Ontario Soccer, in consultation with Canada Soccer and the Government of Ontario, continues to monitor the most recent developments surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the resulting public health crisis and now the province’s Return to Play.

The Government of Ontario announced today its plan for Stage 3 of the re-opening of the economy, which will commence on Friday, July 17, 2020.

Ontario Soccer is now reviewing and translating today’s announcement and how it impacts the Ontario Soccer Return to Play Plan with Canada Soccer and the relevant Government authorities.

Ontario Soccer will provide another update to our membership this week, before the government order goes into effect on Friday, July 17, 2020.  

The Government of Ontario regional approach to re-opening in their Stage 3 plan, will include the following public health unit regions:

• Algoma Public Health
• Brant County Health Unit
• Chatham-Kent Public Health
• Eastern Ontario Health Unit
• Grey Bruce Health Unit
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
• Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
• Huron Perth Public Health
• Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health
• Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit
• Middlesex-London Health Unit
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
• Northwestern Health Unit
• Ottawa Public Health
• Peterborough Public Health
• Porcupine Health Unit
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts
• Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services
• Renfrew County and District Health Unit
• Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit
• Southwestern Public Health
• Thunder Bay District Health Unit
• Timiskaming Health Unit
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health

The following regions will remain in the government’s Stage 2 plan, as additional time is required to assess and monitor any impacts and readiness to move into Stage 3:

• Durham Region Health Department
• Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
• Halton Region Public Health
• Hamilton Public Health Services
• Lambton Public Health
• Niagara Region Public Health
• Peel Public Health
• Toronto Public Health
• Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
• York Region Public Health

Districts, Clubs and Academies are responsible for determining which Public Health Unit their District boundaries reside.

As part of that announcement, the Government of Ontario has increased the social gathering limits for outdoor from 10 to 100 people, however cannot exceed the indoor gathering limit of 50 people and it has removed the physical distancing requirements for team sports.

Additionally, the Government of Ontario has made the following changes:

“Amateur and recreational sports leagues may resume so long as they do not allow prolonged or deliberate physical contact between players or if they have modifications to avoid physical contact between players.

Spectators at all sporting events, including professional sports, will be subject to gathering limits and physical distancing measures, with assigned seating where possible.”

Ontario Soccer is confirming and clarifying what these updates will mean for Ontario Soccer’s Return to Play Guide and Plan with the Canada Soccer and relevant government authorities.  

The Ontario Soccer Return to Play Guide and Plan consists of a three-phase approach that includes:

Phase 1: Return to Training (modified training)  

Conditions: All Phase 1 Return to Train conditions are met

Restrictions: No contact, no league, exhibition, festival or tournament games

Phase 2: Return to Training and Modified Games (enhanced training & modified games)

Conditions: All Phase 2 Return to Train conditions are met

Inter-squad and Intra-squad modified games permitted (only within the Club/Academy)

Restrictions:   No league, exhibition, festival or tournament games

Phase 3: Return to Soccer (regular competition, games and training)

Conditions: Social distancing restrictions have been lifted

Restrictions: None

The phases outlined above apply equally to all recreational, competitive and high performance level soccer.

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If you have any questions, please contact Patty Forbes, Director of Administration.