COVID-19 Resources/protocols
Source: https://www.utahyouthsoccer.net/covid-updates-and-policies
We are hopeful that we are near the end of this pandemic, but we do not want to prematurely risk anyone’s health in our soccer community.
COVID Procedures - Updated 8.23.21
Emphasis: Minimize the number of individuals with “Close Contact Exposure” to other players, coaches and spectators.
A “close contact exposure” means a person was closer than 6 feet or 2 meters (about 2 arm- lengths) from someone who tested positive for COVID-19 for 15 minutes or longer. Key point, the person who tested positive was un-masked during this exposure period.
Coach Responsibilities:
• Unvaccinated coaches are asked to wear masks during training sessions and matches
• Limit equipment brought to games, disinfecting all equipment before / after use
• Do not allow players to share pennies, other equipment, or water bottles
• Report confirmed cases of COVID-19 to member organization and COVID Manager immediately
• Players may voluntarily wear masks pre and post practice / game and while on the bench
• Provide hand sanitizer at trainings and matches
• Require parents to confirm their child is symptom free before attending training / game by answering three questions:
1. Do you have a temperature at ≥ 38°C (100.4°F)
2. Are you currently experiencing any symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, lost sense of smell or taste, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, headache, dizziness, sore throat, pressure behind the eyes?
3. Do you have anyone in your household that has tested positive for COVID19, or exhibited a fever, cough, or shortness of breath?
Team Manager / COVID Manager Responsibilities:
• Monitor social distancing on sidelines by spectators
• Monitor congregating of parents at the fields or in the parking lot pregame, halftime, or postgame
• Send out communication (text/email) to parents prior to games reminding them of social distancing and congregation guidelines
• Communicate with UYSA in the event of a positive COVID test for a player, coach and/or spectator to allow for a determination of whether others were “close contact exposed.”
*If your team doesn’t have a team manager or a COVID manager either the head coach or an assistant coach must assume the COVID manager responsibilities.
Spectator Responsibilities:
• Abide by social distancing policy of 6ft away from other spectators outside of your household
• No congregating on sidelines or in parking lot before, during, or after matches
• Sit a minimum of 10ft off sideline
• Under no circumstances can a parent approach or be in the designated team area
• Unvaccinated are asked to wear masks while sitting on a sidelines if possible
• Unvaccinated are asked to wear masks when interacting with other spectators, coaches, referees, or other players within a radius of 6ft
• Stay home if you have any signs or symptoms of being sick
• If you are a person of high risk, do not attend
• Symptom check their players before arriving at field
• Avoid contact with any players or spectators outside of your households
Player Responsibilities:
• Unvaccinated are asked to wear a mask to and from the field for all soccer activities
• Unvaccinated are asked to wear a mask on the bench during matches and scrimmages
• Communicate to COVID officer if you are experiencing any symptoms
• Do not attend a match, practice, scrimmage, etc. if you are sick
• Limit carpooling to training and matches
• Limit physical contact with coaches and players – high fives, fist bumps, hugs, etc.
• Use hand sanitizer after being subbed off the field, at halftime, and postgame
• Social distance from other players before and after soccer activities
Positive COVID Test Protocol:
Player:
• Player is immediately removed from all team activities
• Any other player(s) with close contact exposure need to be removed from all team activities
• Team can continue soccer activities
• Closely monitor symptoms of all players over the next 10 days
Coach:
• Coach is immediately removed from all team activities
• Any other players/coaches with close contact exposure need to be removed from all team activities
• Team can continue soccer activities • Assistant coach, club TD, or DOC will resume coaching responsibilities until head coach returns
• Closely monitor symptoms of all players/coaches over the next 10 days
Parent/Family Member:
• Player is immediately removed from all team activities
• Any other player(s) with close contact exposure need to be removed from all team activities
• Team can continue soccer activities • Closely monitor symptoms of all players over the next 10 days
Return-to-Play Guidelines: (All three must be met)
Players and coaches with a positive test
• Mandatory 10-day quarantine period
• Symptom free for 72hrs
• No fever for 24hrs (without fever reducing medication)
In addition, UYSA recommends the following whenever possible:
• A negative test result • A letter from the local health department clearing the player/coach to return
• Visit to pediatrician for players who have preexisting health conditions
Players and coaches with “Close Contact Exposure”
• Mandatory 10-day quarantine period
• Symptom free for 72hrs
• No fever for 24hrs (without fever reducing medication)
Past covid-19 emails/updates/protocols
Please use our GOOGLE FORM to report
Any player or coach who has reported symptoms of COVID-19,
Any player or coach who has tested positive for COVID-19, or
Any player or coach who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Answers will be used for tracking purposes and to provide you with further instructions of any actions that need to be taken in the event of a positive test result.
What does close contact mean?
Close contact means being within 6 feet (2 meters) of someone who has COVID-19 for 10 minutes or longer. Close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a waiting room with someone who has COVID-19. Close contact also means having direct contact with infectious secretions of someone who has COVID-19, such as being coughed on.
UYSA’s letter Dated May 7th, 2020- Return to modified training’s
With today’s addendum (version 4.1) of Governor Herbert’s Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, we are extremely excited to announce that we have received clearance from the Utah Department of Health to begin modified small group trainings effective immediately.
While getting our players and coaches back on the field is a massive step in the right direction, it’s imperative that we do so following the strict guidelines that have been assigned to us. When we spoke with Richard Saunders yesterday (Chief Deputy – Utah Department of Health), he made it very clear that failing to comply will result in loss of privileges and set us back significantly – perhaps months.
Attached you will find a document that was submitted and approved by the Utah Department of Health that clearly outlines a return-to-play strategy for all Utah Youth Soccer Association members. Please read the attached guidelines/restrictions very carefully. It highlights the following:
· What skill development activities are safe during training sessions
· Restrictions in place for all training sessions
- (multiple teams are permitted to utilize the same complex at the same time, but maintain the social distancing guidelines)
· Member Organization expectations and requirements to return-to-play
· Coach expectations and requirements to return -to-play
While we are ecstatic to see kids returning to the pitch in this capacity, we stand firm on our commitment to the health and safety of our players. Just as we’ve made every decision throughout the last two months, at no point going forward will the well-being of our youth players be compromised. We will continue to work with the Utah Department of Health to bring soccer safely into the new normal that awaits us outside of this pandemic.
As a state association, we can put these guidelines in place for us to return to the field but it’s up to you as leaders in the soccer community to oversee that they are being strictly implemented by your coaches, players, and parents. PLEASE do not let your club be the one that ruins it for thousands of youth players. We will be under a microscope and watched closely by the community as we implement these changes.
We understand that there is a long way to go to return to true “normalcy”, but leadership at UYSA sees today’s announcement as a breakthrough in what has been two months of around the clock work, conversations, strategizing, information gathering and combing through every possible scenario we faced, in order to return to play. We are excited for our membership to take this first step.
This communication will also be sent to all parents later tonight.
If you have any questions about this communication or what is permitted at training’s during this phase, please don't hesitate to reach out to us through email or by calling the office at 801.307.5150.
Please look forward to additional communication regarding tryouts, alignment and an email regarding refunds to our membership.
Cindy Baron
League Commissioner
Utah Youth Soccer Association