GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) and Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), in consultation with District 4 and District 10 officials, are announcing the return of indoor inter-school athletics.
Following recommendation from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH), the boards announced in an Oct. 22 press release the following criteria will be in place for indoor sports:
- all participants must provide proof of being fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption in order to participate in indoor inter-school sports and/or indoor high-impact, high-intensity school-based intramurals/extracurricular athletics activities; and
- all participants must be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption to begin tryouts/practices for indoor inter-school athletics.
“In addition to the recommendations provided by WDGPH and consistent with previous communication surrounding spectators of outdoor inter-school sports, spectators will not be permitted indoors at the present time,” the release notes.
Board officials note the vaccination requirement does not apply to gym classes, only to inter-school indoor athletics and indoor high-impact, high-intensity school-based intramurals/extracurricular athletics activities.
Schools will use the provincial Verify Ontario App and the QR codes to verify full vaccination. If that’s not available, confirmation of vaccination can be verified via a paper copy and ID.
UGDSB director of education Peter Sovran said in an email statement to the Advertiser, since the beginning of the school year, the board has been working with public health and the WCDSB, in addition to partners in school athletics to develop a plan for the return of inter-school athletics.
He noted outdoor sports began with training and practices in September and games in early October, with all activities following guidelines from WDGPH.
“Additional consultation with WDGPH and our partners was required to finalize our plans for indoor sports, given the additional health and safety requirements for participation indoors,” he explained.
“We know that students and families were eagerly awaiting the return of indoor sports and we believe that athletics is an important part of high school life,” Sovran wrote in the email. “This is an exciting time for the many student athletes and coaches as they re-engage with these activities.
“While this still is very much not a regular school year, having activities such as athletics return to school life is a great next step as we continue to focus on supporting student wellness and providing mentally healthy learning environments.”
WCDSB director of education Mike Glazier said the board recognizes the importance of extra-curricular activities in the lives of its students and have been planning for the return.
“Public health guidance allowed for the return to outdoor sports, however, we were taking a more cautious approach to the return to indoor sports,” he explained, adding “high intensity, high contact indoor sports where there is a frequent contact, heavy breathing, etc. was the area of focus and attention.”
He noted the decision required the review of the board’s current strategies for preventing COVID-19 in schools and, with the introduction of the immunization requirement, “it provided an extra layer of protection for those involved in the athletic events.”
Glazier said outdoor sports are already in progress and the students and coaches are happy to be back.
“School extra-curricular activities are a big part of the secondary school experience – whether it be clubs, sports, intramurals, and are important for their social development and well-being,” Glazier stated. “This is a good step in the right direction to a return to healthy activities in our secondary schools.
He continued, “It is a positive step, and we are feeling very optimistic that we can maintain this gradual return to a more normal school experience for all of our students.
“The gradual return requires careful planning around public health protocols as we certainly don’t want to take a step back in the progress that has been made.”
Practices and tryouts began Oct. 25 and games will begin the week of Nov. 15. Specific schedule information will be released through school athletic directors.
