As of October 1, 2022 all Covid-19 Protocols are canceled. This may change if directed by Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.

October 14th 2021– updated Nov. 24th 2021

HALDIMAND CURLING CLUB SAFETY PLAN

In writing this plan we are erring on the side of caution and safety in all we do. We ask all members to be patient and cooperate with all that we have planned and how we negotiate through the next few weeks of curling.

All Arena Protocols will be observed from the Haldimand County Document dated September 29, 2021 and any further updates as they are published.

ALL MEMBERS ARE TO SHOW EVIDENCE OF 2 VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON. ANY SPARES HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF 2 VACCINATIONS PRIOR TO BEIMNG PLACED ON THE SPARE LIST.

Prior to the start of the season:

Vaccine Proof:

The Haldimand Curling Club mandates that all athletes, fans, volunteers, aged 12 and over, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with a Health Canada approved vaccine.

All members are to show evidence of 2 vaccinations and +14 days prior to the commencement of the season. Any spares have to show show proof of vaccination +14 days prior to being placed on the spare list.

Please email proof of vaccination to haldimand.curling@gmail.com If you cannot email your proof of vaccination, please bring a copy with you the first time you visit the club in a sealedenvelope and hand it to the Club secretary (Kate Head). The proof of vaccination will be kept in a secure location with the secretary for as long as they are government mandated. At which time they are no longer needed, they will be shredded.  

You can find your proof of vaccination at the following website: https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/

Exemptions: 
“Individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate. Children who are 11 years of age and younger and unable to be vaccinated will also be exempted from these requirements.”

Arriving at the Arena:

1. Members are expected to arrive at the arena no more than 20 minutes before their scheduled game. Change rooms will be available for changing purposes, but the expectation is members will only need to change their shoes and outerwear. All other items are to be left in your car or at home. Any valuables (purses, wallet etc) can be brought onto the ice during your game.
2. All participants are required to provide Proof of Vaccination and photo identification to the County Staff prior to entering the facility.
3. The Beer Garden will not be open before the first draw.
   1. the Beer Garden will open at 8pm for those who want to support the bar before their games. The tables labelled with “OPEN” are the tables we will use for the over flow before and after we curl.
4. Contact tracing by way of attendance will be submitted by the skips reporting on their teams.
5. While in the public spaces and moving around the arena facilities, masks must be worn.
6. For safety, physical distancing will be observed in the Beer Garden while ordering from the bar and seated at tables.
7. The County will disinfect the McSorley Room during set up for the evening. The Bartender and volunteers for the evening will be responsible for the disinfecting between draws.
8. The Early Draw, 6:30pm will arrive after 6:10pm, curl 6:30pm to 8:15pm and have the McSorley Room from from 8:00pm to 10:00pm. The major touch points in the McSorley Room, tables and chairs, bar top and any incidentals will be disinfected for the Late Draw, 8:30pm to 10:30pm, by the HCC bartender and volunteers at each table. The Late Draw will have the room from 10:15pm to 11:30pm, the end our scheduled rental.

Game Play Protocols:

1. Masks are not required on the ice while curling. This is subject to change as Provincial or Municipal government regulations changes.

2. Prior to, or after each game, no handshakes, fist bumps, or elbow taps.

3. Hammer and rock colour to be determined by a round of rock, paper, and scissors, coin flip or another agreed upon means between the two Vices. To save time, it is asked this be done before entering the ice surface.

4. All games will be 6 to 8 end games to start the season with a 1-1/2 to 2 hour time limit. The 6:30pm Game ends at 8:15pm. The score of the last completed end will be the final score recorded on the scoresheet in the McSorley Room.

6. All players will be required to use the social distancing on the ice surface and observe the game flow chart established by Canada Curling. (attached)

7. Scoreboards to be used by the Vices only. The scoreboards will be disinfected after each game by the Vices of the winning teams.

8. Only one sweeper per thrown rock at a time.

9. The Skip of the delivering team has the house until the rock comes to a stop. Only one person can sweep in the house at any time

10. Games will start on opposite ends to avoid congestion on the ice. Games on Ice A and C will start at the score board end of the ice, and games on B and D will start on the ‘McSorley Room’ end of the ice.

11. The club provided will provide equipment to those needing it, as supply lasts. The equipment will be loaned out to members at the start of the season and returned at the end of the curling season. All players are expected to take their equipment home with them at the end of the evenings play.

12. Sanitization supplies will be provided at ice level for those who wish to sanitize their rocks. Each player will throw the same rocks each end. The touch points on the rocks will be disinfected prior to each draw. It will be the responsibility of each player to throw the same two rocks and disinfect them as needed throughout the game.

Flow of the Game Safely

1. Non Delivering Teams: The two sweepers from the non-delivering team will be positioned 6ft part on either side of the arena’s centre red line. The player of the non-sweeping team whose turn it is to throw the next rock will stand at the hogline on the same side as the two sweepers. The Skip or Vice will stand on or near the ‘goal line’ but no closer than the hack.
2. The Delivering Team: The Skip will have control of the house. The person whose turn it is to deliver the rock is in the hack. The non sweeping player is on the backboards or side boards (on an outside sheet). The sweeping player is at the T-line; the 2nd sweeper at the centre red line.
3. Once the stone has been released, the player who delivers the stone proceeds down the centre line to the halfway point of the sheet or to the hog line if it is his/her turn next. The non-sweeper travels to the halfway mark on the sheet depending on his/her turn to deliver or not.
4. One sweeper at a time on all delivered stones. Sweeping needs to be shared equally. One sweeper is allowed in the house from the delivering team. The Skip or Vice of the non-delivering team is to remain near the hack until all stones come to rest. Skips or Vices are not allowed to sweep the opposition stone behind the tee-line.
5. The Skip or Vice (not both) of the non-delivering team must stand at the hack until the other team is finished playing and has relinquished control of the House.
6. The Skip or Vice (both teams) may not sweep any stones (both colours) set in motion by the delivering team.

After the Game

1. Each curler will be responsible for purchasing his/her own drink. There will be no ‘reciprocal’ buying at this time. Snacks (e.g. chips, pretzels) will be available for a small fee for individual consumption.

7. Line up for the bar service will follow physical distancing of 6’.
8. Mix drinks will be served with canned pop with an expectation that extra mix will be used up before another can is opened or needed.
9. Currently, the capacity of the McSorley Room as decided from the County is 34 people. We will be monitoring these numbers and taking action as needed.
10. The McSorley Room will only be open and available to registered, double-vaccinated members of the Haldimand Curling Club who have played that evening.
11. We will need everyone to observe time limits on the ice as well as in the McSorley Room. As a volunteer run organization, we have taken on the responsibility to keep members safe as well as have some fun on our Friday nights.
12. Any help to maintain the clean and disinfected environment we need to maintain our safety will be appreciated by the board of directors.