An Open Letter to Canada’s Football Community

On behalf of our football nation, we would like to express our most sincere gratitude to the front-line and essential workers across Canada. Their commitment and courage in the face of daily adversity is a testament to the strength of our communities.

A ‘Return to football’ is something our Members, stakeholders, partners, local associations, volunteers and fans anticipate as an annual calling. In 2020 the return is facing challenges on many fronts due to the Coronavirus pandemic which will demand a thoughtful strategy.

In response, Football Canada along with our Members and stakeholders are engaged in daily consultation through our Return-to-Football Task Force. The goal is the Return-to-Football guide which will provide our Members a step-by-step guideline in alignment with provincial and local government and health authorities. We are vetting the plan in consultation with legal and medical experts.

While Football Canada will provide a national guide to Members, the Return-to-Football plan will progress at different speeds at different times based on direction provided to Members from local and provincial health authorities.

We are fortunate in football as versions of participation in our sport come in many forms, from contact to non-contact, with varying number of participants including football specific training. This will provide our Members the ability to respond to directives from their local governments in appropriate phases.

Currently, Football Canada is providing an opportunity to remain engaged in the game through our ‘Football From Home” programming. More information can be found here: http://archive.footballcanada.com/football-from-home/.

The health and safety of everyone involved in our game determines how and when we return. Football prides itself on being the ultimate team sport and only by working together will we be able to be able to successfully return to our communities.

Your passion fuels our sport. Your thoughtful determination will bring us back through these challenging times. Thank you for your commitment to football and we look forward to seeing you back on the field as soon as possible.

Yours in Football,

Jim Mullin,

President

Football Canada

Shannon Donovan,

Executive Director

Football Canada

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