RTP UPDATE: ONTARIO ANNOUNCES MOVE TO STEP 2 OF THE ‘ROADMAP TO REOPEN’

For Immediate Release 

June 24, 2021

RTP UPDATE: ONTARIO ANNOUNCES MOVE TO STEP 2 OF THE ‘ROADMAP TO REOPEN’

The Ontario Government announced a move to Step 2 of the ‘Roadmap to Reopen’ for June 30th.

 

Hamilton, Ontario - Earlier today, the Ontario Government announced that, due to the province wide vaccination rate and continuing improvements in key public health and health systems, Ontario will be moving into Step 2 of the 3 Step Roadmap to Reopen the Province.

All regions will be moving to Step 2 except for the region of Waterloo. More information will follow. Be sure to consult with your local public health authorities on all specific requirements.

The Ontario Government will move the province into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen at 12:01am EST on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Entering Step 2 of the Roadmap to Reopen will allow for outdoor sports leagues and teams to practice and engage in competitions as long as they avoid intentional sustained personal contact. Indoor facility use will be available but the only people permitted to enter the facilities will be athletes, coaches or officials who are using the facility for the purposes of training or conditioning as well as the necessary staff to operate the facility and support the training. There are no limits on the participation numbers of players in practice and games and no limits on the teams allowed to compete. To read more on the restrictions and requirements for indoor facility use please view the Reopening Ontario Act. Section 19, Subsection (7) is applicable to Ontario Football.

As we enter Step 2, spectators will also be allowed to return to facilities. For a facility that has an area designated for spectator seating, twenty-five percent of the usual seating capacity will be allowed. For a facility that does not have an area designated for spectator seating, that twenty-five percent will be determined by taking the total square metres of the area, dividing that number by sixteen and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number. We will continue to work to align our return to football documents and processes to ensure our members are in the best position to return to football as we receive more information regarding Step 3.

 

The province will remain in Step Two for a period of time in order to evaluate any impacts on the key public health and health system indicators. If there are continued improvements in key public health and health system indicators, the province will enter Step 3 in approximately twenty-one days, on a date to be announced later. 

Currently sports in Ontario have yet to receive clear guidance from the Ontario Government or the ministry on what these restrictions will specifically look like for the remaining step. Ontario Football is collaborating with several outdoor sports representing more the 1 million Ontario residents to work with the government on returning back to sport safely as soon as possible.

 

All Ontario football programs can utilize their existing Return to Play plans that have been submitted and approved by modifying the delivery plan to reflect the capacity limits as well as delivery restrictions. Associations that have not yet completed a Return to Football plan must have one completed prior to returning to the field. Ensure to consult with your local health authorities as well as facilities to ensure alignment with their individual guidelines.

Please refer to Pathway 2 and 3 for programming options for Step 2:

Programming Pathway 2: Non-Contact Activities and Games

Programming Pathway 3: Stay and Train (With Equipment) - Tackle Practice with No Sustained Personal Contact

 

Please ensure your association has completed the following:

1. Completed and submitted your membership documentation for 2021: Member Form

2. Have a Return to Football safety plan completed and available to regional health authorities

3. Ensure registration of all participants in the OFA member registry for 2021 prior to getting on the field: Member Registry

 

 For more specifics on the Roadmap to Reopen please visit: HERE

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Aaron Geisler

Executive Director

ageisler ontariofootball.ca

519-719-2322

 

 

ABOUT ONTARIO FOOTBALL: Ontario Football is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Ontario Football is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders. Please visit: ontariofootball.ca