The news overnight that we are returning to Covid-19 Alert Level 2 at midday today is disappointing I know and will no doubt create some anxieties for many of you. The good news is though that this is not new and we have substantive plans and policies in place to allow us to continue to deliver community sport while under Level 2, albeit with some stricter measures.

Please remember that Alert Level 2 is not life as normal and in general you should:

• keep your distance from other people in public
• wash your hands
• sneeze and cough into your elbow
• keep a track of where you’ve been and who you’ve seen
• wear a mask if you can
• stay at home if you are sick  

The key messages you need to know about the delivering of hockey at this point in time are as follows:

• We can continue to deliver community hockey as long as we ensure our stringent cleaning and hygiene measures resume
• Gatherings are restricted to 100 people or less in a defined space. What this means for our facilities is that we have multiple groups of 100 across turf spaces as long as groups are prevented from intermingling or sharing common facilities.
• Contact tracing measures will be reinstated across all our venues using the iDMe system. The Government Tracing App will still be available at our venues however all hockey participants, coaches, managers and officials will need to use the iDMe app as it is Canterbury Hockey’s responsibility to ensure that detailed information can be made available to Public Health if needed. iDME venue codes as follows:
  • Nga Puna Wai - ADDRP
  • Nunweek Park - CJSHB
  • Marist Park - JCKNC
  • Rangiora - HNUAC
• You will see a return to fencing and signage at all venues to manage the flow of participants and to effectively manage contact tracing. Please ensure you follow this for everyone’s safety
• Extra cleaning and hygiene measures will be put in place at all our venues
• Changing rooms will be closed at all our venues until further notice
• No spectators at any of our venues until further notice
• Ensure you maintain a 2m distance when not in the field of play and remember your hand hygiene
• Please come as ready to train and play as you can
• If you have any further questions or concerns please direct these to your Club or School in the first instance

 Lastly, please remember to be kind to each other and patient. Our sport is run mostly like volunteers who also have their own work and personal challenges during this time as well as trying to support and manage the delivery of community hockey. Our first priority is to ensure that hockey can continue safely and within the guidelines outlined by the Government. 

SSL 

Girls SSL is on today at all venues with additional Health and Safety measures in place in line with our COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan.

The key things you need to know are:

• NO SPECTATORS  at the games
• Participants must stay away if unwell.
• Changing rooms will be closed
• Everyone MUST sign in with iDMe at all venues and match cards must be completed in full before the game can commence.
• Santise hands on entry and exit to the turfs
• Mantain social distancing whenever possible.
• Follow turf entry and exit directions

ALL OTHER SENIOR/SCHOOL HOCKEY

At this stage all Senior/secondary school hockey will proceed as normal with more details to follow.

Training can continue as normal provided

• participants stay away if unwell
• all participants sign in with iDMe (or coaches/managers do this for their players if coaching the younger age-group).
• all participants sanitise hands on entry and exit
• maintain social distancing whenever possible

 Please remember to arrive at training as ready to play as possible, and leave promptly after training.

 Junior hockey
We are currently checking the availability of our satellite turfs and the logistics for managing large groups of children/parents. We will make a decision on whether junior hockey will go ahead on Friday morning and you will be advised by your club/school. There will also be regular updates via our website and Facebook.

Key documents

• Sport NZPlay-Active-Recreation-and-Sport-at-Alert-Level-2 information - here.
• Athlete's Safe Practice Guidelines - here.
• Training/Playing checklist - Coaches/managers - here
• iDME Sign-up procedure - here
• iDME Set-up on android and apple (video) - here
• Venue Sign-in procedure - here
• iDME check-in multiple people (video) - here
• Playing at Nga Puna Wai guidelines (video) - here