Updated October 25, 2020

The Wilmette Hockey Association (WHA) takes the health and safety of its players, coaches and families very seriously. The following procedures and policies are based on CDC guidelines, USA Hockey and input from medical professionals. These procedures and policies have been put in place to mitigate the risk of exposure to and of contracting COVID-19 while participating in hockey activities. These policies are likely to evolve as the season proceeds and national, state, and local guidelines evolve. The goal remains the safety and health of our players, coaches, families and community.   

Player and Family Responsibilities

1. Players should not participate in hockey activities if they have a temperature greater than 100.4 or experience other symptoms related to COVID-19. Parents are responsible for evaluating their players before leaving for the rink. Our hockey director and coaching staff prefer that you err on the side of caution when a player does not feel well.
2. Players equipment should be checked, cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. A spray bottle containing 40% water and 60% isopropyl alcohol can be utilized to sanitize equipment and dry overnight. 
3. Players should have extra face coverings as part of their equipment bag (it is recommended that these items be placed in a plastic bag).
4. Players should bring their own water bottles and fill them at home. Bottles should be marked with the player’s name.
5. Players are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and have hand sanitizer in their equipment bag.
6. Players at the U12 age level and younger should come to the rink dressed for all practices. Players at the U14, U16 and U19 age levels are encouraged to dress or partially dress before arriving at the rink.
7. If a player starts to feel ill while on the ice, they should immediately notify their coach so they can be removed from hockey activities and leave the rink.

Rink Policies

1. Rinks have different policies for wearing face coverings while on the ice, locker room usage and spectator attendance. The WHA’s two primary rink facilities are North Shore Ice Arena and Wilmette Centennial Ice Arena. These facilities have different policies.
2. Players should arrive at the rink no more than 30 minutes prior to practice activities.
3. Face coverings shall be worn by all players, coaches, family members and spectators while inside rink facilities in accordance with state and local regulations. 
4. Face coverings shall be worn for on ice activities when required by the rink facility. A full plastic face shield satisfies the face covering requirement.
5. Team warm-ups shall be conducted outside and follow physical distancing guidelines.
6. Spectators should follow guidelines for physical distancing when inside rink facilities.

Return to Play Protocols

Return to Play after a Player Tests Positive

1. Please follow all current national, CDC, state, and local guidelines regarding COVID-19 quarantine for the player who tests positive for COVID-19. 
2. Email your player’s head coach and WHA Hockey Director Tim Benz with information regarding the diagnosis, date of onset of symptoms (if any) or if the player was asymptomatic (experiencing no symptoms) and potential contact with other team members. All information is confidential.
3. If the player was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms along with the positive COVID-19 test, the following requirements must be satisfied before resuming participation in team activities:
   1. The player must wait at least 10 days from the first sign of symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, aches, chills, headache, sore throat or a loss of taste and/or smell).
   2. Must be free of fever for 24 hours without any fever reducing medication.
   3. Must provide a note from the player’s physician or health care professional stating it is safe to return to participation in team activities.
4. If the player was asymptomatic at the time of the positive COVID-19 test, the following are required before resumption of participation in team activities:
   1. The player must remain free of symptoms for at least 10 days from the date of the first positive test.
   2. Must provide a note from the player’s physician or health care professional stating it is safe to return to participation in team activities.

Players Family Member or Close Contact Tests Positive

1. Email your player’s head coach and WHA Hockey Director Tim Benz with information regarding the diagnosis and potential contact with other team members. All information is confidential.
2. Your player should stay home for 14 days from the date of first close-contact exposure and watch for symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, aches, chills, headache, sore throat or a loss of taste and/or smell) even if he/she has a negative COVID-19 test during that time.

A close contact is:

• Anyone (with or without a face covering) who was within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 (with or without a face covering), for at least a cumulative of 15 minutes throughout the course of the two calendar days before the onset of symptoms. 
• In symptomatic cases (e.g., coughing, sneezing), having any extremely close contact (example, kissing, hugging, fighting for the puck or ball, tackling, etc.), regardless of duration, with the positive person. 

1. You are encouraged to take your player to a medical professional for additional guidance.

Players Teammate Tests Positive

You will be notified that a case has been found on your team. All personal information will be kept confidential. You will be advised further depending on the situation, but it is always recommended that you watch your player for symptoms.