear during activity and may hinder breathing especially during strenuous activity or when they become wet:
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schoolschildcare/youth- sports.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-facecover- guidance.html
• The WHO does not recommend that face coverings/masks be worn during strenuous physical activity:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-forpublic/myth-busters
• Preliminary evidence shows that wearing a face covering/mask can decrease oxygen intake and increase carbon dioxide retention during exercise with a mask:
• If you choose to wear a face covering/mask or your local orders require them, please note that there are many types, styles and materials used for face coverings/masks:
• Do not wear filtering facepiece respirators (N95, FFP1, FFP2) during exercise. These masks are reserved for frontline healthcare workers.
• Choose a face covering/mask that fits comfortably and allows you to breathe during exercise. You may have to experiment with different options, but the material type can affect viral control. Two layers of material are considered
sufficient.
• Have multiple face coverings/masks available so you can change them when they become saturated. A wet face covering/mask can impair breathing and possibly increase viral transmission.
• Wash your hands before putting on and taking off your face covering/mask.
• Avoid touching the front of your face covering/mask or your face beneath the face covering/mask.
• Wash your face coverings/masks after each use.
Travel
At this time, PJHA is only conducting on-ice clinics at Pine Street Arena, or other arenas
in Potsdam if they become available.
• No travel for any of the teams is allowed at this time.
• Teams are not allowed to travel for tournaments or other events.
• Failure to follow this protocol could result in discipline for coaches and registered families up to and including, removal from the organization and loss of USA registration.
Any questions concerning team travel should be reviewed with the Board.
2020-21 PJHA REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Teams will be offered at the following age groups/birth years:
6U (Mini-Mite/Beginner) 2014 and Younger $175
8U Mites 2012-13 $375
10U Squirts 2010-11 $375
12U Pee Wee 2008-09 $375
14U Bantam 2006-07 $375
18U Midget 2002-2005 $375
With COVID19 & Current NYS DOH Requirements – PJHA is offering skills
clinics only, 2hrs/week 6U and 3hrs/week 8U and above at Pine Street Arena.
Age levels will be capped at 40 skaters and 4 goalies.
Rink Seating Chart
Practice Protocol
