Spurs FC

Updated Policies and Procedures in Response to State of California Department of Public Health Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports Guidelines

Spurs FC Youth Soccer Club

Updated: February 28, 2021

Spurs FC Procedures

As informed by the State of California's Guidelines released on 02/19/2021

These procedures are being implemented for all in-person training sessions and practices as permitted by the State of California and Alameda County. These protocols has been shared with Club staff, coaches, parents, and players to ensure its effective implementation. Spurs FC staff and coaches will receive instruction regarding the protocol prior to the commencement and continuation of in-person training sessions. These procedures are to act in conjunction with the released Updated Protocol for In Person Training Sessions and Practices to Prevent Coronavirus Transmission released and shared by the Club in January. These procedures pertain to resuming contact play.

The status of return-to-competition is subject to change at any time given the level of COVID-19 transmission in California. In-person training is voluntary. Training sessions will be one hour to 90 minutes long; continuing regular training durations. This may be amended at the discretion of the head coach, age group director, assistant coaching director, or coaching director as the see fit. No spectators will be allowed inside any training facilities. Parents/Guardians will be asked to remain outside of the facility and maintain social distancing with proper face coverings at all times. Pod/cohort sizes will increase to include all rostered & registered players per team and coaching staff. Coaching staff will remain at minimum, 6 feet socially distanced from players. Spurs FC will begin returning to contact play in stages and for the time period of a minimum of three (3) weeks as described below: 1. Return to contact play within the Club 2. Contact play inter-team as identified by the State of California's guidelines: Inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events are permitted to occur only if (a) both teams are located in the same county and the sport is authorized; or (b) teams are located in immediately bordering counties. These stages and time lengths have been identified in order to allow for proper monitoring of potential outbreaks and contact tracing as well as to mitigate player injury. This may be amended at the discretion of the head coach, age group director, assistant coaching director, or coaching director as the see fit. Spurs FC will continue to require facemasks to be worn during training and games for coaches, staff, players, etc. No sharing of drink bottles and other personal items and equipment. Players will be required to wear shin guards with socks covering them. Any other protective gear is encouraged to promote player comfort and safety (i.e. heading headbands Teams will not participate in out-of-state games and tournaments.

Beginning Monday, March 1st, 2021

Pods/Cohorts will be increased to full teams.

1. Do coaches and players have to wear masks during training? Yes. Face coverings worn by participants (players) during practice, conditioning and during competition, even during heavy exertion as tolerated. Face coverings to be worn by coaches, support staff and observers at all times.

2. Can we use all/any equipment? Can players/coaches use their hands? Yes. When equipment is shared during an activity, participants must perform hand hygiene (wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before play, during breaks, at half time, and after the conclusion of the activity. Balls, cones, pinnies, or other objects or equipment can be touched by multiple players during practice and play if the above hand hygiene practices are strictly followed. All shared equipment must be properly sanitized before every use.

3. Can coaches be in multiple pods/cohorts? Do we still have pods or can we train as a big group? Pods are expanded to include full rosters. There is no pod limit size. Player movement will be allowed between pods on a 2 week cycle. Coaches will have no more than 3 pods each.

4. Who can we play against? Inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events are permitted to occur only if (a) both teams are located in the same county and the sport is authorized; or (b) teams are located in immediately bordering counties.

5. Do players and coaches have to get COVID-19 tested weekly? No. Based on Cal North, NorCal, and our understanding of the State's guidelines testing will not be required.

State of California: Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports

Guidelines: The guidelines outlined in this document shall take effect on February 26, 2021.

The guidance applies to all organized youth sports and recreation- including school- and community-sponsored programs, and privately-organized clubs and leagues - and adult recreational sports (hereafter youth and adult sports

Youth and adult sports are classified below by their level of contact and transmission risk. This classification applies to competition or training/practice with others. It does not apply to individual conditioning or exercise.

General Requirements for All Sports:

Irrespective of setting (outdoor or indoor) case rate or sport played, the following general guidance requirements must be adhered to at all times: Face coverings to be worn when not participating in the activity (e.g., on the sidelines Face coverings to be worn by coaches, support staff and observers at all times, and in compliance with the CDPH Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings. Observers maintain at least 6 feet social distance from non-household members. No sharing of drink bottles and other personal items and equipment. Mixing with other households prior to and post any practice or competition must strictly adhere to current gathering guidance. Teams must not participate in out-of-state games and tournaments; several multistate outbreaks have been reported around the nation, including California residents.

Limitations for Inter-Team Competitions and Tournaments

Inter-team competitions is identified by the State of California as "between two teams" Inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events are permitted to occur only if (a) both teams are located in the same county and the sport is authorized; or (b) teams are located in immediately bordering counties No tournaments or events that involve more than two teams to occur. Only one competition, per team, per day maximum to be played.

Face coverings to be worn when not participating in the activity (e.g., on the sidelines Face coverings to be worn by coaches, support staff and observers at all times.

Maintain at least six feet of distance between sport participants and others to the maximum extent possible, including when on the sidelines. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between coaches and participants and facilitate physical distancing between participants to the maximum extent possible (e.g., staggered starts instead of mass starts for races

Due to the nature and risk of transmission while participating in Outdoor High-Contact and Moderate-Contact sports, provide information regarding risk to all parents/guardians of minors participating in such sports, and have each parent sign an informed consent indicating their understanding and acknowledgement of the risks indicated herein. Factors Affecting the Risk of Transmission Risk increases when face coverings are not worn, and physical distancing is not maintained.

Risk increases with increasing levels of contact between participants; closer contact (particularly face-to-face contact), and the frequency and total duration of close contact, increases the risk that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants. Risk increases with greater exertion levels; greater exertion increases the rate of breathing and the quantity of air that is inhaled and exhaled with every breath. Risk increases with mixing of cohorts and groups, particularly when from different communities (during or outside of sports play); mixing with more people increases the risk that an infectious person will be present.

Hygiene and Equipment Sanitation

When equipment is shared during an activity, participants perform hand hygiene (wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) before play, during breaks, at half time, and after the conclusion of the activity. Balls or other objects or equipment can be touched by multiple players during practice and play if the above hand hygiene practices are followed.

 

Returning to Sports After Infection

No one with symptoms of COVID-19 or who is in isolation or quarantine for COVID-19 is permitted to attend practices or competitions. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should consult their physician for testing and notify their coach, athletic trainer and/or school administrator of their symptoms and test results. Youths recovering from COVID-19 will have different paths to return to sports based on the severity of their illness.

Moderate Tier (Orange): Outdoor high contact sports

• Ice hockey
• Lacrosse (boys/men)
• Rugby
• Rowing/crew (with 2 or more people)
• Soccer

Play in Less Restrictive Tiers: Outdoor High-Contact Sports

Outdoor high-contact sports (orange tier) can be played in the purple or red tier with an adjusted case rate equal to or less than 14 per 100,000 under the following conditions:

Implement and strictly adhere to the following additional general guidance:

Additional general guidance that should be implemented to the greatest extent possible and are strongly encouraged Face Coverings (during play) Physical Distancing (during play) Hygiene and Sanitation Limitations on mixing by participants Travel Considerations

COVID-19 Testing Guidance via the American Academy of Pediatrics COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports via the American Academy of Pediatrics Alameda County's adjusted case rate is 9.5 as of 02/26/2021 ittps://covid-19.acgov.org/data.page State of California: Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports Guidelines Alameda County: Weekly Update (including Youth Sports)

Parental Consent for Child to Participate in Youth Soccer Competition

Name of Club: Spurs FC

According to the guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health on February 19, 2021 ("Guidelines"), youth may begin returning to team soccer competition provided the conditions set forth in the Guidelines are satisfied. One of the conditions required under the Guidelines is that each child's parent or legal guardian signs an informed consent indicating the parent or legal guardian understands and acknowledges the risks of the youth returning to competition. Execution of this informed consent ("Consent") satisfies that condition.

As stated in the Guidelines, COVID-19 continues to pose a severe risk to communities and requires all people in California follow recommended precautions. In addition, general information regarding COVID-19 and recommended precautions that everyone should take can be found on the CDC website. The Guidelines set forth the specific risks related to COVID-19 that youths face in returning to organizing sporting competition.

In signing below, you are indicating you have been provided access to the Guidelines and understand the risks to your child, you and your family associated with your child's return to competitive athletic competition as set forth in the Guidelines. Specifically, you understand that, with your child's return to soccer practice and competition, there is a risk of contracting COVID-19 and this risk increases when face coverings are not worn and physical distancing is not maintained. Further, this risk increases with greater exertion levels and when mixing cohorts and groups, particularly when from different communities.

In signing below you also agree to comply with the Guidelines and such other applicable federal, state, local, Club and NorCal Premier Soccer laws, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines.

I have read and understood the Guidelines and have had the opportunity to ask questions of my Club with respect to my child's return to competition. I understand that my child's participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw my child at any time.