Athletics

Athletics Ontario
SOO Coach: Athete Ratios
SOO Resources
SOI Resources

Return to Sport – Athletics 

Updated July 8th, 2021 

Club Guidelines:   

  • Athletes who are unable to follow verbal instructions regarding physical distancing or who require “physical manipulation / hand over hand” instruction to complete drills are recommended to continue with virtual training or general fitness training. 
  • Where in person training is not an option, consider virtual training or general fitness training sessions.  Both are great alternatives and will allow coaches the opportunity to maintain contact with their athletes. 
  • Skill and Fitness sessions only.   

Before and After Practice: 

  1. Athletes will wash hands before and after training session. 
  2. Athletes should arrive at the facility dressed for practice. 
  3. Coaches are to create and share training plans ahead of training session. 
  4. It is recommended that coaches use pea less whistles.
  5. Stagger activity times between different groups to create a 15 minute buffer between sessions and avoid an overlap of participants in any one area.
  6. Do not loiter in the parking lot.  Get in, Train, Get out.
  7. Physical Distancing (2m or 6ft). 
  8. Personal / Equipment bags can be placed 2m / 6ft apart in a designated location on the field. Cones/pylons will be placed on the ground to mark where each athlete should store their items. 
  9. Athletes will wear their face masks when they enter the facility and will continue to wear their face masks while not engaged in physical activity.  Coaches/volunteers will wear face masks throughout the training session.  

During Practice

    1. Must not exceed the maximum gathering size as outlined by the Ontario Roadmap to Reopening Plan (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/public-health-measures ) 
    2. Maximum gathering size includes all athletes, coaches, volunteers, support persons and spectators/parents.  It is the coach’s discretion whether spectators are permitted into the training session to ensure physical distancing can be maintained. 
    3. Physical distancing of 2m or 6ft must be maintained by ALL participants at ALL TIMES. 
    4. All “non-essential” contacts should be avoided (handshakes, high 5’s, etc.). 
    5. All skill instructions must be verbal.  There will be no “hand over hand” skill instruction. 
    6. Structure activities to maximize physical distancing. 
    7. If possible, assign athletes to small groups for training sessions.  
    8. Design activities so athletes may stay within their existing small groups to reduce amount of contact with different people. 
    9. Use cones and other equipment to ensure appropriate spacing is in place to support distancing. Reset cones that delineate the physical distancing parameters whenever they are moved out of place. 
    10. Include frequent hand washing / hand sanitizing breaks into your training plan. 
    11. If an athlete requires an assistant to train it is recommended that the assistant be someone from the same household. If the athlete unable to bring someone from their household, the assistant must be the same person each week. The assistant will wear PPE while working with the athlete, all assistants will go through the same daily screening check. 
    12. Bring your own water bottles clearly labelled with your name – do not use public water fountains. 
    13. Athletes may use only their own personal training equipment, or program equipment that has been sanitized.  
    14. When using program equipment like starting blocks, med balls etc., ensure proper cleaning is done before and after the athletes use them. 
    15. Designate one coach/volunteer to disinfect program equipment before, during and at the end of each training session.  
    16. Coaches should not share handheld equipment such as clipboards, white board markers, etc.  Recommend coaches each have their own personal whiteboard kit to use as a visual aid for coaching. 
    17. Only coaches/staff should handle team equipment (cones, pylons, etc). 
    18. Any individual equipment used should be taken home and washed separately from others in the household (e.g. uniform).
    19. Sprints:
      • One lane apart when training on the track (i.e. use lanes 1, 3, 5, 7); use staggered starts when doing intervals/repeats. 
      • If hurdles are to be used, make sure one person is designated for set up/take down and all thoroughly cleaned according to guidance before and after each session. 
      • If starting blocks are to be used, they should be used just by one athlete and thoroughly cleaned according to guidance before and after each session.  
      • Relays are not to be practiced at this time.
    20. Throws
      • Coaches and athletes should ensure all equipment is used by one athlete and then thoroughly cleaned according to guidance before and after each session. 
      • Athletes should retrieve their own throwing implements.
      • Measuring devices shall be used by the same person throughout the session, and thoroughly cleaned according to guidance before and after each session. 
    21. Jumps
      • Standing and Running Long Jump: Sand pits may be used with the following guidelines: 
        • Sanitize your hands before and after each use. 
        • Ensure there is only one athlete on the runway at a time. 
        • Avoid getting sand in your eyes, nose, or mouth. 
        • The landing pit should be fully turned and raked before and after each individual athlete/user. 
        • Equipment such as rakes and measuring devices shall be used by the same person throughout the session, and thoroughly cleaned according to guidance before and after each session. 
      • High Jump: High Jump equipment may be used with the permission of the facility and with the following guidelines:
          • Landing pits are to be covered by a large industrial-grade tarp that is unique to each athlete and put in place and removed before and after each individual athlete/user. The tarp will be considered a piece of the athlete’s own personal training equipment. 
          • Cross Bars are to be sanitized before use and managed by a dedicated individual for a particular session, and shall be sanitized after contact by an athlete. 

Competition 

      1. Competition will follow Return to Competition protocols.

Each sport venue may have their own COVID-19 restrictions.  Please follow the instructions of the staff.