“ViaSport has done a great job working with health officials and our amateur sport organizations to ensure we can safely and gradually return to game play.” — Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

Amateur sports is moving forward with games between rival associations.

Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, announced Monday morning that the province is advancing into Phase 3 of the Return to Sport guidelines. It allows for neighbouring sports associations to form cohorts for game play.

In Phase 2, teams were only permitted to play other teams from the same association.

The guidelines were created by viaSport, a legacy organization of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Provincial sports organizations took those guidelines and created sport specific ones.

Baseball, softball and volleyball are in a group that allows for cohorts of up to 100 people. Basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse and soccer in a group that allows for cohorts of 50 people or four teams, and the corresponding provincial sport organization decides which of the two options is the most appropriate.

Boxing, judo and karate have cohorts of 10.

“I know athletes and their families have been missing the joy of competition these past few months,” Beare said in a news release. “ViaSport has done a great job working with health officials and our amateur sport organizations to ensure we can safely and gradually return to game play. I encourage everyone — players, parents, coaches and volunteers — to continue to work together to make sure we can play and compete safely.”

“Team play and friendly competition are at the heart of amateur sport,” said Charlene Krepiakevich, viaSport’s chief executive officer.

“Now, as we enter Phase 3, we will start to see more sport activities in communities around the province. While these guidelines offer key parameters for the increase in sport activity, each sport will advance at a different pace depending on community capacity and readiness. I want to thank all of the staff, organizers and volunteers who continue to ensure amateur sport in B.C. is safe and fun for everyone. As we move forward, the health and safety of all participants are our No. 1 priority.”

More to come