ESHA COVID Policies:

• All players, coaches, and parents must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while in the rink. This is a must and there is no debate on this. If we cannot follow this rule, then we do not get to play hockey. It is that simple.
• Players do not need to wear a mask while on the ice or bench but must wear it at all other times. Coaches and all other team personnel must always wear a mask over their nose and mouth.
• There is no food or drink allowed in the rink. The only exception is players can bring their own labeled personal water bottle.
• For practices, we are allowed one parent in the rink per player at the 8U and 10U age groups, and no other children can attend practices. No parents will be admitted during practices for the 12U-18U age groups. The only exception is that we may have a coach’s child in the rink if their parent is coaching another age group.
• Parents must practice social distancing and space out along the glass area. You cannot be in the warm area or stands. When practices are over, you must exit the facility as quickly as possible.
• The bleachers in the rink area are to be used by players only to put their skates on and off, they are not for parents to sit on during practices. Also, no parents are permitted to be in the scorekeeper’s or penalty boxes during practices.
• For games, please refer to our Game Day Protocol on our website for the most current information. Again, masks must be worn over your nose and mouth, and social distancing must be practiced. If there are younger children attending, they must stay with their parents/guardians and wear a facial covering over their nose and mouth.
• Players will be allowed in 15 mins prior to practices and games and must enter wearing a facial covering and be completely dressed, except for skates and helmets.
• When locker rooms are used for games and practices, they will be used in the same manner as all other dressing areas, and only be a space for putting skates and helmets. Locker rooms are limited to a maximum capacity of 12 players, and the doors on each side of the room must remain propped open. Players are to sit on the green tape marking the benches in the locker room. Players will still have to enter fully dressed wearing a facial covering. Players must exit the locker room as soon as their skates and helmets are on and line up to enter the rink.
• While players are lined up to enter the rink, they must stay spaced 6 feet apart. There are markings along the boards on the home team’s rink entrance and the visiting team’s rink entrance for players to line up on. Due to limited space on the visitor’s side of the rink, there are also markings along the wall for players to line up on abeam their teammates. They will maintain 6 feet of distance from their abeam teammate if they stand against the boards or bleachers, depending on which side they are on.
• On game days, players, coaches, and team personnel will enter through the hockey entrance. Team personnel will need to show their ESHA issued credentials to the rink staff member that will be monitoring the door. Family members and spectators will enter through the main doors at the front of the facility. Please refer to our Game Day Protocol document on our website for the most up-to-date information regarding gameday policies.  
• For practices we will only use the hockey entrance for players and coaches, and one parent/guardian for 8U and 10U players.
• If you are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, please DO NOT attend any ESHA activities. Please do not send your child(dren) to a practice or game if they have any symptoms that may be an indication of COVID-19; these include a cough, sore throat, and others listed by the CDC. Also, do not send your child(ren) to a practice or a game if they have been in contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, that is suspected of having COVID-19, or awaiting COVID-19 test results.
• You are required to notify your player’s head coach or the ESHA COVID Contact Tracer if your player has tested positive for COVID-19 so that we can determine the proper health department guidelines to follow. Please email COVID@eastonhockey.org if you would prefer to notify our contact tracer, and be sure to include what team your child plays on and the date symptoms began. This email address will only be accessible by the ESHA COVID Contact Tracer.

The entire ESHA board has been working hard to get players back on the ice. We are all in this together and we need everyone to work together as a team. If we do not follow these guidelines, we will lose our ability to play hockey.

1) When will the season start?

This will be determined by our local USA Hockey district. CBHL league play may begin on 10/30/2020.

2) Will players be allowed to change in the locker rooms?

Currently under the CDC guidelines, players are not allowed to use locker rooms or change inside of the arena.

3) Will players be required to wear masks?

Yes, they must currently wear a mask until they enter onto the ice surface.

4) Will there be team water bottles?

No, each player must bring their own water bottle and are not allowed to use another players water bottle.

5) Will parents be allowed inside the arena?

We have a meeting scheduled with the Talbot County Community Center on Monday 9/14, and we will have an update soon thereafter. However, our first week of practice will be under our current COVID procedures and parents will not be allowed inside the rink. The exceptions will be for our parent volunteer to conduct our temperature screenings, and up to two parents to help tie and untie skates for our 8 and 10 Us.

6) Will coaches wear masks?

Yes, any team official (coaches & managers) must wear a mask both off and on ice.

7) What happens if a player test positive for COVID-19.

We will follow all the CDC and USA Hockey protocols to inform players and parents if this were to happen. We are also required to have a Board Member fulfill the duties of a  Contact Tracer within our organization. 

8) Will teams be traveling to different states for games / tournaments?

Currently, it is recommenced that teams play within their local region. We will continue to monitor the recommendations from USA hockey.

9) How many players will be allowed on the ice for practices?

This will be determined by local  guidelines as well as USA Hockey. We will know more after our meeting with the community center staff.

10) What will happen if part or all of the season is canceled.

ESHA will refund based on a prorated rate.