2024 BC Summer Games General Rules

BC Games General Rules provide details of the general eligibility requirements as well as competition parameters and rules for inclusion in the BC Games. Only BC Games Society staff can approve exceptions or exemptions to the BC Games rules. In order to fully understand the rules and requirements for participation in the BC Games, it is expected that the BC Games General Rules will be read in addition to the technical package for each sport.

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Conduct of Participants
Participants (athletes, coaches, and officials) in the Games are bound by the BC Games Society Code of Conduct, the rules, regulations, and policies of the BC Games Society. This includes but is not limited to following the BC Games General Rules, their sport’s technical package, and the principles of the Culture of the Games.

Exemplary conduct is expected of all Games participants. This is expected from the time Games participants board BC Games transportation (or arrive at the Games by their own transportation) until they return home. Refer to the Expectations of Participants for additional information.

Participants at any BC Games are one of many outstanding athletes, head coaches, assistant coaches, adult supervisors, and officials who will be involved in competition. It is important that each participant show Games volunteers and all other Games participants the same respect and treatment that you'd want done to you.

Any behaviour contrary to the BC Games Culture of the Games, or any violation or transgression of the BC Games Code of Conduct, rules, or polices by any participant in any sport will result in appropriate disciplinary action, which may include expulsion from the Games. The actions of any participant may impact the inclusion that sport in future BC Games.

Any damages to a BC Games venue or infrastructure due to the actions of a participant(s) will result in disciplinary action and/or financial restitution by the participant(s) involved and/or their Provincial Sport Organization.

During the Games or during travel to/from the Games, any athlete, head coach, assistant coach, adult supervisor or official found to be under the influence of, or in possession of, drugs or alcohol, will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

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Removal from the Games
All participants in the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games agree to abide by the BC Games Society Code of Conduct and agree to follow the rules, regulations, and policies of the BC Games Society and Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games Society. This includes following the BC Games General Rules, their sport’s technical package, and the principles of the Culture of the Games.

Should any participant choose not to follow these rules, regulations, and policies, their actions may be reviewed, and they may be disciplined under the BC Games Society Discipline Process. Should any participant be subject to discipline resulting in their removal from the Games, they will be responsible for covering all costs related to their travel home.

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Culture of the Games and Safety at the Games
Culture of the Games
The BC Games inspire exceptional experiences by creating a positive, respectful, inclusive, and accessible environment.

The BC Games Society believes that everyone associated with the Games:

• has the right to participate in an environment that is supportive, positive, respectful, accessible, and that contributes to exceptional experiences
• has the responsibility to contribute in a positive way to the experiences of everyone involved in the Games
• has the responsibility to contribute to a safe environment for the health and wellbeing of all Games participants

Refer to the Culture of the Games section of the BC Games Society website for policies, information, and resources.

Safety at the Games
The BC Games Society takes safety at the Games seriously and puts processes into place to help ensure the safety of all participants and volunteers.

Participants and volunteers play a role in their own safety and the safety of others and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not put themselves or others into unsafe situations or environments.

Coaches and adult supervisors are expected to supervise their athletes at all times and are expected to look out for their safety.

Any unsafe situation or environment should be reported immediately:

• Athletes report to their coach, coaches report to their Provincial Sport Organization representative, Provincial Sport Organization representatives report to BC Games Society staff.
• Volunteers report to their supervisor or Chair, supervisors report to their Chair, Chairs report to their Director, Directors report to the President and Vice President, the President and Vice President report to BC Games Society staff.
• The BC Games Crisis Communication Plan guides disclosure and reporting processes.

That the BC Games Society expects all participants and volunteers to follow the following:

• That no one should be one-on-one in an isolated setting with a Games participant or volunteer.
• Individuals are expected to be aware of when they may be alone with another individual in an isolated setting and take action to ensure someone else can be with them or in the same room as them or within easy earshot of the discussion.
  • In the ideal situation when a coach needs to meet with an athlete that they ask another coach (from their zone or anther zone) to be with them.  If this is not possible, the coach could ask a volunteer at the venue to be present in the room or they could ask another athlete to be in the room.
• When asked to meet one-on-one with a coach, athletes should ask for another coach to be present, or if that is not possible, a volunteer, or another athlete.
• Volunteers should never put themselves in the position to be one-one-one in an isolated setting with another volunteer or any participants.

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Conditions of Entry
See complete Waiver here.
Participant information is collected under the authority of the BC Games Society and will be used to determine eligibility and to arrange liability insurance coverage to address any claims arising from participating in the Games.  The Participant’s name, address, email address, phone number, and/or image(s) may be used in non-commercial promotion/development of the Games or sport, which may include the provision of this information to the media, the Premier, the Minister responsible for the Games, members of the legislative assembly, local members of parliament, school principals, school district superintendents, local mayors, local municipal volunteer agency or department, and/or to BC Games Society sport partners, for the purpose of recognition, acknowledgement, informing of sport-related opportunities, and/or for commemorative materials made available for free or purchase. The BC Games Society will not be liable for any communication from a third-party group that receives the Participant’s contact information after the two-year period under Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation expires. The two-year period begins at the conclusion of the Maple Ridge 2024 BC Summer Games.

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Exceptions to Rules
Only the BC Games Society can set aside a BC Games Rule and can approve exceptions to rules outlined in BC Games Society General Rules or rules outlined in the sport-specific technical packages.  Approval must be obtained by the BC Games Society Event Manager responsible for Sport through the Provincial Advisor or Provincial Sport Organization for the respective sport.

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Eligibility of Participants
(a) Provincial Sport Organizations choose the age group of athletes to attend the BC Games within the BC Games Society Core Sport policy. Generally, they are under 18 and are athletes who have potential to move beyond local or regional competition to higher level competition and are generally in the higher end of the Learn to Train stage or the lower end of the Train to Train stage of the sport's Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model or Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) framework.  Click here to review the Core Sport Policy.

(b) Due to the level or age of athletes, some Provincial Sport Organizations have restricted the eligibility of competitors beyond those outlined in this section. Refer to the technical package for each sport for information.

(c) Athletes or teams competing in the BC Games must be members of their respective Provincial Sport Organization and their registration for the Games must be approved by the Provincial Sport Organization.

(d) The date for determining athlete ages for all events in a sport shall be no later than July 18, 2024, unless otherwise specified by the Provincial Sport Organization in the technical package for the sport.

(e) The BC Winter Games are open to individuals whose permanent residence/major domicile has been the Province of BC for at least three months immediately prior to the BC Games, with the following exceptions:

1. i) Athletes residing at an address in Canada but outside of BC are eligible for the BC Games if they:

1) reside near the BC border and associate primarily with British Columbia in school, league, club, or team play; AND
2) are members of the British Columbia provincial sport organization (PSO) for their sport; AND
3) they do not compete in any leagues, provincial competitions, or provincial Games of any other province or territory.

OR they are members of another provinces provincial sport organization (PSO) BUT they are not eligible to attend that province’s provincial Games.

1. ii) when the above-noted exception is invoked, the following shall apply: No more than 30% of the allocated number of athletes and/or wildcards from outside the province shall be included on the zone team.

iii) athletes residing in BC but attending school outside the Province of BC AND who train in BC (i.e. permanent training program is in BC), are eligible to compete in the BC Games if they return to BC to compete in a qualification event for the zone in which they make their permanent residence or otherwise qualify based on sport or zone’s established qualification process. Athletes qualifying under this rule are not considered out-of-province athletes; therefore, rule (e) ii) does not apply.

(f) Each athlete, head coach, assistant coach, and adult supervisor shall be registered for the zone in which they make their permanent residence. Exceptions to this rule may be considered by the BC Games Society for athletes who attend school in BC but outside of their zone and where it is not feasible for them to return to their zone because of distance, to compete in the zone qualification event(s) for their zone.

(g) Each athlete, head coach, assistant coach and adult supervisor may participate in only one sport at the BC Games.

(h) Each athlete may only attend one BC Games in the same sport, unless otherwise specified in the technical package for the sport. Athletes with a disability may attend no more than two BC Games in the same sport unless otherwise specified in the in the technical package for the sport.

(i) Every zone with athletes attending the Games must have a head coach and an assistant coach. All head coaches must be NCCP Competition Introduction certified (or the equivalent) and all assistant coaches must be NCCP Competition Introduction trained (or the equivalent) unless otherwise specified in the technical package prior to participating in the BC Games.  All adult supervisors must have completed the Safe Sport Training module.

(j) All coaches, adult supervisors, and any officials choosing to stay in Games accommodations are expected to undergo a criminal records review conducted by their Provincial Sport Organization and any other screening processes as required by the Provincial Sport Organization.

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Entry Deadlines
(a) Zone qualification events: Consult with the respective Zone Representatives or Provincial Sport Organization for each sport for local qualification dates and any subsequent deadlines. Zone qualification dates are determined by each sport. See the technical package for each sport for details.

(b) Registration of Games participants (except officials): The BC Summer Games registration deadline of Monday, June 17, 2024 must be strictly adhered to. Information about the BC Games Online Participant Registration process will be sent to the Zone Representative for each sport (or the Provincial Advisor if a Zone Representative is not listed) approximately six months prior to the Games. The BC Games Online Participant Registration process must be used by each sport to provide the names, contact information, etc. of all athletes, head coaches, assistant coaches, adult supervisors, and substitutes from each zone. The Zone Representative should ensure the BC Games Online Participant Registration process is completed immediately after the zone qualification event(s) and should not wait until the June 17, 2024 to complete this process. The BC Games Society will send information, including a link to the Guide to the Games and other information regarding transportation, accommodation, accreditation, ceremonies, etc. directly to each registered participant within ten days of the registration deadline.

(c) Registration of Officials: Each Provincial Advisor will be sent information about the BC Games Online Participant Registration process so that they may register the predetermined number of officials for their sport by June 17, 2024. Officials registered after this date will not be entitled to stay in Games accommodation or travel on Games transportation to/from the Games and will be required to make their own travel and accommodation arrangements, at their own expense.

(d) Participant Accreditation: The Participant Accreditation process will be determined by the Host Society and the BC Games Society. Individuals should check in at their designated Participant Accreditation site as soon as they arrive in Maple Ridge. No one will be permitted to obtain another participant's accreditation information. All participants in the BC Summer Games must personally check-in by 10:00 pm on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. No one will be accredited to participate in the BC Summer Games after that time. Further details on Participant Accreditation process will be posted closer to the Games.

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Substitutions
(a) Athletes and Substitutes: The athletes and substitutes in each sport must be registered via the BC Games Online Participant Registration process by the registration deadline. Replacing a registered athlete with a registered substitute may be made no later than Thursday, July 11, 2024 (one week before the Games) only if the substitute was registered as a substitute via the BC Games Online Participant Registration process by the deadline of Monday, June 17, 2024. Under no circumstances will an athlete be permitted to substitute if their name does not appear as a properly registered substitute on reports from the BC Games Online Participant Registration database.

(b) Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Adult Supervisors, and Officials:  Upon accreditation in the host community, head coaches, assistant coaches, adult supervisors, and officials may be substituted by individuals regardless if the substitute was previously registered or not.  The total number of head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors cannot exceed the total number of coaches allocated for the sport in the technical package.  Note every zone must have a head coach and at least one assistant coach.  Any other adults registered with a zone team that do not have coaching education certification are registered as "adult supervisors".  The number of registered officials may not exceed the number stated in the technical package for each sport.   Click here to see the technical package for each sport.

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Replacement Teams and Wildcard System
Click here for information about the Replacement Team Policy (for team sports) and the Wildcard Policy (for individual sports).

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Registration Fee
The BC Games Society will assess a registration fee of $175.00 (inclusive of taxes) for each athlete for participation in the BC Games. Provincial Sport Organizations may charge additional fees for qualifications, training, uniforms, etc. The BC Games registration fee is waived for head coaches, assistant coaches, adult supervisors, and officials. The payment of registration fees to the BC Games Society is made by the Provincial Sport Organization for all athletes in attendance at the Games for their sport, within 30 days of the Games. It is the responsibility of the PSO to collect registration fees from athletes. Some sports asses additional fees to cover qualification events, training, uniforms, etc. Discuss with the Zone Representative or contact the Provincial Sport Organization for details about their sport-specific fees.

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Transportation to/from the Games
Chartered bus and/or air travel will be arranged for Games participants who have chosen BC Games transportation, from predetermined zone pick-up points for arrival in Maple Ridge on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Charter bus and/or air transportation will depart from Maple Ridge in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Consumption of alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco (including vaping) are NOT permitted on BC Games transportation. Bus drivers have the authority to remove any passengers from BC Games transportation who do not comply with these regulations.

The time and location of departures will be sent to all participants within 10 days of the registration deadline. No cash equivalents will be issued for those who choose to make their own way to/from the Games.

Athletes with a disability should contact their Provincial Advisor for information about their travel options prior to the registration deadline.

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Team Travel
To ensure the safety and supervision of BC Games athletes during travel to and from the BC Games, zone teams must travel together on Games transportation (buses/flights) departing from, and returning to, central pick-up locations. This ensures that every athlete is supervised by an accredited adult (head coach, assistant coach, or adult supervisor) from the time they board a bus/flight until the time they arrive at their destination (the Games or the drop-off location after the Games).

The Zone Representative chooses BC Games Society Staff will allocate a central pick-up/drop-off location(s) for the zone team based on where the majority of participants live. A minimum of one of the accredited adults with the zone team must leave from and return to the selected location(s) with their athletes. The maximum number of pick-up/drop-off locations is based on the number of adults (head coach, assistant coach, or adult supervisor) associated with the zone team. This ensures that the zone team travels on the same bus(es) or flight(s) and that the athletes have adult supervision throughout the journey. This also ensures that the team arrives at their destination at the same time.

Participants must provide their own transportation to/from the selected pick-up/drop-off locations. The pick-up/drop-off location(s) may not be the closest one to the participants’ homes; however, this ensures the safety and supervision of athletes.

Example: The Thompson-Okanagan (Zone 2) team has athletes and coaches from Kamloops, Penticton, Kelowna, Merritt, and Vernon. There are two adults (head coach and assistant coach) associated with the team; therefore; two central pick-up/drop-off locations are chosen, Kamloops and Kelowna. One of the adults will travel from/to each location. BC Games Staff assigns athletes to travel from/to one of the two chosen locations with one of their coaches, even though there may be Games transportation (with other zone teams or sports) departing from/returning to locations closer to their home.

During the registration process, Zone Representatives will select their zone's team travel pick-up/drop-off location(s) (city) by the registration deadline of June 17, 2024.

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Accommodation
(a) All participants (athletes, coaches, officials, adult supervisors) under 19 years of age are required to stay in BC Games accommodation. All participants under 19 years must be properly supervised in accommodation by one or more of the adults associated with the zone team; therefore, at least one adult of the same gender must stay in Games accommodation.  See roles of head coaches and assistant coaches and adult supervisors.

(b) Participants (athletes, coaches, officials, adult supervisors) 19 years and over have the option of staying in BC Games accommodation or securing alternate accommodation at their own expense unless they are an adult for the zone team required to supervise under aged participants in accommodation or otherwise stated in the technical package for their sport. Participants who elect to provide their own accommodation will be responsible for:

• the cost of alternate accommodation;
• supplying their own breakfasts and dinners; and
• providing their own transportation while at the BC Games.

The accommodation choice of every participant must be indicated when they are registered via the BC Games Online Participant Registration process by the registration deadline. Those choosing BC Games accommodation are expected to stay for the duration of the Games and will be removed from competition if they depart from Games accommodation before the conclusion of the Games. Refer to section (f) below for rules regarding leaving Games accommodation.

(c) Athletes with a disability and their support personnel have the option of staying in BC Games accommodation or securing other accommodation at their own expense as outlined in paragraph (b) above. Athletes with a disability and their support personnel, who choose alternate accommodation at their own expense, will still have access to breakfasts and dinners in the BC Games cafeteria(s) at no cost. Athletes with a disability should contact their Provincial Advisor for information about their accommodation options.

(d) Head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors who accompany teams or individual athletes under 19 years of age are required to stay with them in BC Games accommodation and act in a supervisory capacity. Head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors of teams or individual athletes where all athletes are 19 years of age and over are given an accommodation option as outlined in paragraph (b) above.

(e) Officials who are 19 years and over have the option of staying in BC Games accommodation or securing alternate accommodation at their own expense. If officials choose to stay in alternate accommodation they will be provided with BC Games meals and transportation at the Games. Officials who are under 19 must stay in BC Games accommodation and must have an adult stay with them in a supervisory capacity as outlined in paragraph (b) above.

(f) Leaving Games Accommodation - Any participant who stays in Games accommodation must remain in accommodation for the duration of the Games. Anyone who removes themselves from Games accommodation prior to the completion of the Games (prior to Sunday) will be disqualified from competition and may be subject to additional disciplinary action, this includes coaches. Should participants be finished competition prior to the final day of the Games, they may remove themselves from Games accommodation with the approval of the Provincial Advisor. Any participant removing themselves from Games accommodation is also removing themselves from Games transportation for the travel to their designated drop-off location. This means that they will need to make their own transportation arrangements for their trip home, at their own expense. Participants are permitted to permanently leave Games accommodation if, and only if, they (or a parent/guardian or the team coach, if under the age of 19) AND the Provincial Advisor signs and submits the required form.

Note: Some sports may require all participants to take BC Games transportation and/or stay in BC Games accommodation. Refer to the technical package for each sport.

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Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Adult Supervisors
Every zone with athletes attending the Games must have a head coach and at least one assistant coach (sports with a disability must have one head coach and at least one assistant coach for the sport).  Any additional adults associated with the team (or sport, for sports with a disability) are registered as assistant coaches if they have completed the NCCP Competition Introduction equivalent for their sport, or as adult supervisors if they have not.  All head coaches must be NCCP Competition Introduction certified (or the equivalent) unless otherwise specified in the technical package for each sport.  All assistant coaches must be Competition Introduction trained (or the equivalent) unless otherwise specified in the technical package for each sport. To assist Provincial Sport Organizations in meeting coach certification requirements, the BC Games Society has implemented a Head Coach Exemption Process which permits sports to submit an exemption application on a zone-by-zone basis.  Exemption applications are due March 2, 2023, one week before the registration deadline.  Review the policy for more details. The application form will be provided to Provincial Advisors.

In addition to coaching duties, head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors are expected to travel with their athletes on BC Games transportation, stay with them in BC Games accommodation, and supervise them throughout the Games.  Head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors are expected to act in a supervisory capacity travelling to/from and at the Games with their athletes and to ensure that their athletes adhere to the BC Games General Rules, the technical package for their sport, the BC Games Code of Conduct, and all rules and codes of conduct established by their provincial sport organization.

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Adult Supervisors
Sports are not allocated adult supervisors. This role code is used instead of assistant coach when the individual filling the role of assistant coach is not NCCP Competition Introduction trained (or the equivalent).  Adult supervisors act in a supervisory capacity with the zone team and ARE NOT over and above the allocated number of head coaches and assistant coaches allocated per sport and zone.  In special circumstances additional adult supervisors may be permitted with a zone team but only with the approval of the BC Games Event Manager responsible for sport. Adult supervisors are expected to support the BC Games rules and to supervise athletes on their zone team as noted above.  Refer to the technical package for the respective sport for the maximum number of coaches allocated to each zone team (or the sport).

All adult supervisors are required to complete the Safe Sport Training module prior to attending the Games. Adult supervisors must be a minimum of 19 years of age and must reside in BC Games accommodation with their zone. They are also expected to travel to and from the BC Games with their zone team, if applicable.

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Officials
Transportation to/from the Games, accommodation, and meals will be provided for a predetermined number of officials for each sport as outlined in the technical package.
Officials must be named and registered by the Provincial Advisor by the registration deadline.  In accordance with the BC Games Society policy, no officials will be paid a fee for their officiating services by the BC Games Society or the Host Society.

In general, major officials (referees, umpires, etc.) are registered as officials through the Provincial Advisor and minor officials (scorekeepers, timers, etc.) are registered as volunteers in the host community.

Others sport representatives (such as a Zone Representative or the Provincial Sport Organization President who has been actively involved in the administration and organization of their sport's involvement in the BC Games) may be registered on the list of officials, by the Provincial Advisor, as long as the maximum number of officials allocated for the sport is not exceeded. The Provincial Advisor must ensure that the officials (referees, umpires, etc.) needed for sport competition have been appointed before naming any other individuals.

Refer to the technical package for the sport for the maximum number of officials allocated.

Individuals registered as officials who are under 19 are required to stay in Games accommodation and are required to have an adult stay with them in a supervisory capacity.

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Medals Rule
Gold, silver, and bronze medals specially cast for each BC Summer and BC Winter Games are awarded at the Games.  Medals are awarded to each athlete having competed and placed in a designated medal event. The Medals Rule is based on the principal that there must be competition to award medals and that the medal rule must be applied equally across all sports in the Games. Head coaches, assistant coaches, and adult supervisors are not awarded medals.

Medals are presented in all sports and all events based on the following rule scenarios:

• If only one competitor, no medal is presented
• If two competitors, gold and silver medals are presented
• If three or more competitors, gold, silver, and bronze medals are presented

Medals at the BC Summer and BC Winter Games are presented in the following order:

• Bronze Medal Third Place
• Silver Medal Second Place
• Gold Medal First Place

Only BC Games medals are permitted to be awarded at the BC Games unless pre-approved by the BC Games Event Manager responsible for sport and outlined in the technical package for each sport.

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Uniforms and Equipment

(a) Uniforms: Uniforms are the responsibility of each individual or team.  All athletes must be properly attired for their sport competition in accordance with their sport's rules. There are restrictions on sponsor logos that can be included on uniforms, clothing, pinnies, bags, etc. worn at the BC Games. There are also policies on when and how the BC Games logo and zone information may be used on these items.  Refer to the Logo Use and Recognition policy and the Graphic Standards for Participants manual for details.  Pre-approval is required on items - contact the BC Games Society.

(b) Equipment: All equipment used during the BC Games must meet the specifications of the governing Provincial Sport Organization. Individuals and/or teams must supply their own practice balls and/or equipment.

(c) Medical Equipment: Each individual or team is to supply their own basic training supplies such as tape, elastic wraps, etc. There will be fully qualified first-aid personnel at each sport location to treat any injuries sustained during competition.

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Zone Colours

Colours have been established for each zone for purposes of identification.  While these colours are not compulsory for uniforms; however, sports are encouraged to incorporate their zone colour in some manner to help identify their competitors. Click here for zone descriptors and refer to the Graphic Standards for Participants manual for zone colour information.

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Medical Treatment

The BC Games Society has implemented a Medical Protocol for the Removal of Injured Athletes from Competition.

Head coaches, assistant coaches, adult supervisors, family members, and athletes should also note that BC Games Medical volunteers assigned to each sport venue, in conjunction with the Medical Clinic physicians, are responsible for the treatment of all Games participants. Medical volunteers will be at every sport venue during scheduled practice and competition times and are always the first-responders to injuries. This is the case even if a zone team travels with medical personnel, a trainer, or qualified first aid attendant.