08/26/2021
Hello Whalers Families:
Many of you have been inquiring about the rules for Return To Play for the 2021-2022 season.
You will find ALL OF THE RULES listed below. These rules come from the CHC (Connecticut Hockey Conference), in conjunction with the CT Rink Owner’s Association, which is the governing body for USA Hockey in Connecticut.
It is HIGHLY recommended families print this information for reference during the season.
The CCM Game On Masks (the ones that attach to helmets) ARE NOW ALLOWED for use. These give kids a little break as they are not directly on their face.
The Whalers will be enforcing these rules with a Zero Tolerance Policy.
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2021:
- In consultation with the State Department of Health, The CHC, in conjunction with the Connecticut Rink Owner’s Association (C.R.O.A.), are requiring that all individuals/ participants MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES WHEN INSIDE A FACILITY HOSTING CHC / USA HOCKEY SANCTIONED EVENTS (PRACTICES, SCRIMMAGES, GAMES, ETC.) IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND INSIDE FACILITES HOSTING CHC MEMBER PROGRAMS PAWLING AND PUTNAM YOUTH HOCKEY.
- All CHC / USA HOCKEY SANCTIONED EVENTS IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND IN FACILITES HOSTING CHC / USA HOCKEY MEMBER PROGRAMS PAWLING AND PUTNAM YOUTH HOCKEY MUST ADHERE TO THIS MASK POLICY.
- RINK, TOWN, OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT POLICIES DO NOT SUPERSEDE THIS MANDATE.
- THE DEFINITION OF PARTICIPANTS IS ALL PLAYERS, COACHES, ON-ICE OFFICIALS, OFF-ICE OFFICIALS (SCORE KEEPERS & TIME KEEPERS), AND SPECTATORS.
COVID REPORTING, CONTACT TRACING AND QUARATINING PERIOD
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 24, 2021:
Youth sports organizations should notify local health officials, program staff, officials and families whose players had shared ice for practices, games, skill sessions immediately of any confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.
**For the Whalers: please send the notice of a positive COVID-19 case to Cat Cirillo, Vice President, at
and our Player Health and Safety Coordinator, Kim Sharples, at
Please also notify if a player is quarantined from school.
** A person is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or 2 weeks from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
** CDC’s general guidance for identification of close contacts defines a contact as within 6 ft of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period. However, this definition is intended for individuals interacting in a relative resting state (ie: engaged in conversation, seated near each other, etc). In cases where significant respiratory droplet generation and spread could reasonably be expected (ie a cough, sneeze, aerobic activity, forced exhalation upon exertion, etc). then 15 minutes of exposure is not needed to be considered a contact. In the case of ice hockey, given the highly aerobic nature of the activity, caution would dictate that anyone who may have come within “spitting distance” of a case during a practice or game should be considered a contact. Masks do not factor into CDC’s definition because it is not possible to verify consistent and correct use of masks during activities.
**Individuals who are not fully vaccinated who are identified as a close contact of a known COVID-19 case must quarantine away from sports for a full 14 days from the date of their last exposure to the case, or for 10 days with a negative test at day 8 or later. Even if players are allowed to return to school or other activities earlier than the timeliness listed above, they should not return to sports until 14 days or 10 days with a negative test. Negative test results need to be submitted Vice President, Cat Cirillo (
) and to our Player Health & Safety Coordinator, Kim Sharples at KLSharples@gmail.com
**Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to quarantine away from sports at all, as long as they do not have any symptoms. It is recommended that fully vaccinated individuals get tested between day 3-5 after their last exposure to as case and wear a mask when others are around at all times until they receive the negative test result or for a full 14 days.
** When someone becomes infected, that person must go into “isolation”. Isolation lasts for a full 10 days from the time symptoms started or the positive test was administered if the individual did not experience symptoms prior to the positive result.
RETURN TO PLAY:
**APA 6 day Return to Play Information: After an infected player’s isolation period ends, they should confirm with their medical doctor that they are cleared to return to athletic activities. Those players, in consultation with their medical provider, should follow the American Academy of Pediatrics Return to Sports and Physical activities as indicated. A written note from the player’s pediatrician is required to be presented to Return to Play. This note should be emailed to our Vice President, Cat Cirillo, at
as well as our Player Health & Safety Coordinator, Kim Sharples, at
. Without this note, players will not be allowed to return to the ice.
** There is no need for testing to be released from isolation.
HIPPA:
** Please note: it is NOT a HIPPA violation to request proof of vaccination for participants. The privacy rules included in HIPPA are very limited: they prohibit the release of protected health information by “covered entities” without a person’s consent. They have nothing to do with whether a person can or should answer questions about vaccination status. HIPPA doesn’t prevent anyone from asking a person about his/her vaccination status. And there is nothing that prohibits businesses such as restaurants, gyms or movie theaters, employer, or athletic club from asking a person for proof of vaccination. Finally, HIPPA privacy rules do not prevent a person from answering questions about whether or not he/she has been vaccinated. It is an individual’s decision whether or not to tell others their vaccination status. Of course, if a person decides not to disclose that information when asked, he or she should be considered unvaccinated and treated as such for appropriate quarantine length.
To reiterate: these rules have been put into place by the CHC in conjunction with the CT Rink Owner’s Association.
The Whalers will have a Zero Tolerance Policy effective 08/24/2021 COVID REPORTING AND QUARENTING) or 09/01/2021 (MASK MANDATE).
Let’s all work together to make this a safe and healthy season for all involved.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Stan Lada (President) or Cat Cirillo (Vice President).
The Whalers Board of Directors
by Cat Cirillo, Whalers VP posted 08/26/2021
