New public health regulations around children’s indoor play are less than a week away, and some youth sports organizations are bracing for growing pains. .
As of Monday, children 12 to 17 years old will have to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or a recent negative test before being allowed to participate in indoor sports, like hockey.
According to Hockey Manitoba’s Peter Woods, the vast majority – around 80% – of the province’s youth players will be fine, but there are some concerns with those still outside looking in.
“Many areas of our province, you can only get tested at a pharmacy, and there are a lot of small towns in Manitoba that don’t have a pharmacy in their particular town,” he said.
Woods told 680 CJOB he expects the loss of several players and officials, and that some small-town teams may have to merge if they don’t have enough players to form a team on their own. full.
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However, for most players, coaches, officials and parents, he expects the transition to be fairly seamless, as arenas have ramped up health protocols when it comes to health. to older age groups.
“If the establishment was already testing people entering the door who were not in the game, it only makes sense that they would do the same for players who were in the game,” he said.
“So by default, the way the command is written, it’s their responsibility to check on everyone who enters that facility.”
Woods said he doesn’t think enforcement is an issue, although based on the variety of uses many arenas have, there could be some kinks to work out.
“You have a number of different groups of users using the device — like ringtones, like in hockey, business people, figure skating, etc,” he said.
“You’ll get different applications and inconsistencies in how it applies.”
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