Rivalries return under Phase 3

Provincial government approves move to Phase 3 for viaSport return-to-play plan

Amateur sports can have crosstown rivals again.

The provincial government announced Monday that it had signed off on moving into Phase 3 of viaSport’s Return to Sport plan, which includes allowing teams from neighbouring associations to be placed into cohorts and play games against one another.

It came into effect on Monday, according to Charlene Krepiakevich, viaSport CEO. She isn’t sure when most sports will start up games in their cohorts, but viaSport has hinted at the move for some time, so it’s fair to suggest provincial sports’ governing bodies have had a chance to prepare.

“They’re going to have to look at their own capacity to do it in a safe way,” Krepiakevich said. “It will depend sport to sport. It will depend community to community.”

Phase 2 allowed only for games featuring teams from the same association.

The government’s delivery agency for sport, viaSport was tasked with putting together the baseline guidelines for a return to action for amateur sport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase 3 also permits more physical contact in sport to occur, with viaSport regulations explaining that “all activities that involve any form of proximity or physical contact should take place only within the cohort environment.”

Phase 2 said that contact activities “should not occur,” and “contact sports should look for non-contact alternatives to training.”

To that end, B.C. Soccer announced on its website on Monday that “limited contact in training can commence as of today,” and that game play between cohort teams could start as early as Sept. 7.

“I think getting back to contact drills in training and playing games is what people are excited about,” said B.C. Soccer executive director Jason Elligott.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry supports the expansion.

“Sport is an important part of mental and physical health for children, youth, families and our communities,” Henry was quoted as saying in a news release.

“These guidelines will enable the social and emotional benefits of sport, while ensuring the sports activities remain as safe as possible.”

The viaSport announcement does not include high school sports. They remain in limbo.