Covid-19 Update #1

Covid-19 Update #1 - Differences Between the Provincial Sport Organization Guidelines

Vancouver, BC, Release: Tuesday, August 11th, 2020.

For Immediate Release

The Board of Directors of Rugby League British Columbia ("RLBC") have recently been advised of a difference in the Return to Play (“RTP”) guidelines as between Rugby League and other sports organizations in the province.

At the heart of the discussion is the use of shared equipment. As we understand, some provincial sports organizations permit the sharing of balls and only require disinfecting before and after use. In contrast, RLBC’s RTP permits the use of sharing a ball but with disinfecting to occur during use.

Numerous members of RLBC have expressed concerns regarding low participation levels or disinterest in participating as a consequence of having to disinfect balls during activities.

By way of background, RLBC takes its guidance regarding permissible activities from Ministerial Order 183/2020 (the “Ministerial Order”) found at https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/mo/mo/2020_m183.

The Ministerial Order states that a sport organization will not be liable for damages resulting from the transmission of Covid where the sport organization adheres to all applicable emergency and public health guidance and guidelines of a sport organization. Emergency and public health guidance is defined to include guidelines published by the Public Health Agency of Canada. RLBC has reviewed the Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines as contained at their website titled “Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community” found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/measures-reduce-community.html


And, RLBC has also reviewed Public Health Agency of Canada guidance found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/public-health-measures-mitigate-covid-19.html

In sum, we interpret the Public Health Agency of Canada advice as follows:

  • operators of parks are to avoid sharing equipment unless they clean and disinfect it between use;

  • all surfaces frequently touched with hands are most likely to be contaminated and such surfaces may include toys and play/sports equipment such that enhanced environmental cleaning should occur. This is because Covid has been found to be stable for hours to days on some surfaces. A fact sheet is provided by the Public Health Agency for procedures;

  • the procedures call for “routine cleaning” to disinfect frequently used surfaces and objects to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 through self-inoculation and touching contaminated surfaces;

  • in addition to routine cleaning, high-touch surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected more often; and

  • mitigation strategies for outdoor spaces includes not allowing sharing of equipment or use of common equipment unless cleaned and disinfected between use.

Additionally, “Own the Podium”, who has a mandate to provide technical leadership and guidance to national sport organizations, such as the Canada Rugby League Association, to which RLBC is a member, published a “Club Risk Assessment and Mitigation Checklist Tool” found here: https://www.ownthepodium.org/OwnthePodium/media/COVID-19-Resource-Documents/Club-Risk-Assessment-and-Mitigation-Checklist-Tool-Appendix-B.xlsx.

The Checklist Tool provides a risk assessment in which they state that “all club equipment is to be assigned to specific individuals and if assigned to more than 1 individual they should be in staggered training groups with enough time in between for thorough washing and sanitization.”

Our interpretation of the foregoing is that in the current phase, shared equipment without disinfecting procedures during use cannot be accomplished without contravening the guidance of health authorities and potentially exposing RLBC to liability. In short, we are committed to requiring that rugby balls be sanitized in between non-contact drills and activities. We do not speak for other sports organizations provincially or federally. However, RLBC is obligated to adhere to emergency and public health guidelines irrespective of what other sports organizations are doing.


The RLBC is dedicated to a quick return to the pitch. We monitor information daily. We want everyone to be on the field. That said, the RLBC is committed to staying vigilant and to strict adherence to the advice of experts.


Contact Info:

Name: Scott Brown, Communications

Organization: British Columbia Rugby League

E-mail: scott.brown@rugbyleaguebc.ca