A New Way to Play: Recreation During COVID-19

General Information

Health Checks

• During every visit, visitors are required to sign in, complete a health screening and provide their name and contact information to facilitate Toronto Public Health contact tracing if needed.
• Participants are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes ahead of their program start time to allow for health screening.
• Staff are required to perform a daily health check before being permitted to start work.

Signage

• Signage has been installed to remind participants and staff of respiratory etiquette, how to physical distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.
• Room capacities are posted.
• Some programs will have traffic flow signs posted to aid participants in entering and exiting the program area.

Masks and Barriers

• Wearing non-medical (cloth) masks or face coverings can be an added public health measure for containing the spread of COVID-19 when it is used in combination with frequent handwashing, physical distancing and staying home when sick.
• Facility users are required to wear a mask/face covering at all times while indoors. Participants taking part in intense physical activity and finding it difficult to breathe may temporarily remove mask/face covering but need to place them back on after intense activity is completed.
• Children two years of age and under are exempt from wearing a mask or face covering
• Plexiglas barriers have been installed at customer service desks
• Staff will wear masks or face coverings in the performance or their duties or will follow the enhanced public health measures related to their program area

Physical Distancing

• Program and room capacities have been reduced to ensure physical distancing requirements are maintained.
• Indoor gathering limits are in place and will be monitored and enforced by staff.
• Spectator areas and viewing galleries are subject to indoor gathering limits and physical distancing requirements. Spectator areas will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting will take place at all community centres.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for participants and staff.
• All equipment will be disinfected between use by City staff or by patrons.

General Program Adjustments

• In order to maintain physical distancing and ensure health guidelines are followed, all programs for children under the age of six require a caregiver.
• Program schedules have been modified to allow for cleaning and disinfecting and to help balance the entry and exit of participants.
• Some programs are not yet offered including those with prolonged or deliberate contact between participants, where the nature of the program does not allow for physical distancing, or where equipment that cannot be readily disinfected is passed or shared between participants. Review tips for each program area for more information.
• Porous equipment has been removed as it cannot be adequately cleaned/disinfected. This includes some toys and equipment with fabric.
• Systems to help manage capacity have been implemented, including reservations for swim and fitness.
• Participants are encouraged to arrive ready for activities as change and dressing rooms have limited capacity.
• Participants are asked to leave the facility immediately after their program has ended.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own fitness equipment including mats, weights, yoga blocks, and resistance bands.
• Spectators are asked to refrain from cheering, yelling or singing.

Adapted and Inclusive Programs

• Physical distancing of two meters must be maintained at all times. All adapted children’s programs will now become adapted programs with caregiver. Caregivers, over 14 years of age, will be required to attend all programs for children ages 0-12 to ensure they practice social distancing.
• An Adapted and Inclusive COVID-19 Pre-Program Participation Assessment Intake will need to be completed for all participants in youth programs or participants who required Inclusive Services. If they are not able to attend independently, they can attend with external support.
• There will be no sharing of equipment and supplies between participants (for general, arts, social, and sports programs).
• Cleaning will take place between all classes.

Cooking

There will be no cooking activities at this time.

Arts

Any arts and crafts created in programs will be sent home at the end of each program.

Sports

• Equipment will be cleaned between uses
• No deliberate contact is allowed between players
• Please celebrate without handshakes, huddles, high fives, fist bumps, etc.
• Anyone not on the field of play should wear a mask at all times (coaches, resting players, spectators)

Sledge

• Sizing of sledges will be arranged before the first day of programs
• Caregivers will be required to attend with participants to assist them in/out of sledges
• Sledges and sticks will be assigned to one participant. No equipment will be shared. If participants bring their own sticks, they will need to be sanitized at the doors
• Equipment will be sanitized before weekly storage

Goalball

• Participants will be required to bring their own eye covers
• Equipment will be sanitized before weekly storage and between use

Aquatics

Preschool and Ultra Swim Levels 1 to 4 will all have caregivers in the water with participants, with a maximum of four learners per class.

Find out more about Accessible Recreation or Accessible Recreation Facilities & Equipment.

Aquatic Programs

• Participants are encouraged to come dressed and ready to swim. Change rooms are closed and lockers are not available.
• Participants must wear their masks or face covering while on deck
• Equipment will be cleaned between uses during instructional programs.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment for lane swim and aquafit. Participants can bring their own Ministry Approved flotation devices to wear during leisure swim, other equipment will not be permitted.
• Porous equipment will not be provided (i.e. PFDs (life jackets), noodles, aquafit belts, etc.).

Instructional Swim

• Preschool and Ultra Swim Levels 1 to 4 will require a caregiver in the water, one caregiver per participant, with a maximum of four participants per class.
• Ultra Swim Levels 5 and up will feature small class sizes with a maximum of four participants.
• Youth and Adult Learn-to-Swim will be offered as a drop-in with small class sizes with a maximum of four participants.
• Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross will have a maximum of 10 participants, Bronze Star will not be offered.

Make your program wishlist by searching the FUN Guide and register for fall programs at eFun.

Aquafit, Leisure Swim and Lane Swim

• Lane swim capacity has been reduced to one person per lane and timeslots have been created.
• Aquafit: Shallow water classes will be offered as a drop-in with a class maximum of up to 12 participants.
• Leisure swim will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
• Waterslides are not available at this time.

Learn more about Swimming and Splash Pads.

Arts & Dance Programs

• Porous equipment will not be used (ex. scarves or skirts for dance programs).
• Programs with singing or wind instruments will not be offered at this time.
• Each participant will receive an equipment and material kit at the beginning of each class, where applicable.

Visual Art Programs

Arts and projects will be sent home with participants at the end of each class.

Music and Performing Arts Programs

Musical instruments will be cleaned between uses and music books must not be shared among participants.

Dance Programs

Social dance programs with partners not in the same family are not being offered at this time.

Early Years Programs

• Caregivers must be present and actively engaged and may provide care to a maximum of two children (including infants) during the program.
• Infants must be carried on the caregiver’s person and not left in a car seat/stroller.
• Only registered participants and their caregivers are allowed to attend. Non-registered children will not be permitted.
• Program capacities for drop-in programs have been reduced and all children, including infants, will be included in the program capacity.
• Rooms have been reorganized to maintain physical distancing.
• All porous equipment and toys have been removed.
• All crafts will be sent home at the end of each program.
• Equipment will be cleaned between classes.
• Where applicable, only re-packaged snacks will be available.

Enhanced Youth Spaces

AMPED Programs

• All AMPED programs will feature smaller program sizes and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To register or to learn more, contact your local Youth Recreation Programmer or visit your local Enhanced Youth Space.
• Chop it Like it’s Hot will change focus from cooking to recipe development and healthy nutrition inspired by local youth.
• AMPED programs will be offered as a drop-in with small class sizes.

Enhanced Youth Space

• Tournament Time: Sports programs will focus on recreational play and skill development rather than competition. A maximum of six players playing three versus three (includes a goalie if applicable) can be accommodated depending on room capacity and staff/participant ratio.
• Enhanced Youth Spaces will feature smaller program sizes. Participants will be required to register at their local Youth Space and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more about your Youth Space capacity, contact your local Youth Recreation Programmer.

Learn more about Youth and Recreation.

Fitness Programs

• Fitness centres, weight rooms, walking tracks, personal training and fitness classes are available.
• Change rooms are closed and lockers are not available.
• Saunas and steams rooms remain closed.
• Fitness centre participants are required to wipe down equipment before and after use.
• Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats, resistance bands, yoga blocks, foam rollers and weights.
• Porous equipment will not be provided (ie. bands or mats).

Room and Program Capacity

Capacities for fitness spaces and classes will be adjusted to allow for physical distancing.

Equipment Use

Some equipment has been moved, removed or decommissioned in order to allow for physical distancing.

Find out more about Fitness Programs.

General Interest Programs

• Porous equipment will not be used.
• Equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between users.
• Programs where equipment is shared or passed between participants such as card and board games, chess, checkers, dominoes, mah-jong, cribbage and similar activities are not resuming at this time.
• Cooking programs are not being offered at this time.
• Sewing program participants are asked to bring their own thread and fabric.

Each participant will receive an equipment and material kit at the beginning of each class, where applicable.

Skate Programs

• Arrive fully dressed for skate programs. Change rooms are closed and lockers are not available. Warm clothes, skate helmets and skates with skate guards are suggested.
• One caregiver for up to two participants from the same household must be prepared to go on the ice (warm clothes, skate helmets and skates with skate guards are suggested).
• Skaters must remain at least two meters apart when putting on and removing skates. Visible markers will be used to designate where skaters should sit.
• Where possible, separate entrance and exit doors have been determined to help with traffic flow.
• Skate and helmet lending will not be available at this time.
• Programs will have sufficient time before and after to ensure safe maneuvering of participants in and out of program areas and facilities.
• Equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between users.
• Skate aids will still be available at select rinks and will be cleaned and disinfected between uses.
• Sledges will be available by request. Please contact Adapted and Inclusive Services at 416-395-6128 or aiscw@toronto.ca, two weeks prior to visiting the rink to allow for transport and disinfecting of sledge.

Leisure Skate Programs

• Outdoor leisure skate capacity is capped at a maximum of 25 skaters on the ice where physical distancing requirements are met.
• Indoor leisure skate is restricted based on current provincial regulations.
• Participants are encouraged to arrive fully dressed for their skate (warm clothes, skate helmets and skates with skate guards are suggested).

Instructional Skate Programs

• For children under six years of age, one caregiver per participant must also be prepared to go on the ice (warm clothes, skate helmets and skates with skate guards are suggested) in order to provide assistance and help maintain physical distancing requirements.

Make your program wishlist by searching the FUN Guide and register for fall programs at eFun.

Sledge Hockey

• Sledge hockey is currently restricted based on current provincial regulations.
• Sizing of sledges will be arranged before the first day of programs.
• Caregivers will be required to attend with participants to assist them in/out of sledges.
• Sledges and sticks will be assigned to one participant. No equipment will be shared. If participants bring their own sticks, they will need to be sanitized upon arrival.
• Equipment will be cleaned/disinfected between use.

Hockey/Shinny Programs

• Hockey and shinny are currently restricted based on current provincial regulations.
• Players on the ice will be limited to three versus three or four versus four including goalies, where applicable.

Find out more about Skating and Winter Sports.

Sport Programs

• Sports equipment will be cleaned and disinfected between user sets or at the end of the game.
• Sports where prolonged or deliberate body contact between participants is integral to the sport are not resuming at this time including some forms of martial arts and wrestling.
• Gymnastics programs that use equipment/apparatus such as beam and vault are not yet being offered.
• The number of courts or table tennis tables may be reduced to meet physical distancing requirements.
• Porous equipment will not be used (e.g. gymnastics equipment, team pinnies, fabric mats).
• Players are encouraged to bring their own equipment (e.g. table tennis paddles and tennis racquets).
• Players are asked to remain two metres apart at all times and deliberate contact between players such as blocking, guarding, and checking must be avoided.
• Please celebrate without handshakes, huddles, high fives, fist bumps, etc.
• Anyone not on the field of play must wear a mask at all times including staff, resting players and spectators.
• Players and spectators are asked not to congregate before and after programs.

Instructional Sports

• Class capacities have been adjusted according to gym/room space in order to allow for physical distancing.
• Sports that involve prolonged or deliberate contact will be modified to focus on skills, drills, and athletic training.
• Team sports will incorporate skills training with small group scrimmage play.

Drop-In Sports

• Program capacity will be limited and more sessions offered to accommodate participants.
• Capacity for some programs will be managed using a reservation process. Please contact the community centre to find out more.

Volleyball

Six players per side with 12 players maximum per court.

Team Sports

• Basketball
• Ball or Floor Hockey
• Dodgeball
• Lacrosse
• Soccer

Three versus three with six players maximum per designated court.

Bocce

Two versus two with four players maximum based on a standard court.

Squash

Single players only at this time.

Racquet Sports

Excludes table tennis. Doubles play is allowed however physical distancing of two metres must be maintained and all efforts must be made to avoid physical contact between players.

Table Tennis

Singles play only.

Walking Track

• Only walking is allowed on indoor tracks.
• Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult responsible for their direct supervision.
• Track capacity is limited by physical distancing and the size of the track.
• Masks are required when using the walking track
• Maximum of ten participants if track size allows.
• Access to walking tracks will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Railings and other touchpoints will be cleaned twice a day.
• Fitness equipment in the walking track area has been decommissioned.
• Seating areas have been adjusted to allow for physical distancing and will be cleaned twice per day.