STATEMENT OF CLARIFICATION - FALL PROGRAM UPDATE AUGUST 4TH !!
Dear valued members,
On behalf of the PCBL and our executive board I am taking this moment to FURTHER update you all regarding COVID-19 and provide some clarification regarding one of our earlier correspondences that was sent out via email and posted to our website on August 4th. The purpose of that communication was to educate our members on the following:
- Current Status of PCBL and EYBA Upcoming Season
- Why we do not have access to gymnasiums and others do
- Clearly define and clarify any misperceptions regarding “Sport Cohort” vs Socially Distanced Skills Camps
- How this Pandemic continues to affect PCBL programs
In that communication I had made reference to other clubs in and around our area that are currently offering programming. In no way or form was that communication intended to suggest that these organizations were not following the AHS or Alberta Basketball Guidelines that apply to their program. We trust all basketball parties are doing everything they can to keep their membership safe. A list of Alberta Basketball’s members in good standing can be found at:
http://abbasketball.ca/content/2019-2020-members-in-good-standing
We are currently working with AHS and Alberta basketball to make sure our fall program adheres to all guidelines required. As previously mentioned our governing body, Alberta Basketball has released their return to play guidelines and they will continue to update them when necessary. We will be watching closely as many of our members return to school and how this will affect the pandemic.
Reminder:
The City of Spruce Grove and other local municipalities have confirmed that access to the schools will be delayed until November at the earliest.
PCBL will continue with our various contingency plans, and zero dollar pre-registration. Pre-registration is for our modified fall programing that will operate under AHS Cohort Guidelines. This short season will end in December as we hope to return to full programming in January if AHS and ABA deem it safe to do so.
PCBL will continue to evaluate the tangibility of our current programs and whether or not we will have to officially cancel some of them, versus postponing. We are choosing not to make any premature cancelations as we will most likely be under completely different circumstances and guidelines in weeks to come. It is at that time PCBL will provide you with any supplementary documentation you may require. We will be watching closely as kids return to school before we move forward.
Once again we thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate through these unchartered circumstances. The health and safety of our members will always come first. Please do your part to stay safe and healthy through this COVID-19 Pandemic.
Sincerely,
Jason Ouellette
Vice President / Program Director
Parkland Community Basketball League
Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
Alberta Health Services
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
World Health Organization (WHO) International Travel & Health Updates
Further updates by the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee are available every 48 hours. See the document ‘Advisory on COVID-19’ for more info.
ORIGINAL MESSAGE BELOW:
Dear valued members,
On behalf of the PCBL and our executive board I am taking this moment to update you all regarding COVID-19 and how this continues to affect our programs. We will be returning in some form or fashion this fall!
First and foremost, the health and safety of our members remains our number one concern. We will continue to follow the directions of Alberta Health Services, The World Health Organization, and our Provincial and Federal Government.
Our governing body, Alberta Basketball has recently released their return to play guidelines. It is a fantastic document with best practices guidelines. That being said it must be noted that these guidelines and phases do NOT supersede the stages and regulations put forth by Alberta Health Services. The ABA Return to Play package is intended to be used in conjunction with AHS and government regulations.
http://abbasketball.ca/article/60154
PCBL will continue to monitor this evolving situation and the current / impending impact it may have on our upcoming fall season. We are currently exploring various contingency plans that will allow for modified game play. What that looks like is still too early to say. There are many variables that will determine the landscape of what is possible. We are hoping to run some outdoor skills and 3 on 3 training in late August, and into the fall as weather permits. These programs will adhere to all AHS and ABA guidelines.
The City of Spruce Grove and other local municipalities have confirmed that access to the schools will be delayed. How long has yet to be determined. The City Of Spruce Grove Gym User Committee is currently allocating gym time as per usual, but ultimately the schools and school boards will have final say on when we get access.
It has been brought to our attention that other basketball clubs have chosen to run programs under their own interpretation of AHS and Alberta Basketball’s return to play guidelines. They have done so by procuring gym time through a private school the City has no control over.
We have received legal counsel that has advised an organization of our size against such activity. The indoor cohorts are very tough to monitor and trace, and are currently being misinterpreted and have created a false sense of safety. If your child belongs to one sports cohort, defined as an interactive sports activity where social distancing has been removed during play, shared ball, physical contact etc.. they would essentially be required to NOT engage in any other activity with another party where social distancing has been removed in order to continue to attend the sport cohort. This would include not being able to attend part time jobs, sleepovers or play dates with persons outside of that sport cohort to ensure the safety of all. There is currently zero liability insurance policies for infectious disease such as COVID 19.
There fore in order for PCBL to continue with our various contingency plans, we will be opening a zero dollar pre-registration on August 10,2020. Tryouts have tentatively been booked at the Saville Centre for August 29th & 30th.
Each pre- registrant will only be charged a $17.00 Alberta Basketball Membership Fee by ABA at the time of this pre-registration. That $17.00 will be refundable by ABA if we are not able to offer any programming.
Once it has been determined that it is feasible for the PCBL to return in some form or fashion, PCBL will also make the necessary adjustments to our league fee’s.
PCBL will continue to evaluate the tangibility of our programs and whether or not we will have to officially cancel some of them, versus postponing. We are choosing not to make any premature cancelations as we will most likely be under completely different circumstances and guidelines come late August. It is at that time PCBL will provide you with any supplementary documentation you may require.
Once again we thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate through these unchartered circumstances. The health and safety of our members will always come first. Please do your part to stay safe and healthy through this COVID-19 Pandemic.
Sincerely,
Jason Ouellette
Vice President / Program Director
Parkland Community Basketball League
Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
Alberta Health Services
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page16944.aspx
https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
World Health Organization (WHO) International Travel & Health Updates
Further updates by the Sport Medicine Advisory Committee are available every 48 hours. See the document ‘Advisory on COVID-19’ for more info.
