As the COVID-19 restrictions continue in the Yukon under the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA), the Star contacted various sports organizations in Whitehorse to clarify what protocols they have in place.

Here’s what we found out:

Alpine Yukon:

• “All Alpine Yukon coaching staff, Race & Development Ski Team athletes, athletes invited to Yukon Alpine-run initiatives, and contractors are required to be fully vaccinated.

• Coaches will be responsible for checking all attendees’ vaccination status. Proof of vaccination must be shown to the coach or designated coordinator upon initial arrival to Mt Sima and/or the venue/event.

• All participants must be healthy and symptom-free to be permitted access to accommodation, training, and competition areas.

• All attendees must agree to follow local COVID-19 mitigation rules laid out by Yukon Territorial Government and/or Yukon Chief Medical Officer of Health, which may include distancing, contact tracing, masking, proof of vaccination etc.”

–Mark Jenner, President of Alpine Yukon

Biathlon Yukon:

• Double vaccinations are required.

• Masks and other face coverings are required in all buildings.

• Every lane is two metres wide, so distance rules are being obeyed.

• ​​Contact tracing will be done for all events and competitions.

• When skiing or shooting, or doing another intense physical activity, racers are exempt from having to wear a mask. When talking to a coach, masks are required.

“We have an event coming up mid-December ... all of the volunteers, we’ll have to check their vaccination status, as they come. So anybody on ... the ‘field of play’ will have to show proof of vaccination,” related Bill Curtis, president of Biathlon Yukon.

Snowboard Yukon (SY):

“Programs will continue to follow protocols mandated by the Government of Yukon and Canada Snowboard. Details will be shared as training begins.

For the 2021/22 season ... SY will continue to offer a program fees refund if a program has been suspended due to COVID-19. If this occurs SY will provide a fees refund based on the remaining percentage of the program in progress to the participant.”

–Snowboard Yukon website.

Whitehorse Curling Club:

Curling ice:

• Only one person allowed to sweep at a time.

• No sweeping allowed in the house.

• There are markers on the ice indicating where players should stand two metres apart.

• Masks are required on the ice at all times, including while playing.

• Rocks are sanitized before play.

• You only touch the rocks that you play.

• Only one player does the scoring. Numbers are sanitized at the end of the game.

• There are staggered start times for the leagues to limit traffic in curling preparation room.

Lounge:

• Tables are spaced two metres apart.

• Masks are required, except when seated at tables and when eating and drinking.

• There are markers on the floor two metres apart.

• There is no moving from table to table.

“We’re doing everything we can to keep members safe. There are those members who unfortunately for whatever reason are going to not be able to curl, but that’s a decision that they have to make in relation to the vaccine mandate and that is very unfortunate, but, at the moment, we can’t allow those people into the club,” said Acting Whitehorse Curling Club President Mark Evans.

Evans isn’t sure how many people wouldn’t be able to play, but said they are willing to grant refunds to those players.

He added the vaccine mandate wasn’t in play when registration took place.

A ladies bonspiel scheduled for Nov. 12-13 was cancelled. It may be re-scheduled later in the season.

Whitehorse Oldtimer’s
Hockey League:

The WOHL suspended games Thursday Nov. 11 and Sunday Nov. 14. The league was re-started Sunday.

• Players have to be double-vaccinated to get into the arena.

• Masks have to be worn in the building except while playing.

“The only major restriction other than the vaccination thing and the mask thing is the fact that we’re only allowed 25 participants on the ice at any one time, and that includes refs and timekeepers,” said WOHL President Bernie Adilman.

That means only 10 skaters and a goalie are allowed for each team. Rosters consist of 15 skaters and a goalie, so team reps have been in charge of having players take turns sitting out games, when necessary.

Whitehorse Minor Hockey
Association (WMHA):

• Coaches are required to be double-vaccinated and are being checked when they come into a facility. to “keep younger kids who aren’t vaccinated as safe as possible,” said WHMA President Jeff Frizell.

• Kids are still coming dressed as close to their ice times as possible.

“We’re just asking that parents continue to mask up as much as possible. All the kids are masking up.”

• A maximum of 25 people are allowed on the ice at one time. Coaches are being asked to sit up in the stands if necessary to keep to the minimum.

Dividers are used at the Canada Games Centre (CGC), so up to 25 players can be on each side.

“We really have to watch our numbers so we’re staying within the regulations,” advised Frizzell.

• Female ice times have gone to a online sign-up schedule for one game a week through a program called ‘Sign-up Genius.’ 22 girls can sign up.

A U11 Mustangs vs. U13 exhibition game was canceled because of high numbers of players (approximately 17 per team).

U9 and U11 Skills has had to cancel games as well due to the limited amount of ice time available because of COVID restrictions.

Whitehorse Rapids Over-35
men’s soccer:

Play was suspended last week and resumed Saturday.

• Double vaccination is required.

• Masks are required in CGC, but not on the benches.

Yukon Soccer Association:

• 12 and older have to be vaccinated to participate. Under 12 are still allowed to play.

• Masks are mandatory except on the field of play.

• Masks for coaches are recommended, but not mandatory.

• There is a maximum of 12 players per team. However, numbers have been lower due to COVID exposure notices in the schools.

• Fields are split into thirds; one team per third now, as opposed to two teams before the pandemic. Teams play each other.

–Information supplied by Travis Banks, Office Administrator of Whitehorse United FC.

Sport Yukon:

“We are following the guidelines sent out by the CMOH and assisting our member orgs by keeping them in the loop of communication,” advised Sport Yukon Executive Director Tracey Bilsky.

Cycling Association of Yukon (CAY):

The CAY has a Fat Bike event coming up Saturday at the Gunnar Nilsson and Mikey Lammers Research Forest trails.

• “Proof of vaccination (2 doses) must be supplied.

• Anyone aged 5 and over must wear a mask unless you’re riding your bike.

• Maintain a two-metre distance between people who are not in same household.

• Will allow up to 50 per cent occupancy when indoors.

• Bring your own thermal mug for free hot chocolate and coffee.”

–CAY website.

Polarettes Gymnastics Club:

Winter registration is postponed until Dec 10. These are the Polarettes Gymnastics Club protocols (edited):

• “Proof of Vaccination; anyone over the age of 12 will be required to show proof of vaccination and ID upon entry to the facility. This is done once for our athletes at the beginning of the session.

• Viewing; we are currently unable to accommodate viewing due to our capacity limits

• Masking; we require our athletes to be masked at all times during their class. Coaches have been advised to adjust their lesson plans to account for the added challenge of wearing a mask.”

–Polarettes Gymnastics Club website.

Whitehorse Glacier Bears:

• “Wearing a mask is mandatory entering the CGC, during deck time and in change rooms. Masks will be removed when in the pool.

• We ask that all our members come already changed and ready to swim.

• Time in the change room to be kept to 10 minutes maximum after practice.

• While we know some groups share space, do try to stay within your own group bubble when in change rooms and on deck.

• Proof of Vaccination will be required to enter CGC for those who are 12 years of age and over. You will need your vaccine passport and a piece of ID (ages 12 to 17 do not require picture ID).”

–WGB Head Coach Carmen Escobar (edited)

Filipino Canadian Basketball League Yukon (FCBLY):

A 15 Under game is taking place on Saturday.

Double vaccination and masks are required.

Judo Yukon:

• All participants over 12 required to be double vaccinated.

• Screened prior to every session, signed in and temperature recorded.

• Hands sanitized before each time on the mats, training uniforms kept clean, masks where required.

The Whitehorse Rec Hockey League, Contagious Mountain Bike Club, and Wolfpack Basketball were all contacted as well, but didn’t submit information before press-time.