COVID-19 Guidance for Sport and Recreation Settings

General sport and rec guidance:

Who would be considered a close contact in a sport and recreation setting?

Information for close contacts can be found here. 

• During the infectious period of someone with COVID-19, a close contact is someone:
  • you had face to face interaction with indoors or outdoors for at least 15 minutes, including 15 minutes in total over a 24 hour period (this means including total minutes added up over a 24 hour period, e.g. 2.5 min + 2.5 min + 5 min + 5 min over the span of a practice), or
  • you were within 2 meters (6 feet) indoors for at least 15 minutes, including 15 minutes in total over a 24 hour period, or
  • you were hugging, kissing, coughing or sneezing near, or
  • who provided care to you at home.
• If the person who tested positive wore an appropriate well-fitting mask properly for the duration of the interaction, this wouldn’t be considered a close contact situation. An appropriate mask could be a three-layer non-medical mask (that includes a filter layer), a medical mask, or a respirator.

What this could look like in a sport and recreation setting (where masks are not worn/not worn properly/appropriate masks not used):

• If the participants practiced/took breaks in pairs or small groups throughout the entire activity, and physically distanced from all others, close contacts are the other pair/members of small group
• If there was prolonged interaction within 6 ft for more than 15 min without masks, or shorter amounts of time that add up to being more than 15 min, everyone in the group is considered a close contact (unless they are confident there was no interaction with the other player e.g. goalies on opposing teams)

If there is someone at the team or activity who tested positive, what is the process?

Information for people who test positive can be found here.

As outlined on that page, people are now responsible for notifying their own close contacts. As such:

If the participant was infectious during a sport/recreational activity, they should notify the organizer.

If the participant is able to identify their close contacts:

• and have the contact information for the other participants, they/their parents should notify their close contacts, and direct them to the close contact guidance.
• and DO NOT have the contact information for the other participants, they should reach out to the organizer, and have them notify the close contacts and direct them to the close contact guidance.

If the participant is not able to identify their close contacts, they should reach out to the organizer, and have them notify the close contacts and direct them to the close contact guidance.

To support notification of close contacts where necessary, organizations should ensure that contact information for participants in sport and recreation activities where there is interaction within 6 ft is up-to-date.

The case and contact management guidance for COVID-19 continues to be reviewed. Please visit the websites listed above for the most up to date information.

Examples of positive cases and close contacts in sport and recreation settings:

Figure Skating Program

Example 1

A group of 30 skaters are participating in a training session.  All participants have worn their masks properly in the change room.  Once they were on the ice, masks were removed, and the group was divided into 10 small groups of three.  In trios, the participants attended different stations throughout the training session.  The next day, there is a message that one skater had tested positive.  The two other participants in their trio would be considered close contacts since they were not able to distance 6 feet and had extended contact without a mask.

Example 2

A group of 12 skaters are participating in a training session.  All participants have worn their masks properly in the change room.  Once they were on the ice, masks were removed, and they began their activities.  This is a synchronized skating group where they are in close proximity to one another while doing their skills.  The next day, there is a message that one skater had tested positive.  All the other participants in the group would be considered close contacts since they were not able to distance 6 feet and had extended contact without a mask.

Example 2: Part 2
If the same group decided to do the same training but all the participants decided to wear properly fitting masks, then none of the participants would be considered close contacts.

Team Sport Activity

Example 1

A group of 16 athletes gather for a training session without masks.  They all wear properly fitting appropriate masks in the change room area.

During drills with masks removed, the group:

• maintains a 6-foot distance from one another during every stoppage of practice (teaching, water breaks, etc.).  
• have only passing face to face contact with other participants (very brief and would not approach 15 minutes in total time added over the span of the activity).  

Towards the end of the practice, players are paired off with another participant for offense and defense purposes (without masks). This lasts for 20 minutes. They are physically distant from all other pairs.

The next day, there is a message that one participant tested positive for COVID-19.  The participant who was paired up with that person is a close contact, the remaining participants are not.

Example 2

A group of 16 athletes gather for a one hour training session. They all wear properly fitting appropriate masks in the change room area.

• The coach divides the group in half and they play four on four at each end (without masks).   
• Throughout the activity, the players are taking turns defending each other, the coach is shuffling the group from offense to defense with lots of game simulations.
• Each group of 8 stays physically distant from the other but within the group of 8 there is lots of interactions during the one-hour training session.

The next day, there is a message that one participant tested positive for COVID-19.  The seven other participants who are a part of that person’s group of 8 would be considered close contacts.

Example 3:

Two hockey teams, Team A and Team B, gather for a game.  They all wear properly fitting appropriate masks in the change room area.

• The team members do not wear a mask on the bench between shifts or during breaks.
• They are not wearing masks during the game;
• They compete for an hour. Teams are within 6 ft of members of the other team for brief periods of time as well as members of their own team.

The next day, there is a message that one participant on Team A tested positive for COVID-19.  

The members of Team A would be considered close contacts, unless the participant who tests positive is certain the team member was not within 6 ft on the ice, not on the bench at the same time as them, and was not within 6 ft during breaks, for 15 minutes or more total over the span of the activity (e.g. possibly a goalie).

The members of the opposing team, Team B, would not be considered close contacts. Organizations may consider notifying the opposing team of potential exposure and to monitor for symptoms.

Example 4:

Two soccer teams, Team A and Team B, gather for a game.  

• They all wear properly fitting appropriate masks in the change room area and on the bench between shifts or during breaks (except for removing very briefly to drink water).
• They are not wearing masks during the game;
• They compete for an hour. Teams are within 6 ft of members of the other team for brief periods of time as well as members of their own team, but not for more than 15 minutes.

The next day, there is a message that one participant on Team A tested positive for COVID-19.  

No one is considered a close contact. 

Organizations may consider notifying both teams of potential exposure and to monitor for symptoms.

Example 5:

Two basketball teams, Team A and Team B, gather for a game. 

• They all wear properly fitting appropriate masks in the change room area and on the bench between shifts or during breaks (except for removing very briefly to drink water).
• They are not wearing masks during the game;
• They compete for an hour. Some members of Team A are within 6 ft of some members of Team B for amounts of time around 15 minutes.     
• The next day, there is a message that one participant on Team A tested positive for COVID-19.  
• No one on Team A is considered a close contact.  
• Some members of the opposing team, Team B, would be close contacts. If known, close contacts should be notified. If unable to notify without breaching confidentiality of the positive case, then an exposure notification should be provided noting that close contacts were not able to be identified so everyone should watch for symptoms and be tested if symptoms develop.
• Organizations may consider notifying both teams of potential exposure and to monitor for symptoms.