Indoor Red Deer recreation centres and arenas will remain closed while the city reviews the latest health restrictions for children’s team and school sports.
On Saturday, the province announced that beginning Monday children and youth will be allowed to participate in limited school and team sports activities with a number of restrictions
Currently, all indoor city recreation centres and arenas remain closed, with the exception of Kinsmen Community Arenas, which opened on Monday for one-on-one training through permitted/rental use.
In the coming days, decisions regarding other facilities will be made as the city reviews the new guidelines and how to implement them.
“We are working with our user groups to understand community demand for our facilities, based on these new guidelines,” said recreation superintendent Barb McKee.
“While it is encouraging to see the easing of restrictions, these guidelines for activities are very specific and the safety of our customers remains our top priority.
“A return to child and youth sports was not anticipated at this time under the previously announced plan for easing public health measures,” said McKee. “Since the announcement on Saturday, user groups have been working hard to identify and develop opportunities to allow some activities to resume, in a way that is safe for everyone.”
Under the new guidelines, children and youth will be allowed to participate in limited school and team sport activities with the following restrictions:
•Lessons, practices and conditioning activities are allowed for indoor and outdoor, team-based, minor sports/activities and school athletics.
•Games are not allowed.
•Maximum of 10 total individuals, including all coaches, trainers, and participants.
• Physical distancing —three metres indoors and two metres outdoors — must be maintained between participants at all times. Coaches or trainers may enter physical distancing space for brief interactions with participants (for example, to correct form or technique)
•Participants must be masked at all times, except during the training activity. Coaches and trainers must remain masked at all times.
•Access to change rooms must be limited, including accelerated arrival and departure, emergencies (for example, first aid) and washroom use.
Setters Place Ice Oval at Great Chief Park remains open for activity reservations, although reservations are currently on hold until Friday due to cold temperatures.
For more information on the city’s response to COVID-19, visit: https://www.reddeer.ca/whats-happening/covid-19/.
pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com
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