BC Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA)
205 - 2323 Boundary Road V5M 4V8 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Effective November 7, 2020 at 10 PM PST, a new region-specific provincial order took effect, impacting group physical activities including indoor sports. Some clubs have asked for clarification or guidance on how these new orders impact their programs and practices. The provincial health order advises that business, recreation centres or other organizations that organize or operate indoor group physical activities within the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions must su...spend these activities. This includes group activities like: Spin classes Yoga Classes Group Fitness Dance Classes Any other group indoor activity that increases the respiratory rate Indoor, contact sports where physical distancing cannot be maintained are suspended. This includes activities like: Boxing Martial Arts Hockey Volleyball Basketball Swimming is not specifically mentioned in the provincial health order. BCSSA swim clubs must therefore evaluate whether their club activities can be continued while maintaining the provincially mandated physical distancing guideline of a minimum 2 meters (6 feet) from one another. Clubs should contact their host facility to discuss whether changes to their Return to Swimming plan are required, or if their in-person activities should be suspended. The Order will be in effect for two weeks, from November 7 at 10 PM until Monday November 23 at 12 PM in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions. (https://www2.gov.bc.ca//health/regional-health-authorities) Provincial Health Order on limiting social interactions: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//covid-19-provincia/lower-mainland

ViaSport has announced that the LOCAL SPORT RELIEF FUND is now open and accepting applications for funding up to $7,500. The ViaSport Local Sport Relief Fund has been developed to provide one-time financial relief for non-profit, community level sport organizations, clubs and associations at risk of collapse or insolvency due to the impacts of COVID-19. The fund is supported by the Province of B.C. and administered through viaSport British Columbia. The goal of the funding is... to support local sport organizations that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. The Province of B.C. recognizes the importance of community-based sport organizations and has allocated this funding to help in their recovery. Eligible organizations are invited to apply for up to $7,500 to help offset fixed and operating costs. Funding must support administration and operational needs for an eventual return to sport, and new sport programming or initiatives are ineligible. Applications may be submitted by organizations that are: Non-profit local sport organizations Non-profit local sport organizations, which exist for the sole purpose of serving underrepresented populations and have well-established sport programming. Underserved populations include Indigenous peoples, girls & women, LGBTQ+, low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, ethnic or religious minorities, and newcomers to Canada or refugees. All organizations must be located in British Columbia and focus on sport delivery at the local or community level. Organizations must be not-for-profit and have a B.C. registered society or CRA charity number. For-profit organizations and those with a provincial scope of delivery are not eligible, including viaSport’s funded Provincial Sport, Disability Sport, Multi-Sport and Regional Alliance partners. Funding Guidelines and online Application can be found on the viaSport website (www.viasport.ca). If you need assistance with an application for funding, please contact Penny at [email protected].

CONTEST ALERT! Next week is National Coaches Week (https://coach.ca/national-coaches-week)! National Coaches Week is a time to celebrate the positive impact coa...ches have on athletes and their communities across Canada. The annual campaign is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by taking the time to say #ThanksCoach. ViaSport BC is hosting a Contest to celebrate our coaches! They are giving away $1000 to celebrate B.C. coaches! Enter to win $500 for your sport team/club/association and another $500 for your coach(es)! All you have to do is post a (public) photo on social media that includes your coach(es) and why you appreciate them. HOW TO ENTER: Follow/like viaSport BC on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram Post a photo of your coach(es) to Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram. National Coaches Week: The name of the team/club/association, the name of the coach(es), and why you want to thank your coach. Tag viaSport BC and BCSSA in the post Include BOTH hashtags #ThanksCoach and #thanksBCcoach (this is how we will find your post) Ensure your Facebook/Twitter post and/or Instagram profile is made public so that your photo is viewable One entry per user per platform will be eligible. The winner will be randomly selected and announced by September 30, 2020. More information about this contest can be found here: https://www.viasport.ca/coachesweek More information about National Coaches Week can be found here: https://coach.ca/national-coaches-week

#bcssacovidcup Day 7, Final Day! Pick one (or more!) of these physical activities to do with a friend, sibling, parent, aunt, uncle... someone in your "Covid-19 Bubble"...... Biking Hiking Basketball Soccer Tennis Volleyball Street Hockey Tug-of-war Running Rollerblading Kick Ball Baseball Frisbee Golf Don't forget to post a public photo or video of yourself using the hashtag #bcssacovidcup And THANKS for a very different and interesting 2020 Summer Swimming Season!

#bcssacovidcup Day 6 Activity... Screen Free Activity Hour!... Put away your technology and do one of these activities, then record how it went afterwards (or ask someone ELSE to take a video / photo of you doing it!): 1) Clean up the earth: Pick an area outside to clean up! Take a before and after photo. Don't forget a pair of gloves and a garbage bag. 2) Create something with recycled boxes and other items in your house. 3) Dear future self: Write yourself a letter to be opened in 1 year's time. Seal it and give it to someone else to mail to you! 4) Collect some things from the ground in nature and make a piece of art such as a picture or sculpture from twigs, leaves, etc. Make sure you don't harm anything living! 5) Go for it! Write a list of goals for this school year... what do you hope to achieve? How will you get there? The goals don't have to be school related... it can be anything that you want to work on. Don't forget to post a public photo or video about your experience using #bcssacovidcup!

#bcssacovidcup Day 5 Activity: How many....?... How many sit ups can you do in 1 minute? How long can you hold a plank? How many times in a row can you sink the basketball in the net? How many times can you juggle a soccer ball in a row? How long can you do a handstand for? How many chin ups can you do in 1 minute? Pick something (or a few somethings) to count and find a partner to count with you! How does your count compare to what you could do 4 months ago? What is your goal for 4 months from now?! Don't forget to use #BCSSACovidCup and post a public photo or video of yourself!!