Good News, everyone! The NSCA has recently clarified the current public health restrictions around the sport of curling and our club is now able to offer additional curling opportunities in addition to the current team practice options.
We are now able to allow members to take part in curling scrimmages under the following conditions:
1. There are allowed to be up to 25 participants in the ice shed at the same time, but they must be part of a consistent, exclusive group. This means that we can offer a regular playing opportunity to a “bubble” of up to 25 people, but that bubble can only include the same participants each time they play. It also means that a member of one bubble cannot take part in any other bubble. This restriction is meant to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 outside of each limited bubble.
2. There can be no officials, scoring, events, league standings or ladder system that would promote competitive intensity. These scrimmages or practices are meant to be recreational or developmental opportunities, not competitive activities that might promote risky behaviours in contravention of COVID-19 precautions. For example, a bubble of six teams (24 people) may play against different teams within the bubble each time they play for the sake of variety, but not in the interests of recording scores and naming champions at the end of the season.
3. Restrictions on travel to Chester for members living within HRM boundaries were removed in mid-December, so all club members are eligible to take part in any of the proposed bubbles.
These arrangements may only be relevant for a short period of time, since current public health restrictions are in place until midnight on January 24. At that time, they may be reduced, increased or extended and we will have to adjust accordingly at that time. We would therefore like to offer the following ad hoc opportunities for at least the remainder of this week and next:
Bubble Coordinator Email Phone
Day Mary Raine This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-273-2085
Doug Ross
Stick Jim Mason This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-483-7440
Tuesday Night Jeff Lamb This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-452-6315
Wednesday Night Tammy Rent This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-483-9086
Cathy Rafuse
Thursday Night Darrin Hatt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-277-0493
Friday Night Gary Clark This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 902-275-1417
Junior bubbles will be coordinated by Beth Atherton and a separate email will be sent to all junior members and coaches with instructions for them. All non-junior members of the club who wish to take part in any of the groups listed above are to contact the coordinator of the group that they wish to join by phone or email as soon as possible. Requests can be made on an individual or team basis, as capacity allows. As the lists approach the maximum capacity, we may have to look at more than one draw on a popular night or asking folks to move to another bubble that is not yet at capacity. Once the bubbles have been set, coordinators will provide instructions to bubble members about timing and other logistical arrangements.
Because this is a temporary arrangement, we ask for the patience and understanding of all members as we sort things out.
