RECOMMENDED PROTOCOLS FOR RETURN TO KARATE TRAINING

Even in the midst of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, karate is a sport that can be practiced safely, as its participants and athletes may engage in numerous elements and aspects of training (basics, kata, kumite shadow-type training, kumite drills with bags or dummies, footwork, solo technical drills, physical conditioning…) while still abiding by public health and government restrictions and recommendations regarding limits on social gatherings, physical distancing and hygienic measures.

Karate Canada is therefore pleased to release its “Recommended Protocols for Karate club / dojo owners and directors to reduce risk when returning to Karate training during the COVID-19 pandemic”. The purpose of this document is to provide high-level national recommendations aimed at mitigating risks for the gradual re-opening of clubs / dojos nationwide, in a first phase (for indoor participation and training) of a national Return to Karate strategy (with return to National Team activities and competitions to occur in later stages).

Please note that these recommended protocols do not constitute legal or medical advice. The strategies follow the advice and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada. The guidelines set by Karate Canada do not supersede nor replace any requirements or recommendations from government and public health authorities, and abiding by the latter must always remain the first priority. As our knowledge of the virus is rapidly changing, this document may be updated to ensure that the information provided respects current medical and public health advice.

While these recommendations have also been shared with all of Karate Canada‘s member Provincial / Territorial Karate Associations (PTSOs), each such Association may of course develop, circulate, promote and / or enforce its own set of “return to sport” recommendations. We therefore strongly encourage every karate club / dojo owner and / or director to also seek information about any protocols for return to training coming from their Provincial / Territorial Karate Association prior to developing their own return-to-training plan and before resuming activities.

You may click here to read these Recommended Protocols for Karate club / dojo owners and directors to reduce risk when returning to Karate training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INFORMATION ABOUT RETURN TO KARATE TRAINING IN YOUR PROVINCE OR TERRITORY:

As mentioned above, Karate Canada strongly recommends that club / dojo owners and directors seek information about any protocols for return to training coming from their Provincial / Territorial Karate Association prior to developing their own return-to-training plan and before resuming activities. Here are some resources already made available through some of our member Provincial & Territorial Associations (Karate Canada will update this section as new information becomes available; we encourage you to review it regularly):

Alberta / Karate Alberta: 
COVID-19 Related Information: https://www.karateab.org/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/

British Columbia / Karate BC: 
Resource page pertaining to COVID-19: http://www.karatebc.org/covid-19-resource-page/

Newfoundland & Labrador / Karate NL:
Return to Play (COVID) Recommendations

For further information, you may also contact Karate NL’s President Mr. Derek J. Ryan, at:
derek.ryan2006@gmail.com

Nova Scotia / Karate Nova Scotia:
Karate NS’ Recommended Protocols for Return to Training may be found in the News section of their website, at:
http://karatens.org/news/

For further information, you may also contact Karate NS’ “Return to Training” Chair Mr. Jeff  Murphy, at: jeff-murphy@live.com

Quebec / Karaté Québec: 
Karate Quebec has developed and adopted a Return to Training Protocol since May 15, 2020. This document is made available to affiliated / registered clubs / dojos upon completion of an online Zoom training session.  For more information, please contact Karate Quebec’s Executive Director Mr. Georges Struthers, at: dg@karatequebec.com

Links to all of our member Provincial / Territorial Associations

Finally, Karate Canada wishes to sincerely thank its fellow national combat sport organizations and its member PTSOs who generously shared information and drafts of their own protocols and guidelines, as well as the members of its COVID-19 Return to Karate Guidelines Working Group for their efforts and expertise in developing Karate Canada’s Return to Training Recommendations:

-Kyra Lindsay-Ng (Chair, member of KC Medical Committee)
-Kraig Devlin (High Performance Director)
-Nassim Varasteh (Senior Kumite National Team Head Coach)
-Pamala Ross (Kata National Team Lead Coach)
-Denis Beaudoin (Junior Kumite National Team Head Coach)
-Gérard Lauzière (NCCP Committee Chair
-Alexandra Roy (Programs Manager)
-Olivier Pineau (Executive Director)
-C. Gus Kandilas (Medical Committee Chair – advisor to group).

Other Resources:

• COVID-19 Return to High Performance Sport Framework, May 2020 (developed by National Return to Sport Task Force)
• Club Risk Assessment and Mitigation Checklist (tool developed by Rowing Canada, and disseminated by the National Return to Sport Task Force)
• World Karate Federation COVID-19 Protocol (March 31, 2021)
• World Health Organization website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• Health Canada information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
• COVID-19 Self Assessment Questionnaire: https://ca.thrive.health/covid19/en

What is Karate Canada doing to promote and sustain a safe and healthy environment for all its members/registrants?

Required training
Karate Canada’s staff, Board of Directors, National Team coaches and athletes, officials and key volunteers are all required to take the Respect in Sport training. This training will help participants recognize, understand and respond to issues of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.

Parents, you would also like to take the training? The Respect in Sport for Parent Program was specifically created for you. It will help define a standard of behaviour for all parents and create a more rewarding, safe and respectful environment for everyone involved. This training is about 1h and costs $12. Click here to take the training.

Responsible Coaching Movement
The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a multi-phase system-wide movement, coordinated by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. It addresses the role coaches play with issues relating to the health and safety of athletes, both on and off the field of play. Karate Canada is currently implementing the first phase which includes:

• Rule of Two: the goal of the Rule of Two is to ensure all interactions and communications are open, observable, and justifiable. Its purpose is to protect participants (especially minors) and coaches in potentially vulnerable situations by ensuring more than one adult is present. There may be exceptions in emergency situations.
• Background Screening: all our National Team coaches go through an interview process, reference check as well as a criminal record check and vulnerable sector check (when applicable).
• Ethics Training: see Required Training above. Furthermore, all coaches participating in the Karate Canada National Championships must have done the Making Ethical Decision training available via the Coaching Association of Canada.

Policies
Karate Canada has numerous policies and procedures to help protect its members and will be reviewing/updating all of them in 2020-2021.

• Code of conduct and ethics
• Harassment
• Equity and access
• Conflict of interests
• Protection of personal information
• Discipline and complaints
• Appeals

You can find them in the Resources/Governance section of our website. The WKF also has a Safe Sport Policy and other interesting resources on their website.

The Canadian Sport Helpline was launched in March 2019 providing a safe place for victims and witnesses of harassment, abuse and discrimination to speak in confidence to a neutral third party and get the help they need.

This professional listening and referral service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, by phone or text at 1-888-83SPORT (77678), and by email at info@abuse-free-sport.ca.

If you want to report a situation/individual or place a complaint you can do so to an independent third party safe sport officer (see Reporting section below).

Karate Canada is also a proud supporter of You Can Play which works to ensure safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches, and fans. You Can Play as well as Karate Canada believe sport should focus on an athlete’s skills, work ethic, and competitive spirit, not their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Karate Canada has developed the Karate Canada Concussion Guidelines to help guide the management of athletes who may have a suspected concussion as a result of participation in Karate Canada activities. These guidelines are based on the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport from Parachute.

A concussion is a brain injury that cannot be seen on routine X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. It affects the way you may think and remember things, and can cause a variety of symptoms. Here are some key points to remember on concussion management:

1. Recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion
2. Remove the athlete from the game or practice
3. Refer the athlete to a licensed healthcare professional
4. Return to school and then to sport based on the recommendations of a medical expert

Karate Canada Concussion Guidelines (March 28, 2021)

• Pre-season Education Sheet
• Medical Assessment Letter
• Medical Clearance Letter

Resources

• Parachute
  • Concussion guide for athletes
  • Concussion guide for coaches and trainers
  • Concussion guide for parents and caregivers
  • Return to sport strategy
  • Concussion Recognition Tool 5 (CRT5)
  • Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5)
• Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC)
  • Concussion Resources

Anti-Doping and Sport Information

• CCES website: www.cces.ca
• True Sport website: www.truesport.ca
• CCES E-Learning: contact the CCES for additional information
• Canadian Anti-Doping Program
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2021 Prohibited List

Substance Information

• Global DRO: www.globaldro.com
• Contacting the CCES: 1-800-672-7775 or substances@cces.ca

Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs)

• CCES Medical Exemption Wizard: www.cces.ca/mewizard
• Contacting the CCES: 1-800-672-7775 or tue-aut@cces.ca

Report Doping

• Report Doping Hotline: 1-800-710-CCES or www.cces.ca/reportdoping

Note: 
Various printed resources are available. 
Contact the CCES for more information (education@cces.ca or 1-800-672-7775).