During this COVID-19 impacted period, Squash Canada urges players, coaches, clubs and administrators to exercise caution when organizing and participating in squash activities.
As each jurisdiction in Canada has its own timetable and phase-in protocols for navigating COVID-19, we encourage all participants to check in with their local facilities and member associations on a regular basis.
This page includes many return to play recommendations, tools and risk management resources.
Squash Canada appreciates the support and patience shown by everyone, and looks forward to the day when squash participation can return to normalcy.
As different levels of provincial and municipal governments outline their plans for reducing or removing COVID-19 related restrictions, Squash Canada is issuing its ‘return to play’ recommendations for clubs, coaches and players, once squash clubs and facilities are permitted to re-open.
COVID-19 has been affecting different parts of the country in different ways, with different timing, and provincial government re-opening strategies. While government and public health authorities may impose certain restrictions on athletic or fitness facilities, the squash club or facility management, coaches and players themselves should implement certain measures and precautions to reduce the risk of infection transmission while in the facility and while practicing or playing squash.
Squash Canada offers its general recommendations for “Return to Play” which are aimed at helping clubs, coaches and players customize their progressive plans to re-engage in squash activities as Government restrictions are eased in phases over time.
Squash Canada has released two documents:
- Return to Play Recommendations for Club Administrators, Coaches and Anyone Organizing Squash Activities – Click Here
- Return to Play Recommendations for Players – Click Here
The content outlines the many measures and precautions to take before re-opening, and in organizing or participating in different types of squash activities, as a way to reduce the risks.
Recommendations have been developed in accordance with World Health Organization and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s general guidelines, and with the input of a cross section of medical, legal, coach and provincial/territorial squash associations.
Stay safe, play safe!
Squash Canada – COVID-19 Risk Management Resources
Notwithstanding extraordinary efforts and precautions, due to its infectious and latent nature, it is impossible to guarantee that every participant will be safe from COVID-19. Every participant must assume that there remains an element of risk. Squash organizations may also find that various insurance coverage’s may have exclusions for contagions or pandemics, resulting in heightened risk exposure. It therefore behooves participants to accept a level of responsibility for their and others’ safety, and for squash organizations to mitigate those risks by having participants sign certain awareness documents and agreements as a condition of participation.
- Declaration of Compliance
- A form that individuals entering a facility and/or intending to participate in sanctioned activities should be required to sign.
- Informed Consent and Assumption of Risk Management
- A form that participants should be required to sign in which they acknowledge and accept the assumption of risks. Include all 3 levels of squash organizations, as applicable, club, provincial and national association.
- Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims and Indemnity Agreement
- A form that participants should be required to sign in which they release and indemnify the 3 levels of squash organizations from liability, and waives their right to file a claim.
Government of Canada – Risk Mitigation Guidelines and Resources
The following Government of Canada guidelines and resources are considerations that should be applied to all training environments. These links provide important information for all athletes, coaches, clubs, facilities and organizers in assessing and reducing risk when planning for their return to sport.
STAFF KNOWLEDGE
Resources For Coaches, Athletes & Staff:
- Prevention & Risk
- Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak Update
- Actions you can take to stop the spread of COVID-19
- Reduce the Spread: Wash Your Hands
- About Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS
Keep up to date with information from your local and provincial health authorities.
ISOLATION CAPACITY
Identification and management of symptomatic athletes, Isolation procedures, care of athletes in isolation:
RISK COMMUNICATION
Ensure you have communication plans in place and a strategy to manage and share information.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Contact and tracing plans, response leaders, link to PHA, Cleaning and PPE, transportation plans:
- Cleaning and disinfecting public spaces during COVID-19
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Being Prepared
- Non-medical masks and face coverings
LOGISTICAL COORDINATION
COVID -19 operations team. Link to health authorities in case of outbreak:
SPECIFIC MITIGATION MEASURES
- Health checks and monitoring:
- Facility & equipment access and use:
World Squash Federation Recommendations and Resources
Fasken – Limiting Liability for COVID-19 Transmission
- Limiting Liability for COVID-19 Transmission – Webinar Presentation
- COVID-19 Waiver User Guide
- Sample COVID-19 Attestation
- Sample COVID-19 Combined Facility Use & Remote Training Waiver
- Sample COVID-19 Event Participation Waiver
- Sample COVID-19 Facility Waiver
- Sample COVID-19 Remote Training Waiver
- Sample COVID-19 International Travel Waiver
Own the Podium – COVID-19 Tools and Resources
The Sport Medicine Advisory Committee, a joint committee comprised of chief medical officers of Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee, have developed some very comprehensive tools and resources for the Canadian sport community.