Return to Football

On July 9th, 2021 the Ontario Government announced that the Province would be moving into Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen as of July 16th, 2021.  With the new guidelines, full contact sporting events and games will be permitted and there will be no restrictions on the number of players or teams allowed to participate. Both indoor and outdoor facilities will be permitted to operate with specified restrictions on spectator attendance. To view the spectator restrictions as well as other restrictions please view the Updated Reopening Ontario Act. 

On May 30th, 2021 the Ontario Government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced its Roadmap to Reopen. This marks the next step in the fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic in the province. This includes a three-step plan to safely and cautiously reopen the province and gradually lift public gealth measures based on the vaccination rate publice wide and improvements in key public health and health care indicators. Make sure to check out the Ontario Covid-19 Response Framework for more information.

The Roadmap to Reopen outlines three steps to easing public health measures, guided by the following principles:

Before Step 1:
Closed, with limited exceptions (such as for identified high-performance athletes)

Step 1 (60 Percent of Adults Vaccinated with One Dose): 
Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor sports training (no games or practices), with 10 attendees maximum and 3 metres of physical distance. Indoor facilities remain closed except for high-performance athletes and day camps. Please view Programming Pathway 1 to see how this relates to the return to football:

Programming Pathway 1: Physical Training and Skill Development

Step 2 (70 Percent of Adults Vaccinated with One Dose and 20 Percent Vaccinated with Two Doses):
Further expanding outdoor activies. This includes outdoor sports and leagues. Training for professional and amateur athletes and/or competitions.

Indoor and outdoor facilities are to be open for training and competitions with restrictions. Spectators are limited at 25% capacity but there are no limits to the number of players and coaches allowed to be present. Please view Programming Pathways 2 and 3 to see how this relates to the return to football and more information on restrictions and modifications in place:

Programming Pathway 2: Non-Contact Activities and Games

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

Step 3 (70-80 Percent of Adults Vaccinated with One Dose and 25 Percent Vaccinated with Two Doses): 
Expanding access to indoor and outdoor settings, with restrictions, including where there are larger numbers of people and where face coverings can't always be worn. This includes indoor sports and recreational fitness. No restrictions on contact and sport.

Programming Pathway 4: All Non-Contact, Touch, Flag, and Tackle Leagues Fully Open - Return to Contact Guidelines

We are currently working on gathering more information in order to ensure that our members are in the best possible position to return to football when we are permitted to do so.
 

In preparation for the next transition in the COVID-19 pandemic organizations should refer to the Covid-19 Response Framework Modifications to develop/re-evaluate their Return to Football safety plans. As a requirement of the Ontario return to sport framework organizations must have their Return to Football safety plans completed and available by request of your regional health authorities. For additional resources on developing your safety plans please refer to the Ontario Workplace Safety - Safety Plan.

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 Football Ontario member registry for 2021: Member Registry

If your organization requires consultation or assistance in the development of your plan please email ageisler ontariofootball.ca to set up a consultation.