CHICAGO HAWKS COVID-19 POLICIES

 

The Chicago Hawks Hockey Club is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment to all of our members.  Of primary importance this year is our effort to mitigate the potential for the transmission of COVID-19 within our Club and the community.  Not only will this effort require full cooperation from our members, but it will also require flexibility as the circumstances surrounding this virus are constantly changing.

 

Ultimately, despite our best efforts, we cannot completely eliminate the risk that COVID-19 presents.  If you have an underlying health condition or a specific health concern about participating in hockey this season, you should work with your health care provider to determine the best decision for your family.

 

Please review the following policies regarding COVID-19 that will be in effect for the 2020-2021 season.  In the event any of this information changes, we will notify all members at the email address that is registered to your SportsEngine account and on our website.

 

Positive Tests - Quarantine - Notification

 

• In the event that you, your player, or someone you live with tests positive for COVID-19, you must notify the Club.  In addition to informing your head coach, please email  covid@chicagohawks.com.  This email will be confidentially monitored by the Hockey Director, Board President, and Club Treasurer. 

• If a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must quarantine themselves away from all Hawks-related events in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the CDC (CDC Guidelines).  Said player or coach may return when they have received a negative test and a letter of release from a physician indicating they are cleared to return to sports and recreation. 
• If a family member of a player or coach who resides in the same home as the player or coach tests positive for COVID-19, that player or coach must be quarantined until the incubation period has passed and they can provide a negative test after the incubation period.
• If a player or coach tests positive, all team members will be notified.  Team members then must follow the advice of their respective health care professionals to determine exposure risk and any quarantine requirements.  If you were unmasked and within 6 feet of the infected person for more than 15 minutes, you must quarantine and be tested for COVID-19 before returning.

Financial Considerations:

 

The primary cost for any hockey organization is ice rental.  Once we complete tryouts and assign players to teams, those teams will use the same amount of ice that they would have any other season.  The level of instruction and development will be the same as well.  By maintaining the amount and high level of training that we have offered in the past, our teams will be in the best position to succeed once we are able to play league games.

 

As you know, we are offering a six-payment plan to help lower and spread out the payment of fees.  If we are forced to stop training due to a governmental directive or the closure of the Sportsplex, members will not be responsible for payments beyond their most recent SportsEngine billing.  Members who elect to pay in full at the beginning of the season will receive a proration similar to those members on the payment plan.

 

Further, in the event that your team is unable to play any league games, we will return the fees associated with those games (league fees and estimated referee expenses).  Teams will not establish a “slush fund” until we are able to play games. 

 

If your league extends its season due to a delay in start or interruption, the Club will incur additional expense for ice rental and instruction.  Members will not be charged additional fees for the expense related to an extended season. 

 

Other Items To Be Aware Of:

 

• Any money returned as a result of an early termination of the season WILL NOT include the fee for your apparel package.
• We will not reimburse members for a temporary suspension of activities.  This means, for example, that if you or your team is forced to quarantine due to a positive test or if the Sportsplex must temporarily close for a COVID-related reason (i.e., cleaning), you will not receive a refund for the period of time that you are not on the ice.
• Please note that the injury policy detailed in our registration packet does not cover COVID-19.
• Should the season be interrupted or cancelled for any reason, no multi-player rebates will be issued.

 

 

 

 

At The Rink:

 

• EVERYONE inside the Darien Sportsplex that is not ACTIVELY ON THE ICE must wear a mask.  This means that if you are a player entering/exiting the building or using the locker room, you must be wearing a mask.
• Teams are strongly encouraged to come dressed in their equipment as much as possible before arriving at the Sportsplex to limit the amount of time spent in the locker room together.  Although we will start the year with limited access to locker rooms, they will be closed if they are not used in a responsible manner.  YOU MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES IN THE LOCKER ROOM.
• Players should arrive no sooner than 15 minutes before their scheduled event and are encouraged to leave the premises within 15 minutes after their scheduled event is complete.
• No gatherings are allowed in the lobby before, during, or after scheduled events.
• Do not share towels, water bottles, or other personal items.
• Regularly wash hands and use hand sanitizer before and after practices/games.
• One spectator per player is allowed in the facility, wearing a face covering, while that player is participating in their activity.

 

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the inability to participate in Hawks-related activities.

 

Travel:

 

Any team that wishes to participate in any out-of-state activities must receive approval from the Chicago Hawks Board in advance. 

 

Members will be responsible for coordinating their own travel this year.  If teams are able to travel out of state for games, the Club will not coordinate any airline travel or busses and/or incur that expense.

 

Mandatory Volunteer Safety Coordinator

Managers will secure a safety coordinator volunteer for each team activity for the year.  Each family must volunteer to serve as the safety coordinator for their team on a rotating basis. This is mandatory.  A player whose family does not participate in this requirement will not be allowed to participate in Hawks-related activities.  Teams will not be permitted to engage in a practice or game if a safety coordinator is not identified and present for each activity.

 

Responsibilities of the safety coordinator include:

• Obtaining a locker room key for the team, if necessary.
• Making sure players remain socially distanced with a mask on while they are not on the ice.
• Reminding a coach or assistant coach to check the locker room to make sure that players are masked before and after practice.
• Ensuring that parents and spectators are wearing masks and sitting in the bleachers (not standing around the glass)..
• Provide hand sanitizer to the team before and after every practice.

Our ability to remain on the ice will be directly related to the efforts we put forth to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

We have spent a great deal of time working as a Board, consulting with our governing bodies, and meeting with representatives from area clubs to develop reasonable policies for this season.  We know that this season will not look like previous seasons at the Hawks, but our commitment to providing a quality program to our players remains strong.  We are thankful for your support and will continue to work hard on behalf of all Chicago Hawks Families.  

Sincerely,

 

Melissa Surrette

President

Chicago Hawks Hockey Club

president@chicagohawks.com