November 12, 2020

Dear Volleyball Community,

COVID RESPONSE: With the cancellation of all our permits this past August, we have worked tirelessly to secure replacement venues so we might deliver quality volleyball programs to the community. Through this effort, we were able to provide a variety of camps, and with more than 520 athletes participating in our summer camps and approx. 350 athletes this fall, we were provided with the opportunity to develop and modify our COVID protocols to respond effectively to government regulatory obligations. Along with our introducing game play with cohorts, we believe there is no other sport organization in Manitoba with more experience delivering volleyball programs within these COVID rules. See our “COVID Response” page for detailed information.

EIGHT-WEEK CYCLES: In response to the continued disruption in sports programming, Volleyball Winnipeg has re-organized all programs, so they are now being offered in eight-week cycles. Simply stated, we have made a commitment to complete all camps and leagues within each cycle as planned. Therefore, any lockdown will be considered a pause in the schedule. 

LIMITED SPACE: To control numbers in each facility according to government mandate, and in cooperation with each venue, all Volleyball Winnipeg camps and leagues will be limited to a maximum of 16 athletes per court. 

REFUND POLICY: Any athlete requesting a refund will be withdrawing from the program and that spot will be opened up to others. Our expectation is to keep all programs full, so we are ready to restart immediately following a government announcement. Therefore, registration to all programs will remain open until they are sold out.

GOVERNMENT STATUS: As the government continues with lockdowns, the cycle will be placed on hold and will resume accordingly when any such lockdown is terminated. With government approval to re-start (Orange status) generally made on Fridays, a re-launch would be scheduled for the following Monday.

RESTART OF PROGRAMS: Once a government announcement is made, an official e-mail will be sent out to all registered athletes with details on the re-launch of the program. With that, we remind everyone that participation in these programs is limited and we encourage everyone to register early to reserve their spot.

ALL PROGRAMS: Volleyball Winnipeg will offer programs on eight-week cycles until June 2021 as follows:

• MINI VOLLEYBALL on Saturday mornings
• A limited number of YOUTH CAMPS available weekly 
• PREMIER LEAGUE with one practice weekly and games on Saturdays
• ADULT CO-ED LEAGUE with a variety of game days
• CLUB VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM with two training sessions weekly and Saturday League play
  NOTE: This program is ‘by-invitation-only”. Interested athletes should attend VISION DROP-IN CAMPS to be selected.

Should you have any questions concerning our programs, please e-mail us directly at: hello@volleyballwinnipeg.ca  

Sincerely,

VOLLEYBALL WINNIPEG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Please note that program updates and discount offers are available through our weekly VISION e-Blast newsletter.  SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Volleyball Winnipeg is firmly committed to protecting the health and safety of our athletes, campers, coaches, instructors, and volunteers.

As we continue to provide our community with opportunities for personal growth and development, their safety is our number one priority. We are constantly working to create strategies and plans that abide by the advice of our government and public health officials. 

We are complying with Manitoba Public Health guidelines and continue to closely monitor all updates from the Provincial Government to ensure we are providing a safe environment for all Volleyball Winnipeg participants.

Official Government Statement  

Sport Manitoba released a statement outlining the COVID-19 updates regarding the athletic activity in our province:

“As of March 1, 2022, new public health orders have come into effect that remove all remaining proof of vaccination requirements for public places. Capacity limits are eliminated in venues for indoor and outdoor sport. Mask-wearing is no longer required in indoor public spaces.”

We continue to closely follow all updates from the Provincial Government to ensure we are offering a safe and happy environment for our VISION athletes, campers, instructors and volunteers.

Please contact us at hello@volleyballwinnipeg.ca for any questions or concerns.

In addition to our pre-existing COVID protocols, here is how Volleyball Winnipeg is further enhancing health and safety in our spaces and programs:

We ask all our athletes, campers, coaches and instructors to pre-screen prior to attending any Volleyball Winnipeg programs, using the COVID-19 SCREENING TOOL (please see attached below).

Should you feel unwell or experience symptoms, DO NOT ATTEND ANY VOLLEYBALL WINNIPEG PROGRAMMING. Please contact the MB Public Health Authority at 204-788-8200, or use the online Shared Health COVID-19 Screening Tool.

Parents/Guardians and family members have an important role by modelling the behaviors needed to limit the spread of COVID-19, such as frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing, social distancing, proper cough etiquette and staying home when sick.

For all programs, we ask that you drop off your child  no earlier than 5-10 mins before the start of their practice, and to please wait with your child as they will not be allowed to enter the facility until it is clear of the previous athletes. With the weather changing quickly standing outside for a long period of time may not be ideal.

We have volunteers helping our instructors enforce our protocols. All our programs have a "COVID Marshal" and a female parent rep, who ensure that we do our very best to follow regulations and more importantly, to stay safe and healthy. This is what sets us apart from other organizations.

Volleyball Winnipeg works with all our venues to establish protocol that best suits each individual space.

We ask that all athletes please add the following to their gym bags:

• Mask

• Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer

• Pen (for sign in)

https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/resources.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/awareness-resources.html

https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/restartmb/prs/winnipeg/index.html#wmr_restrictions

https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/

Providing a sports experience that is fun and educational. Volleyball Winnipeg recognizes the importance of sport and recreational activities to the physical and mental well-being of our community. We will continue to be a leader in delivering a safe environment for all volleyball enthusiasts to enjoy their sport. We endeavor to continue doing everything we can to offer programs that give a sense of normalcy and fun despite what is currently happening around us.

ARE CAMPS CONTINUING AS PLANNED?

Yes. We will continue to provide volleyball programs this Fall,  with the safety of our athletes as our top priority. 

CAN WE STILL PARTICIPATE IN DRILLS AS USUAL?

Yes, our lesson plans are designed to offer the same high level development, while abiding by social distancing guidelines.

ARE VOLLEYBALL WINNIPEG CAMPS SANCTIONED BY VOLLEYBALL MANITOBA?

No. Regardless of COVID-19, Volleyball Manitoba does not sanction camps. All Volleyball Winnipeg programs (mini-volleyball, youth league, adult leagues, beach volleyball and camps) are independent of Volleyball Manitoba. 

WHO IS ENSURING THAT VOLLEYBALL WINNIPEG COVID-RESPONSE PROTOCOLS ARE BEING FOLLOWED?

Unlike other programs in the province, Volleyball Winnipeg provides a COVID Marshal and a female parent rep at each event. Their duties include enforcing all Volleyball Winnipeg COVID Response protocols  are being followed,  as well as assist in sanitation of equipment. We believe that having designated COVID Marshals at our programs enhances the safety of our athletes, and allows our instructors to focus on the physical performance of our athletes.

WHAT DEFINES A LOW-RISK ENVIRONMENT?

A public health official evaluates all our protocols and procedures then assesses the event as a safe space. This means, in the event of a positive case, exposed individuals would be highly unlikely to contract the virus as well. Participants are therefore asked to self-monitor.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF A POSITIVE CASE ASSOCIATED WITH A CAMP?

Volleyball is a “Low Risk Activity” and, with the protocols Volleyball Winnipeg has implemented, any case of COVID-19 at a venue would result as a “Self-Monitor” situation. A self-monitor request does not result in the cancellation of subsequent events, but rather that of notifying everyone present that they should self-monitor for the next two weeks and notify Volleyball Winnipeg should they test positive.