Covid-19 safety protocols
In accordance with the guidelines set out by viaSPORT of British Columbia, Water Polo Canada and Water Polo West, the North Shore Titans Water Polo Club (Titans) has the following protocols in place:
- Mask wearing is mandatory.
- Wait out front until the door is opened (the tent will be up if it's raining).
- No physical distancing required.
- Hand sanitizer is available for those who want it (not mandatory).
- Chairs and baskets for shoes will be available on the pool deck.
- Change rooms are open; all players MUST leave the change room no later than 10 minutes after practice ends.
- Exit from the pool deck door.
- No requirement to answer COVID questions; all people entering the facility must be healthy (please stay home when sick).
- No proof of vaccine is required for youth sports.
- Spectators are allowed by advanced request only.
Monitoring
- Regular communication between Titans executives, coaches and parents will assist in implementing the return to sport plan.
- Titans members will be asked to sign a Participation Agreement.
- Titans coaches will have regular communication with the executive to monitor the implementation of the return to sport plan.
- Titans coaches will implement and monitor the return to sport plan during the practices. During the initial start up of practices, Titans executive may assist and advise on implementation.
- Adjustments to the return to sport plan and procedures will be implemented if necessary.
- As required by the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission (NVRCC) Guidelines, Titans will designate a coach (and executive member) as a “COVID Safety Person” who will be responsible for maintaining the physical distancing guidelines during practice and between groups.
Overall maintenance of physical distancing
There will be no gatherings over 50 people.
• Maintenance of physical distancing of 2 metres at all times for coaches, athletes and parents.
• There will be no in water or out of water physical contact at any practice. Modified training techniques to ensure non-contact between coaches, athletes and parents will be in place.
• Coaches will maintain 2 metres physical distancing during practices.
• Athletes entering and walking within the Ron Andrews facility will maintain 2 metres physical distancing.
• Maintenance of physical distancing of 2 metres at all times for coaches, athletes and parents.
• There will be no in water or out of water physical contact at any practice. Modified training techniques to ensure non-contact between coaches, athletes and parents will be in place.
• Coaches will maintain 2 metres physical distancing during practices.
• Athletes entering and walking within the Ron Andrews facility will maintain 2 metres physical distancing.
Sanitary conditions at pool facilities
- Change rooms will not be used for changing before or after practices.
- Athletes will shower at home and arrive at practices in their swim suits ready to enter the water.
- The NVRCC will be responsible for increased cleaning of high touch points within the facility.
Sanitary conditions with common use practice equipment
• Common use practice equipment will be minimized or eliminated.
• Titans have multiple waterpolo balls and waterpolo caps, which will allow this equipment to be used once per athlete and cleaned prior to use by another athlete.
• Following the end of a practice, all equipment will be sanitized by Titans coaches.
• Titans have multiple waterpolo balls and waterpolo caps, which will allow this equipment to be used once per athlete and cleaned prior to use by another athlete.
• Following the end of a practice, all equipment will be sanitized by Titans coaches.
Movement of athletes at practices to maintain physical distancing
• Separate entrances and exits will be used to move athletes to and from practices
• All athletes resting at the pool wall in the water will remain 2 metres apart.
• All athletes resting at the pool wall in the water will remain 2 metres apart.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning materials
• Titans will follow provincial health guidelines on use and type of PPE and cleaning materials.
• Consultation with the NVRCC may be required on the type and use of cleaning materials at pool facilities. Masks and gloves will be available to Titans coaches and executives as a precaution and to ensure Procedures in Appendix C: Procedure for Coaches or Athletes who feel Ill during Practices are followed.
• Athletes will be required to carry their own mask.
• Consultation with the NVRCC may be required on the type and use of cleaning materials at pool facilities. Masks and gloves will be available to Titans coaches and executives as a precaution and to ensure Procedures in Appendix C: Procedure for Coaches or Athletes who feel Ill during Practices are followed.
• Athletes will be required to carry their own mask.
Athlete flow
Parents are not allowed inside the building.
- Athletes arrive at pool and are screened at the screening area in front of the main entrance, by either the coach or on-deck executive.
- Athletes enter the pool building and are marshalled 2 metres apart to the pool area by the coach or on-deck executive.
- Coaches escort athletes (2 metres apart) to “Personal Items Area” where athletes drop gear bags 2 metres apart.
- Coaches escort athletes (2 metres apart) on pool deck to their designated area.
- At the end of practice, athletes exit pool water, collect gear bags from “Personal Items Area” and Coaches escort athletes (2 metres apart) to the pool exit door.
Illness policy and screening
• Coaches or athletes will all be screened prior to the start of each practice with Covid-19 screening questions
• If a coach or athlete feels ill during a practice, the Titan's Illness procedure will be followed
• If a coach or athlete feels ill during a practice, the Titan's Illness procedure will be followed
