Risk factors and viewpoints are different for everyone. No player should be required to return to play if they and their parents are not comfortable with them doing so.
Players must face covering from the time they arrive at the park until their session begins and the coach directs players to put them away (players should bring a duffle bag or backpack to store their face covering in). At the end of the session, the coach will direct players to put their face coverings back on until the leave the park.
Players with signs of illness, or that have parents with signs of illness, cannot attend practice. Parents and/or players should inform their coach if they are not feeling well. Coaches must immediately separate a player that shows any of the signs below, and (a) contact parents to remove the players as soon as possible, and (b) alert a board member. Parents shall remove the players if requested by the Coach. Parents must alert coaches to players with increased risk of serious illness, such as asthma, diabetes or other known health problems. Coaches must have medical release forms for all players in attendance onsite at each practice.
Signs of illness:
Players should not spit on the field or other surfaces. When coughing or sneezing, playsers must do so into a tissue or inside of elbow.
Our coaches are instructed that they and all players should avoid “high fives,” handshakes, or other types of physical touching. We understand that this may be difficult as players enjoy celebrating with their teammates (or even give them a hug after being apart for so long!), but we must be diligent with our enforcement of this protocol for the health and safety of our players and coaches. Increased use of verbal gestures, or other non-touching physical gestures such as "thumbs-up" or "okay", are recommended.
Players are traditionally asked to assist with setup and collection of training equipment (small goals, marking poles, discs, ball bags, etc). To reduce chance of infection, players are not to touch practice equipment, meaning coaches are required to handle all of the setup, movement and collection and storage of practice equipment.
Players commonly share/trade pinnies/vests in order to distinguish teams during scrimmages and drills. At the end of each practice session, coaches have traditionally collected all pinnies and laundered them at home. To reduce chance of infection, coaches are required to either avoid use of pinnies/vests, or to assign each player their own pinnie/vest for exclusive use by that player, with that player being responsible to bring to each practice session and to launder as needed.
In some of age groups (especially younger age groups) the entire group is commonly brought together to learn a skill or drill, and then smaller groups will disperse to work on it. We are temporarily pausing this method of instruction, and all coaches are directed to ensure that any lines of players maintain appropriate social distancing during drills. Players must respect and adhere to all social distance requests from their coach or other club staff.
Players should bring their own water or sports drink. Players that are not from the same household should not drink from the same beverage container, or bite from the same piece of sports nutrition bar, candy or other food.
Parents should wash and sanitize all their player's equipment and uniform items before and after each training session.
Our coaches are required to wear CDC-recommended appropriate face coverings during training sessions. Players are encouraged and will be allowed to wear face coverings while training, but this will be a personal choice of the player and parents.
We are working in conjunction with all our facilities to make hand sanitizer and/or restrooms available for hand washing whenever possible. Players should bring hand sanitizer for their personal use, not to be shared.
The clubhouse and all outdoor facilities will have restrooms, equipment and other touch points cleaned and disinfected daily before use. The clubhouse and all outdoor facilities should only be used with authorization from the Director of Operations.
To reduce chance of infection, no spectators, such as parents or siblings, will be allowed at the field during practice sessions. Would-be spectators may stay at the facility in their vehicle.