IMPORTANT: The below information will be updated as additional details are received by Basketball Manitoba from Sport Manitoba and the Province of Manitoba. Stay informed automatically by subscribing to our email newsletters.
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In light of the news announced on Friday, February 11, 2022, and taking effect on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, by the Province of Manitoba tied to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the current Public Health Orders have been updated. The details include...
- NEW: VACCINE REQUIREMENTS: Players, coaches, officials, spectators, etc. of any age will no longer be required to show their proof of full vaccination status / negative test to gain entry to an indoor sports facility in Manitoba (including a basketball gym). Please be aware that some facilities in Manitoba may still maintain this requirement to gain access.
- NO CHANGE: MASK USAGE: Manitoba's indoor sports facilities will require the use of non-medical masks; however, the "participant" has the option to remove the mask while active on the court. (see below definition). Facilities reserve the right to request that masks remain on at all times and that user groups should communicate with the facility manager to know what is required and are asked to follow that requirement. Masks are to remain on for everyone (including spectators) while off the court, including in the hallways, washrooms, change rooms and spectator areas of the facility. Mask requirements in Manitoba are expected to be eliminated by March 15, 2022, under the Public Health Orders.
- DEFINITION: Basketball Manitoba defines a "participant" at a basketball game or practice in Manitoba as a registered Basketball Manitoba member (including directly and through a member league, organization or club) as a...
- Player (both on the court or on the bench as a substitute)
- Head Coach, Assistant Coach and/or Manager
- Assigned Official
- NO CHANGE: SPECTATORS: The number of spectators at an indoor sporting or recreational facility no longer has a 50% capacity limit. Indoor or outdoor facilities (including at the school level) still reserve the right to limit or admit/not admit spectators at the moment. (See below Public Health Orders for exact wording)
- NO CHANGE: TOURNAMENTS: The previous restriction not permitting indoor sporting tournaments (including basketball) has been removed from these new public health orders. Please note that just because hosting a tournament is now allowed under the Manitoba Public Health Orders, past tournaments hosted this time of year, including Championships, may still not return based on facility access, time restrictions, school division policy or other reasons.
- NO CHANGE: PARTICIPANT NUMBERS: Allowance with no maximum participant number restrictions for indoor basketball to gather for games, practices, training and camps.
NO CHANGE: EQUIPMENT AND HAND SNAITIZATION: All equipment, including basketballs and hands, must be properly sanitized before and after all training sessions. - Sanitizer Notes:
- A liquid form of hand sanitizer with 70%+ alcohol content in a spray bottle works well-cleaning basketballs and other equipment with a clean rag and on hands at the same time.
- The cleaner dries fast, leaves no residue or smell on the basketball or hands, and shows no damaging effects on rubber or synthetic basketballs.
- The liquid sanitizer and empty spray bottles can be purchased at home repair and department stores, including Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowe's, Home Hardware, Walmart and many other locations, including many online retailers.
- NO CHANGE: MOUTH GUARDS: Players who choose to wear a mouth guard during a basketball game or practice are to keep the appliance in their mouth at all times while active on the court. Players who remove or adjust the guard while on the court will be required to sanitize their hands again with hand sanitizer provided by the facility or a personal supply before continuing to play/practice.
- NO CHANGE: POSTGAME HANDSHAKING: Basketball Manitoba is advising all member leagues, clubs and teams that the act of all game participants (players, coaches, officials) shaking hands/fist-bumping following a game will remain on pause. Teams can do a cheer for the other team and a wave following a game to minimize unnecessary additional contact. This move was added early in the pandemic before the mass shutdowns of mid-March 2020, and now with games returning, it will remain in place until further notice.
- NO CHANGE: SOCIAL DISTANCING: Social distancing (2m) is to be maintained at all times between players, coaches and officials when not active on the court and are expected to follow all other restrictions imposed by a facility when using change rooms/washrooms.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The wording of current Public Health Orders affecting sports in Manitoba are included below. The full Basketball Manitoba Return to Play Guidelines with the above exceptions remain in place can be found at...
View Document: Return to Basketball Plan: Planning for a Safe Return - Version 16
The new Manitoba Public Health Orders that were formally released tied to mask use can be found at...
https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20212022/orders-soe-02282022.pdf
The sport of basketball in Manitoba will remain in this state until the new health orders are updated or changed by Manitoba Public Health.
SPORT MANITOBA MEMO: MARCH 2, 2022
In sport:
- Capacity limits are eliminated in venues for indoor and outdoor sport.
- Tournaments are allowed.
- As of March 1, new public health orders have come into effect that remove all remaining proof of vaccination requirements for public places.
- Mask-wearing continues to be required in indoor public spaces until March 15.
Sport Manitoba facility updates:
- Courts and flex space returned to 100% capacity, and spectators (those aged 18+ still have to provide proof of vaccination) will now be allowed entrance to the courts.
- Boardrooms have reopened and are available for booking.
This blog has the most up-to-date COVID-19 information for sport and for our facility: https://www.sportmanitoba.ca/
NOTE: If there is a discrepancy between any Basketball Manitoba statement to the actual Manitoba Public Health Orders, the public health orders will always take precedence.
Basketball Manitoba will continue to monitor the current public health orders and make any updates or revisions as needed. This article will be updated as further information on these impacts is known.
More details on these changes can be found on the Province of Manitoba website.