Category: Bantam

Bulldog Football Returns

Football is Back! If you miss football you will want to be part of this!

To ensure that we are keeping our players and volunteers safe while staying in accordance with the guidelines from the province and city we are ready for Non-Contact football.

Our varsity players can get ready for the NDA Season. For $20 Upfront payment you will take part in a skills session, assemble teams of up to 15, practices then compete in a tournament on the weekend of September 12th. IF the NDA cancels full-contact football, pay an extra $100 and take part in an 8 game, 7 on 7 season so that you get to have a football season. The North Bay Bulldogs work with the NDA and will not host games, or a season, if they are actively running a football program.

For our Non-Contact Youth league: PeeWee (2008, 2007, 2006 if in grade 8) and Tyke (2009 or later) we will be operating two divisions with four teams in each age division in 2020

Register Now: https://northbaybulldogs.com/registration/

All Varsity Aged Players.
$20 for the camp on Aug 28 Weekend + assemble into teams + practices leading up to Weekend of Sept 12th major 7 on 7 Tournament.
* After a summer of nothing, use this to prepare for 2020 Fall NDA Football Season.
* IF the pandemic rules force the NDA to cancel the 2020 Tackle Football Season, the Bulldogs 7 on 7 programs will extend to a full 8 game season, for only $100.
* Policies will be in place to comply with provincial pandemic requirements.
* Great Coaching to help you develop as a player in a fun & safe environment.
* This will be the BEST opportunity to work on the PASSING GAME for 2021!
* This will be the BEST opportunity to work on PASS DEFENSE for summer 2021!
* Up to 3 Practices per week with pro-style practice schedules – all Non-Contact!

Youth Non-Contact Football League

* As usual you Keep the Bulldog Team Shirt!
* Bulldogs Football proudly holds one of the TOP SAFETY records in Canada.
* THIS FALL: 2-3 practices weekly at 6pm + 8 games.
* FUN & SAFE Football Learning Environment – no experience necessary …. FUN!!
* BYTFL Starts August 28th weekend & ends Championship day on October 25th
* 20+ Practices and 8 Games including a Championship game for everyone!!
* ALL kids receive a team photo package … memories forever!
* FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE is available … all kids should be able to play!
* SAFE & FUN WAY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS & LEARN TO PLAY FOOTBALL

Men’s recreational league and competitive league will have an announcement soon.

2020 Season Update

“Good evening Bulldogs family,

Well, this weekend was supposed to be our OPFL game 1 which because of the pandemic did not take place. As things stand now, all sports fields not being rented to football and other sports involving close contact with other athletes. The Province will be releasing the opening up of Ontario, including outdoor sports through the next several weeks. It is expected that municipalities will be making fields available to football once the Province deems it safe to do so.

We hope this will take place in July, but depending on the region, some municipalities may not open fields to football until later. North Bay has the lowest statistical number of COVID19 cases in the province so we expect that we will be among the first to see fields become available for football, but we don’t expect this until late June or early July.

Since 3/4 of the OPFL season is completed by July 4 it is clear the Provincial State of Emergency has caused the OPFL to suspend all football activities which means the 2020 football season as planned is canceled. As we learn what municipalities will be re-opening fields to tackle football and when the OPFL will look to put together scheduling in the various divisions and levels with available teams to conduct 6 or 4 game schedule. We need to identify the clubs that will have field availability for July and rework football scheduling around that group.

As you can imagine, where the schedule will be significantly less than the 8 game season, we will also be adjusting the player fees to reflect the shorter season we may be playing.

As a result, refunds will be issued to those who have paid their fees for 2020 and we will look to re-collect fees when we have firm information on start dates and game schedules.

We hope everyone has a great week and we will update you as more information becomes available both from the OPFL and from the government.

Sincerely,

Marc Mathon – President

Gym Sessions Delayed

As you are all aware we find ourselves in somewhat uncharted waters pertaining to an ongoing pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. As things stand now, all school boards have closed their schools for the rest of this month. As such gym sessions must be canceled as there is no gym availability until April 11th.

At this time we plan to reconvene in the gym on April 11th at Chippewa High School.

However it is important that things can change quickly in situations like this one, so please monitor for further updates as things change, hopefully for the better.

We take the health and safety of all Bulldogs family members very seriously and as a result, we have prepared some important information for you to please read and share with players and family members.

Bulldogs and COVID-19

BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT PERTAINING TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

 Without question, this is an unprecedented period of difficulty for everyone inside and outside the sports world.

The health and safety of all Bulldogs family members is our highest priority and for that reason, we are distributing this communication at this time.

We are more than 2 months away from the first game of the season and the situation is very much in flux. It will be important for all to monitor communications from the Club as things could change rapidly.

It serves no purpose to contribute to some of the misinformation causing hysteria in some sectors of our society as it serves only to create fear & panic ultimately creating situations that can be worse than the sickness itself.

We have received word from the OPFL that as things presently stand there are no plans to delay or cancel the 2020 season, simply because the season is still 2+ months away. It was recommended that each club work on its own policies that will best serve their club given the circumstances that exist in their region / area. We are in constant contact with the league & other clubs. We will update you if circumstances change in the next 2 months.

It is very important to note that the North Bay area is considered very low risk for infection at this time as there are no (0) cases of COVID 19 here yet. Within this context, the following are the Bulldogs policy adjustments for dealing with the coronavirus event this spring & summer:

POLICY

1-        We are asking all families with players who have come in contact with someone who has just returned from out of the country where there has been an outbreak to not come to practice for 2 weeks.

2-        If a player feels sick or has flu type (cough, fever, sore throat, gut discomfort) symptoms to stay home and away from practice or team events until fully recovered. Nobody will lose their spot for being off sick.

3-        If a player or family member in contact with a player tests positive for COVID 19 infection, that the Bulldogs are informed immediately, please.

4-        We will assign someone at our practices and pre-season workouts to observe players specifically for symptoms.

5-        All players come to workout / practice with their own water bottles with their names clearly marked on them. There will be no team bottles for now. We will still have coolers to refill, but only personal water bottles.

6-        We will update families regularly as we approach and go through the season.

FACTS WE KNOW ABOUT CORONA VIRUS*
 

1-        The virus is not airborne by itself. The way it travels is inside droplets of water coughed, or sneezed out by an infected person. It is spread mainly from infected person to another person in close contact.

2-        An infected person’s cough or sneeze can infect another person within 6 feet away. Droplets will fall to the ground rather quickly.

3-        The virus must enter the body through an opening like eyes, nose, mouth or a cut.

4-        A reasonably healthy human immune system will successfully combat & defeat this virus in a short time frame.

5-        The elderly & those with existing immune system weaknesses are those who can develop serious sickness from this virus. Vast majority of deaths to date involve the very old & already sick people not able to fight it off.

6-        The virus can live for as long as 3 days on hard surfaces, mostly indoors. Outdoors depending on sunlight the virus is infectious for shorter periods of time, largely due to the

         sun’s UV light & its ability to neutralize viruses.7-        The BEST way to reduce your chances of infection is to WASH your HANDS with SOAP & WATER for 20 seconds often throughout the day. Your hands touch everything and touches your face hundreds of times per day. If you happen to touch someone or something that has the virus on it, you can prevent infection by washing your hands. Try to catch yourself before touching your face.

8-        Baby wipes & many sanitizing cloths do nothing for you. The only hand sanitizer that will perform as well as soap are sanitizers that contain a minimum of 60% alcohol. Most other wet wipes are considered ineffective.

9-        Wearing a face mask is NOT good for you if you are healthy. Your own breath will saturate the material with droplets of your water. Those droplets of water can capture an air borne droplet containing a virus and start to multiply in the warm humid facemask. Then with the next inhaling breath you become infected.

10-    A facemask is only effective in capturing infected droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

11-    Only facemasks designed specifically for the purpose of preventing virus spreading should be worn by people caring for a COVID 19 positive sick person.

12-    Numbers are changing rapidly and we will likely get cases of COVID 19 in North Bay, but for the time being there are 0.

13-    The Toronto area is the epicenter of infections in Ontario, but still considered low risk.

14-    In most cases a person is contagious a day or so before experiencing symptoms and throughout the period in which they are sick and for a few days after. In some cases an infected person with a strong immune system could be contagious for several days prior to symptoms showing up. Still much to learn from this virus.

15-    The manufacturers of toilet paper have reported that they have more than 6 months inventory and even if half their staff fell sick, they will be able to supply us all with toilet paper, so there is no need to fill your closets full of toilet paper!!

from government of Canada publications (www.canada.ca), Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov – FAQ), World Health Organization (www.who.int)

RECOMMENDATIONS

If everyone practiced these simply recommendations, the spread of the virus would be sharply curbed and we could have a significant effect on slowing or reversing the effect of this pandemic.

  1. The BEST method to wash away a virus is to WASH your HANDS for 20 SECONDS with SOAP & WATER.
  2. Only use sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol or more.
  3. If you are sick, stay home and let family know. Observe your symptoms and if needed get tested.
  4. Do NOT wear a store-bought face mask, unless you are sick.
  5. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  6. If you travel to Toronto, or any community where this virus is spreading, be extra vigilant in washing hands, less touching your face and avoiding people who appear sick.
  7. If you are sick… stay home.
  8. If you are sick, cough into your sleeve or in a tissue or wear a facemask.
  9. Using diluted bleach sanitizer or sanitizer with 60%+ alcohol, clean your cell phone and hard surfaces touched by many people at home a little more than usual.