CDLA Return to Activity Update - June 12

CDLA Parents and Players

Firstly, I would like to pass on we are excited about the good news announced Tuesday in regards to Alberta Health Services implementing Stage 2 of the Alberta Relaunch program.  This will certainly have an effect on the types of programs CDLA clubs may be able to offer in the near future.  We are working with the Alberta Lacrosse Association now on potential programs and updated guidelines.

Secondly, I would like to make everyone aware that the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) recently approved the creation of a new 17U age group for the 2021 season.  What this means is that for the 2021 season, players born in 2004, 2005 and 2006 would be playing in this age group.  However, although this has been approved by the CLA, there is still a lot of work to do at the ALA level to ‘work out the details of how this will work’ and update regulations and polices related to this change.  There will be a more information on this coming in the months to come so please stay tuned.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for your quick response to our most recent survey.  We have tabulated your responses and clubs are now working on potential lacrosse programs that are consistent with Alberta Health guidelines as well as ALA policies and regulations.  We have included the survey results below.

The CDLA would also thank our members for their patience during this unprecedented time. The volunteers that make up our board and member clubs are working hard in an attempt to provide some options to get a stick back in the hands of our kids this summer. As you can appreciate, this is a complicated and fluid situation with many hurdles to navigate.

In addition to planning programs and setting up online registration, we will be confirming which facilities we will have available to us and how much floor time we can book.  We will also be finalizing our operating procedures for these programs to ensure they are in line with Alberta Health guidelines. We do also recognize that each of our member clubs will need to decide on their own whether they are able to execute any programming this summer. As you can appreciate, a significant amount of resources are needed to undertake many of the options we have on the table, notably securing the volunteers needed to make it happen.

Ultimately, we want to make sure we are not over-promising. To put it plainly, we are committed to trying our best and exploring all options we have in front of us for the good of our kids.

We would also like to point out that we encourage our families to look at participating in field lacrosse.  However, we realize not everyone may take part in that option which is why we are looking into offering some type of programming focused on box lacrosse skills.

We are as anxious as you to get lacrosse going again as most of you are, but we need to make sure programs are properly planned so that they are above all else ‘safe’!

We will provide you with more updates soon.

Yours in lacrosse,

Frank Natt
President
Calgary District Lacrosse Association


Survey Summary for all CDLA Clubs:
Wanting to participate in Return To Activity (Outdoors - skills and drills / physical development)
- Yes - 64%
- No - 14%
- Maybe - 22%

Wanting to participate in Return To Sport (Outdoors - skills and drills / small team games)
- Yes - 70%
- No - 10%
- Maybe - 19%

Wanting to participate in Return to Lacrosse (indoor lacrosse)
- Yes - 77%
- No - 8%
- Maybe - 14%

Comments Analysis - 106 Comments Total:

Interested in Return to Activity Program - 88 comments total
- 48 positive comments suggesting "let's get started"
- 7 positive comments but to the tone of "thanks but no thanks"
- 32 positive comments but with conditions; are you sure it will be safe?, can you tier players?, can we be with same club?

Not Interested in Return to Activity Program - 19 comments total
- 7 responses where parents not confident we could provide a 'quality' program or showed concern for CDLA being able to follow Alberta Health restrictions
- 4 responses suggesting this was a 'money grab' or to 'just forget about it'
- 8 responses suggesting that we should just leave this for Field Lacrosse clubs