Activity Safety Plan

Hockey Ball/Floor (Grades K-12)

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Description

Ball/Floor Hockey

Ball or floor hockey is a non-ice variant of ice hockey, played indoors or outdoors on a hard surface using a ball or puck.

Overall Activity Risk Classification (High, Moderate, Low)

Moderate.

Follow all divisional protocols when planning high risk activities.

Risk Management

  • Consult Risk Management for additional general safety requirements and outside provider guidelines.

K-8 Interschool

  • If the activity includes fitness development activities (training) consult Fitness Activities for additional safety requirements.

Equipment

  • Determine that all equipment is safe for use (for example, no sharp corners, cracks, or splinters). Students must be encouraged to report equipment problems to the teacher.
  • Only use regulation plastic ball hockey sticks or floor hockey sticks with a plastic blade. Check the shaft and blade for cracks or splinters.
  • No ice hockey sticks or “road hockey” sticks allowed (for example, homemade sticks)
  • Regularly check sticks to ensure the blade is securely and safely attached to the shaft.
  • The stick length must be appropriate for the height of the students.
  • Protective eye wear is strongly recommended.
  • Goalies must wear a protective goalie mask (for example, properly fitted as per manufacturer’s guidelines) or a properly worn hockey helmet with cage or floor hockey goalie mask.
  • Goalies must wear activity appropriate gloves (for example, baseball glove).
  • Use a “soft” ball, (for example, P30, P40, felt puck, foam ball, yarn ball, plastic or soft rubber puck).

Clothing/Footwear/Jewellery

Curricular / Intramural

  • Exposed jewelry is not permitted.
  • Activity appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn.
  • When long hair poses a safety risk it must be secured. Devices (for example, hair pins, elastics and barrettes) used to tie back long hair must not present a safety concern.

Grades K-8 Interschool

  • Activity appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn.
  • The wearing of jewelry during practices and competitions must meet the rules of the governing body of the sport/activity, MHSAA, and the local athletic association. Consult the General Safety Standards for Clothing, Footwear, and Jewelry when jewelry is not addressed by the governing body of the sport/activity, MHSAA, or the local athletic association.
  • When long hair poses a safety risk it must be secured. Devices (for example, hair pins, elastics and barrettes) used to tie back long hair must not present a safety concern.

Facilities

Curricular / Intramural

  • Teachers must determine that all facilities are safe for use. Students must be encouraged to report facility concerns to the teacher.
  • The playing surface and the surrounding area must be free of obstacles and must provide safe footing and traction.
  • Floor socket covers must be secure and flush with the gym floor.
  • Walls, stages, equipment, trees, and posts must not be used as turning points, finish lines, end zones, or boundaries. Use visual markers such as lines or pylons to establish clearly delineated boundary lines in advance of the hazards.
  • Consult General Safety Standards for Facilities for information related to the safe operation of gym divider doors and/or curtains.
  • When warm-ups (runs) take place off the school site:
    • Teachers must complete a ‘walk through’ of the route to identify any potential hazards.
    • Prior to the warm-up teachers must communicate the route to students and identify any hazards (for example, areas to approach with caution).
    • Teachers must directly supervise students if they are to cross busy intersections.

Grades K-8 Interschool

  • The intramural supervisor must determine that all facilities are safe for use. Students must be encouraged to report facility concerns to the intramural supervisor.
  • The playing surface and the surrounding area must be free of obstacles and must provide safe footing and traction.
  • Floor socket covers must be secure and flush with the gym floor.
  • Walls, stages, equipment, trees, and posts must not be used as turning points, finish lines, end zones, or boundaries. Use visual markers such as lines or pylons to establish clearly delineated boundary lines in advance of the hazards.
  • Consult General Safety Standards for Facilities for information related to the safe operation of gym divider doors and/or curtains.
  • When warm-ups. training runs, and/or the running activity takes place off the school site:
    • Coaches must complete a ‘walk through’ of the route to identify any potential hazards.
    • Prior to the warm-up, training run, or running activity, teachers must communicated the route to students and identify any hazards (for example, areas to approach with caution).
    • Coaches must directly supervise students if they are to cross busy intersections.

Special Rules/Instructions

Curricular / Intramural

  • The following rules must be communicated to students :
    • No body contact
    • No stick-on-body contact or stick on-stick contact
    • No slapshots
    • Sticks must remain below the waist at all times.
  • Penalties for stick infractions must be strictly enforced.
  • Only participating players (active, on the gym floor) are allowed to have a stick.
  • Identify a goalie crease for goalie protection.  Players other than the goalie and/or their sticks are not allowed in the crease.
  • Goalies must remain in the crease area during play.
  • Activities must be modified according to the students’ age, ability, language skills, previous experience, the number of participants, and the facility/space available.
  • Activities must be based on skills that are taught.
  • Skills must be taught in proper progression and all activities must be based on the skills that are taught.
  • A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.
  • Be aware of students with a medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion) that may affect their participation. Consult Medical Conditions for additional information.
  • Students must not participate until they receive concussion information specific to school board procedures/policies, activity specific information on concussion prevention, the inherent risks of the activity, how to minimize the activity risks, and rules/procedures for safe play.
  • Students must be instructed on the importance of reporting suspected concussion symptoms.
  • For all off-site activities refer to the school board’s transportation procedures/policies related to appropriate methods of transportation, appropriate parent/guardian communication, and obtaining parent/guardian permission.
  • Activities that require students to close their eyes or be blind-folded while moving are prohibited.
  • Teach students how to walk and/or run backwards properly.  Emphasize safe, controlled movement when students walk or run backwards. Backward-running races are not permitted.
  • If a student displays either verbal or non-verbal hesitation about performing a specific activity/skill then the teacher must determine the reason for hesitation.  If the teacher believes the hesitancy may put the student at risk during activity, then the student must be directed towards a more basic skill or be permitted to select a challenge that aligns with their comfort level (including choosing not to participate).
  • Students with Additional Needs: The teacher must make appropriate accommodations/modifications to provide a safe learning environment which addresses both activity and student specific safety concerns.  Consult OPHEA’s Disability-Centred Movement: Supporting Inclusive Physical Education for supportive resources.
  • To prevent dehydration, students must have access to water fountains or personal water bottles before, during, and after the activity.

Grades K-8 Interschool

  • The following rules must be communicated to students :
    • No body contact
    • No stick-on-body contact or stick on-stick contact
    • No slapshots
    • Sticks must remain below the waist at all times.
  • Penalties for stick infractions must be strictly enforced.
  • Identify a goalie crease for goalie protection.  Players other than the goalie and/or their sticks are not allowed in the crease.
  • Goalies must remain in the crease area during play.
  • When planning an activity, participant level of fitness, their previous training, and the intensity and length of time of the activity must all be taken into consideration.
  • Skills must be taught in proper progression and all activities must be based on the skills that are taught.
  • A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.
  • Be aware of students with a medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion) that may affect their participation. Consult Medical Conditions for additional information.
  • Students must not participate until they receive concussion information specific to school board procedures/policies, activity specific information on concussion prevention, the inherent risks of the activity, how to minimize the activity risks, and rules/procedures for safe play.
  • Students must be instructed on the importance of reporting suspected concussion symptoms.
  • For all off-site activities refer to the school board’s transportation procedures/policies related to appropriate methods of transportation, appropriate parent/guardian communication, and obtaining parent/guardian permission.
  • Teach students how to walk and/or run backwards properly.  Emphasize safe, controlled movement when students walk or run backwards. Backward-running races are not permitted.
  • Activities that require students to close their eyes or be blind-folded while moving are prohibited.
  • Coaches must teach and strictly enforce sport specific rules, fair play principles, and sportsmanship.
  • To prevent dehydration, students must have access to water fountains or personal water bottles before, during, and after the activity.
  • Students may not share water bottles.
  • Parents/guardians must be informed of the school board’s initiation/hazing policy.
  • Spectators are welcome at interschool sport activities so long as they do not present a safety concern.  Hosting schools/facilities must identify locations for spectators that ensures both athlete and spectator safety.
  • Schools are responsible for supervising its own spectators. Schools are to follow their school board supervisor to spectator ratios.

Supervision

Curricular / Intramural

  • All activities must be supervised.
  • On-site supervision is required.
  • The level of supervision must commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk is related to the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, the type of equipment used, and environmental conditions.
  • Volunteers are allowed to assist in the supervision of physical education activities. Examples of volunteers are educational assistants, retired teachers, co-op students, parents/guardians, early childhood educators, and teacher candidates. Refer to your school board’s policy regarding volunteers. These volunteers must be accompanied by a supervisor/physical education teacher.
  • Students must be informed that using equipment and/or the gymnasium without supervision is prohibited. In addition to verbal communication, the doors must be locked or signs must be posted indicating that students are not allowed to use the gym unless appropriately supervised.

Grades K-8 Interschool

  • All activities must be supervised.
  • On-site supervision is required.
  • The level of supervision must commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk is related to the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, the type of equipment used, and environmental conditions.
  • Students must be informed that using equipment and/or the gymnasium without supervision is prohibited. In addition to verbal communication, the doors must be locked or signs must be posted indicating that students are not allowed to use the gym unless appropriately supervised.
  • Coach liaison(s) will provide, at the minimum, in-the-area supervision for all practices, games, and competitions.
  • When a school team is traveling off-school site, coach liaison(s) must accompany the team and must be accessible at all times.
  • Consult school board and local athletic association rules and regulations with regard to coach and coach liaison duties and adhere to the higher standard of care.

Qualifications

  • All match officials must demonstrate sufficient experience officiating the sport.  It is preferable that all match officials be sport-specific certified.
  • The head coach must demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the sport, skills, and strategies relevant to the age and skill of the participants.  This must be demonstrated to the principal or designate.
  • Coaches must follow and implement the criteria outlined in Coaches Expectations and/or the standards/criteria established by their school/school board.

First Aid

  • A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. (Consult Sample First Aid Kit)
  • A working communication device (for example, cell phone) must be accessible.
  • The school’s first aid plan/emergency response (consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response) and the school board’s concussion protocol (consult Concussions) must be followed.
  • The school evacuation and lock down plans must be communicated to students and followed in the case of an emergency.
  • K-8 Interschool: Schools need to identify an individual to provide first aid to injured students.  This individual must be aware of the school board’s concussion protocol, must follow the school’s first aid emergency action plan (including access to a vehicle for transportation of an injured student), and be present during the all practices/competitions.  For additional information consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response.

Definitions

Curricular / Intramural

  • In-Charge Person:
    • Some activity safety pages refer to an “In-Charge” person. The teacher is always “In-Charge” and responsible for the overall safety and well-being of students under their care.  However, sometimes other personnel must be identified as “In-Charge” related to specific situations (for example, a pool lifeguard).  In these situations where another “In-Charge” person is designated, that person in consultation with the teacher are to make final decisions regarding student safety.
  • Supervision:
    • The vigilant overseeing of an activity or sport for regulation or direction.
    • All facilities, equipment, and sports have inherent risks, but the level of risk decreases significantly with effective supervision
    • Manitoba Physical Activity Safety in Schools designate three categories of supervision:  Constant Visual Supervision, On-Site Supervision, and In-The-Area Supervision. The categories take into consideration the activity specific level of risk, the participants’ skills, and the participant level of experience. The three levels of supervision are not hierarchical but represent the type of supervision that an activity requires and the type of supervision that is inherently possible.
  • Supervisor:
    • A supervisor is defined as a teacher, vice-principal or principal with current Manitoba Teachers’ Society certification and under contract by a school/school board. The supervisor is legally responsible for the students.
  • Types of Supervision:
    • Constant Visual Supervision:
      • The teacher is physically present, watching the activity in question. Only one activity requiring “Constant Visual Supervision” may take place while other activities are going on.
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. The teacher is at and is watching high jump.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. The intramural supervisor is at and is watching the parachute games.
    • In-the-area Supervision:
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” means that the teacher could be in the gymnasium while another activity is taking place in an area adjacent to the gymnasium.  “In-The-Area Supervision” requires the teacher to be readily accessible.
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” occurs during activities in which students may be out of sight for periods of time and the location of the teacher is not nearby (for example, alpine skiing, cross-country running) or during activities where single or multiple “In-the-Area” activities are happening at the same time (for example, a gym divided by a curtain or wall with badminton or table tennis on either side of the wall).
      • The following criteria must be in place:
        • The teacher is circulating and is readily accessible
        • The location of the teacher has been communicated to students and volunteers;
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. For distance running, the students are running around the school and at times may be out of sight.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For the scavenger hunt, the students are running around the school grounds and at times may be out of sight.
    • On-site Supervision:
      • The teacher is present but not necessarily constantly viewing one specific activity. Momentary presence in adjoining rooms (for example, equipment room) to the gym is considered part of “On-Site Supervision”.
      • Curricular example: During a track and field lesson, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. Students participating on the track (relay) can be seen by the teacher who is physically with the students practicing high jump.
      • Intramural example: During a school outdoor special events day, some students are involved in parachute games, some in relay games, and others in a team scavenger hunt around the school. For relay games, the students are participating on the playground and can be seen by the intramural supervisor.

Grades K-8 Interschool

  • Coach:
    • A coach is any individual approved by the principal or designate (for example, teacher, school administrator, or non-teacher/volunteer) responsible for an interschool sport/activity.  All new coaches must go through an approval process by the school administrator/designate to determine the coach’s knowledge, experience and, where appropriate, qualifications (for example, higher risk sports) to safely coach the sport (consult Coaches Expectations).
  • Coach Liaison:
    • A coach liaison is defined as a teacher, principal, or vice-principal with current teacher certification and under contract by the school/school board who will provide appropriate support to a non-teacher/volunteer coach. Consult Coaches Expectations for more information.
  • Supervision:
    • The vigilant overseeing of a sport for regulation or direction.
    • All facilities, equipment, and sports have inherent risks, but the level of risk decreases significantly with effective supervision
    • Manitoba Physical Activity Safety in Schools has designated three categories of supervision:  Constant Visual Supervision, On-Site Supervision, and In-The-Area Supervision. The categories take into consideration the activity specific level of risk, the participants’ skills, and the participant level of experience. The three levels of supervision are not hierarchical but represent the type of supervision that an activity requires and the type of supervision that is inherently possible.
  • Types of Supervision:
    • Constant Visual Supervision:
      • The coach is physically present, watching the activity in question. Only one activity requiring “Constant Visual Supervision” may take place while other activities are going on.
      • For example, during a track and field practice, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. The coach is at and is watching high jump.
    • In-The-Area Supervision:
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” requires the coach to be readily accessible.  The coach could be in the gymnasium while another activity is taking place in an area adjacent to the gymnasium.
      • “In-The-Area Supervision” occurs during activities in which students may be out of sight for periods of time and the location of the coach is not nearby (for example, alpine skiing, cross-country running) or during activities where single or multiple “In-the-Area” activities are happening at the same time (for example, a gym divided by a curtain or wall with badminton or table tennis on either side of the wall).
      • The following criteria must be in place:
        • The coach is circulating and is readily accessible
        • The location of the coach has been communicated to students and volunteers;
    • On-Site Supervision:
      • The coach is present but not necessarily constantly viewing one specific activity. Momentary presence in adjoining rooms (for example, equipment room) to the gym is considered part of “On-Site Supervision”.
      • For example, during a track and field practice, some students are practicing high jump, some practicing relay, and others practicing distance running. Students participating on the track (relay) can be seen by the coach.
Origin Date
August 27, 2025
Last Reviewed
February 6, 2026
Next Review
TBD
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