START OF 2022/23 SEASON UPDATE - July 18th 2023
Illness Management Plan
Vikes varsity athletics is committed to providing safe and healthy environments. While the public health risk of COVID-19 is not as prevalent in the news, it is important for everyone and especially varsity student-athletes to take precautions when facing illness due to the nature of athletic environments for the safety and well being of all those they encounter. Below is a guide to the varsity illness & injury management plan and links to additional UVic resources for communicable disease and other prominent resources.
Recommendations are for all Vikes training cohorts, groups and nodes. This refers to all student-athletes, student-trainers, student S&C coaches, coaches, volunteer/PT coaches plus all support staff who attend varsity training sessions or competition.
To safe guard you and your teams, Vikes, Can West and U SPORTS are strongly recommending that you are fully vaccinated and adhere to Basic COVID-19 etiquette at all times.The Public health authorities encourage all British Colombians to learn about the benefits and safety of the vaccine and consider vaccination to protect themselves and others.
Basic COVID-19 etiquette
- Masks are MANDATORY when visiting or attending appointments in our Varsity Medical Clinic
- Mask are MANDATORY for indoor Varsity functions including the Vikes Welcome! and Championship Breakfast
- Masks are strongly recommend when entering public indoor spaces
- Practice regular Hand washing
- Practice coughing into sleeve
- STAYING AT HOME when symptomatic e.g. DO NOT come to train, travel or compete with Vikes or enter our facilities if you have any of the following symptoms
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS contact Dr Martin via cell/text ASAP &/or phone 811
Please note: As with all injuries, illness and COVID-19 - Dr. Martin is the only person who can medically clear you for return to Vikes (Regardless of COVID-19 test results)
Return-To-Play
Below is a sample graduated return to play protocol that will be followed by Dr. Martin and the Vikes Sports Injury Clinic staff. Please seek advice from Dr. Martin who will use clinical judgment to start you at the most appropriate stage in this process post-illness.
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Modification based on this article: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/54/19/1157
Additional Information - COVID-19 Rapid Testing
COVID-19 is still prevalent in our society and can cause major side effects if not treated properly. COVID-19 rapid tests are available at the Vikes Sports Injury Clinic,
Student Wellness Centre and at local drug stores.
Notes for rapid test results:
- You must not rely on a negative rapid test (RTs) following a close contact to direct your actions.
- RTs have low sensitivity for COVID-19 in people who are asymptomatic especially done in close proximity (time wise) to an known exposure.
- People infected with COVID-19 may test negative for several days before testing positive on RT.
- Therefore, a negative test may represent a false negative and the infection status of the individual may change within hours of taking the test.
- A positive RT result does not require PCR/rapid molecular confirmatory testing.
- If an asymptomatic individual without a known exposure to a COVID-19 case decides to complete a RT outside of routine screening programs, for example prior to a social event/gathering/visit in a non-high risk setting, then they should complete it as close to the event as possible (e.g. on the same day, ideally within a few hours of the event) and understand important limitations to a negative RT.
- Those with a negative one-off RT should still follow existing public health measures including masking and limiting contacts.
DRUG-FREE SPORT & MEDICATION
The Vikes varsity program adheres to the U SPORTS, CCES (Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport) and WADA (World Anti-Doping Association) regulations for drug education, use and policy including:
- A mandatory online drug education session “True Sport Clean” for all student-athletes participating in the Vikes varsity program.
- Strict opposition to the use of any banned or restricted substance or methods in contravention of U SPORTS rules and the rules of the National and/or International Sport Federations and the International Olympic Committee.
- Strongly discouraging the use of such substances and/or methods by individuals in positions of leadership in university sport (coaches, athletic 13 October 2020 staff, medical practitioners, sport scientists, administrators) or by the student-athletes themselves.
- Random testing of Vikes student-athletes in U SPORTS sports during the competitive season.
All Vikes Student-Athletes follow the rules for Drug Free Sport:
- By avoiding the use of any performance-enhancing drugs, (i.e. anabolic steroids) and/or techniques (i.e. blood doping), as outlined by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Student-athletes who engage in or observe the use of such substance or techniques by another student-athlete are required to report the conduct to the Head Athletic Therapist or to Vikes leadership staff.
- By accepting responsibility to ensure that any medication taken is not a prohibited substance. Information to assist is available from:
- By participating in the required drug education programs from U SPORTS or Vikes Athletics.
Consult your doctor and/or the Athletic Therapist if you are unsure about the use of prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. You can also use the CCES “Check your Medications’ options online.
Injury Management Plan
Varsity Injury protocol
Concussions
All varsity student-athletes in high-risk sports or who have a history of concussion must undergo annual baseline concussion testing with the Vikes Sports Injury Clinic. Athletes with a concussion can contact sic@uvic.ca to arrange a follow up assessment and to determine next steps to return to academics and physical activity.
Looking for information on identifying a concussion?
Concussion guide for athletes
REFERENCE RESOURCES:
If you need help, reach out – Medical or Student Support Coordinator
END OF UPDATES
UPDATE - January 19th 2022
COVID-19 Recommendations - Omicron wave
Recommendations are for all Vikes training cohorts, groups and nodes. For clarification, this refers to all student-athletes, student-trainers, student S&C coaches, coaches, volunteer/PT coaches plus all support staff who attend varsity training sessions or competition.
Varsity Travel Waiver - Acknowledgment of risk
Please sign and return this Varisty Travel Waiver to your Head Coach prior to traveling with Varsity
Return to Varsity Sport
- Teams will return to Phase 1 training for 5 days from the day the last student-athlete arrives back in training environment
- After that teams can return to full training, unless otherwise directed
- Student-athletes can train on their own for 5 days if they are coming back after the group restarts
- This requirement is for all varsity teams regardless of whether indoor, outdoor, team or individual sport
- International travelers must complete the specific federal COVID-19 requirements and then contact Dr. Martin for next steps
- Teams that are in-season will follow a modified plan created by coaches and approved by Dr. Martin
- Organised group Strength & Conditioning is not permitted in the CARSA FWC, Stadium and McKinnon weight rooms, but is permitted individually or in the field of play (as directed by Vikes Strength & Conditioning)
- Teams are encouraged to do meetings online
Our recommendations are in line with those guidelines provided by ViaSport
Please read carefully and follow appropriately
* Positive test "Follow the instructions given by public health (link here)"
There's no need to get a test if you don't have symptoms, or if you have symptoms and you're not in a high-risk group. Please contact Dr. Martin if unsure. Provincial testing is targeting those who are at greatest risk of complications from COVID-19 - including people over age 65, those with compromised immune systems and those with severe symptoms - as well as frontline health-care workers.
Positive and/or Symptomatic Cases
CanWest and USPORT Medical Advisory committee recommend that the following protocol (figure below) be implemented for all symptomatic athletes post-COVID quarantine. It will obviously have an impact on return to play as well as attending championships. Please seek advise from Dr. Martin who will use clinical judgement to start you at the most appropriate stage in this process.
- You must not rely on a negative rapid test (RTs) following a close contact to direct your actions.
- RTs have low sensitivity for COVID-19 in people who are asymptomatic especially done in close proximity (time wise) to an known exposure.
- People infected with COVID-19 may test negative for several days before testing positive on RT.
- Therefore, a negative test may represent a false negative and the infection status of the individual may change within hours of taking the test.
- A positive RT result does not require PCR/rapid molecular confirmatory testing.
- If an asymptomatic individual without a known exposure to a COVID-19 case decides to complete a RT outside of routine screening programs, for example prior to a social event/gathering/visit in a non-high risk setting, then they should complete it as close to the event as possible (e.g. on the same day, ideally within a few hours of the event) and understand important limitations to a negative RT.
- Those with a negative one-off RT should still follow existing public health measures including masking and limiting contacts.
UPDATE - September 6th 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination stance & understanding
Canada West and U SPORTS adopts proof of vaccination policy for 2021-2022 season
In line with Canada West ad U SPORTS all Vikes training cohorts, groups and nodes are required to provide proof of vaccination in order to train, travel and compete with Vikes during the 2021/22 season. For clarification, this refers to all student-athletes, student-trainers, student S&C coaches, coaches, volunteer/PT coaches plus all support staff who attend varsity training sessions or competition.
To participate in the 2021/22 Varsity Seasons, you need proof of the following COVID-19 vaccination…
- 1st Dose by Sept 9th 2021
- 2nd Dose by Oct 17th 2021
To clarify this statement, the COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory in order to study, work, visit or live on campus. No vaccines in Canada are mandatory. Varsity Adult sport is seen as a privilege (a non-essential activity) that requires an individual to choose whether or not they become vaccinated in order to participate. Public health authorities encourage all British Colombians to learn about the benefits and safety of the vaccine and consider vaccination to protect themselves and others.
Accepted Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
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Uploaded vaccine card on Vikes Athlete's portal (AIMS)
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To access the Vikes Athlete Portal:
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Go to: https://vikes.athletesystems.ca/;
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Sign in with your UVic Netlink ID and Password;
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Click on "Complete Registration".
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BC Vaccine card/passport (digital or hard copy)
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Government ID and vaccine proof
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For non-BC resident and internationals
Basic COVID-19 etiquette remains in place
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Masks mandatory in all indoor spaces
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Do not come to train, travel or compete with Vikes or enter our facilities if you have any of the following symptoms:
Varsity Athletes contact Dr Martin &/or phone 811 if symptomatic AND Daily screens to your coaches are still required
Please note: As with all injuries, illness and COVID - Dr. Martin is the only person who can medically clear you for return to Vikes (Regardless of COVID test results)
If you need help, reach out – Medical or Student Support Coordinator
We are currently following the UVic Communicable Disease Plan
GET VACCINATED is the most important supporting the Restart Plans
If you have any questions requiring basic COVID-19 recommendation please visit the websites below. If you cannot find the answer to your questions reach out to the Vikes medical staff.
Contacts available from your coaches or staff directory.
