Return to Play 2020

Support Guidelines Teams / Leagues

COVID-19 And Amateur Sports

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. While the risk of serious illness or loss of life is greatest in those 65 years of age or older with pre-existing health conditions, persons in every age group can become infected with COVID-19 and some may become seriously ill or even die.

With rare exceptions, COVID-19 is not claiming the lives of our children. However, a child with a mild or even asymptomatic case of COVID-19 can spread that infection to others who may be far more vulnerable.

COVID-19 is spread from person to person through contact that is close enough to share droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, speaking, and even just breathing. COVID-19 can also be spread by touching objects where contaminated droplets have landed followed by touching of mouth, nose, or eyes. Due to this easy manner of transmission, an infant, child, young person, or adult who is infected with COVID-19 can spread the infection to others they come in close contact with, such as members of their household, coaches and players. Infected persons with mild or even no symptoms can spread COVID-19.

Due to these risks, Webster Lacrosse Club is adopting and implementing return to play protective guidelines listed below to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 transmission. Many of these guidelines have been adjusted for youth in sporting activities and a result are not as strict as what could be applied for adults in other social and business settings.

Parents should monitor the health of their children and not send them to participate in sports events if they exhibit any symptom of COVID-19. Adult participants should do the same. They should seek COVID-19 testing promptly and report results to team staff and sports organization officials given the implications for other participants, families, and staff.  Parents of minor participants and adult participants should protect any vulnerable persons in the same household with whom they come into frequent, close contact. They should also be aware of the enhanced risks for those age 65 or over and/or with compromised immune systems for 14 days after such frequent, close contact.

The following are minimum guidelines to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks for players, staff (team and league), parents/guardians, and spectators. The use of the term “event” applies to all practices, games, tournaments, and other approved activities.

• Webster Lacrosse Club COVID-19 Coordinator:  Mr. Carl Provenzano shall serve as coordinator to oversee all aspects of the COVID-19 risk management plan including customization, implementation, monitoring, updates/changes, communications, staff training, regulatory compliance, documentation, and answering staff, player, parent/guardian and spectator questions about COVID-19 concerns.
• State and Local COVID-19 Guidelines: In addition to these minimum guidelines, Webster Lacrosse Club will follow all state and local guidelines as regards COVID-19 and youth sports including but not limited to start dates and limitations on crowd sizes.

• Waiver / Release:
  • A separate standalone waiver/release with COVID-19 language form is required to be signed by all parents/guardians and players prior to participation. This waiver is part of all Webster Lacrosse Club online program registrations. All players must complete program registration prior to participation. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  • An Adult Waiver/Release with COVID-19 language will also be required signed prior to participation by all league staff coaches and team staff who are volunteers. All coaches, directors and volunteers.  All volunteers must complete program registration prior to participation. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Participant Screening: Complete a pre-event observation and questionnaire. THE SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO EACH WEBSTER LACROSE CLUB TRAINING EVENT / PRACTICE AND CAN ONLY BE COMPLETED ONLINE.

THE SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE CAN BE FOUND ON THE WLC WEBSITE IN THE TAB ACROSS THE TOP "REQUIRED PRE-PRACTICE CHECKLIST", UNDER THE VERTICAL TAB “REGISTER ONLINE", “ONLINE FORMS” & THE LINK BELOW.

PARTICIPANT SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE LINK> https://www.leagueathletics.com/UserForm.asp?RegID=162861&n=&org=websterlacrosseclub.org

Prior to each event the online screening questionnaire is required by ALL spectators, players and volunteers of any kind regarding the existence of any COVID-19 symptoms including but not limited to a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or known close contact with person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19. This is not a list of all possible symptoms, other less commons symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

• If COVID Symptoms Exhibited: If a staff member, player, parent/guardian, or spectator exhibits symptoms during an event, they should immediately be separated and sent home or to a health care facility depending on the severity of the symptoms. They should not be allowed to return to activity until they have met the CDC criteria for discontinuing home isolation.
• Notification: Notify local health officials, staff, and family members immediately of any lab confirmed case of COVID-19 while complying with local and state privacy/ confidentiality laws as well as with HIPAA and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
• Signage: COVID-19 warning signage will be conspicuously posted at field, box field and WLC Shed entry/ exit warning of COVID-19 risks and what steps can be taken to reduce such risks such as social distancing, use of face coverings, frequent hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer, and enhanced risks to those with underlying conditions and over the age of 65.
• Distribution: This document should be emailed to all staff, players (if appropriate), and parents/guardians prior to participation in the first event. In addition, this document will be posted on the Webster Lacrosse Club website and any applicable social media sites.
• Spread Out Scheduling Of Practice And Games: There will be scheduled time between practices and games to allow one group to vacate the premises before the next group enters as well as for proper sanitation of surfaces and other equipment.
• Groupings On Fields: Programs must separate participants into groups of no more than 25, including coaches and staff. Larger playing areas may be used by more than one group of 25 at one time, provided that adequate social distance and group separation can be maintained. To ensure group separation, groups must be spaced at least 20 feet apart while sharing a playing surface or field.
• Stay Home When Appropriate: Players, staff, parents/guardians, and spectators should stay home (or the hotel if at a tournament) when they are showing signs of COVID-19, have a temperature, or have had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
• Social Distancing: All staff, players, parents/guardians and spectators not of the same household should practice social distancing of 6 ft. whenever possible.
• No Congregation: Staff, players, parents/guardians, and spectators should not congregate prior to the event and should stay in cars until right before warmups and should avoid other groups that are leaving the prior event. Team staff, players, parents/guardians, and spectators should quickly exit after the event and go directly to their cars without congregating with other teams or spectators in common areas.
• Team Check In Process: Team staff and players should continue social distancing during the team check in process for competitions. There should be a single point of contact for teams during events. ALL participants will be required to check in prior to any event. A parent or guardian must be present during the check in process. 
• Pre-Game Warm Ups: During pre-game, players and staff should maintain the 6 ft. distance if possible during warm ups and drills and should only have close contact during actual competition.
• Staff/Volunteer Face Coverings: Staff/Volunteers are REQUIRED to wear face covering whenever within 6 ft. of another player, staff member, or parent.
• Player Face Coverings: Players are encouraged to wear face coverings in close contact areas and situations where applicable. Players are allowed to wear face coverings in competition should they choose to do so and long as they don’t compromise their safety.
• Spectators: Spectator limit. No more than two spectators (including children) per player is allowed for K-6. No spectators will be allowed for any scholastic events.
• Parent / Spectator Face Coverings: Parents and spectators are encouraged to wear face coverings whenever they are at the facility and within 6 ft. of a person not of the same household.
• Personal Hygiene:  Staff, players, parents/guardians, and spectators should practice proper hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), abstain from touching their face (mouth, nose or eyes), refrain from spitting, and cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw tissue in the trash. In addition as a back up, players and staff are required to carry their own hand sanitizer.
• Player Equipment: Player provided equipment should be kept in a bag and should be spaced 6 feet apart to encourage social distancing. Players should bring their own disinfectant wipes to wipe down their own equipment between use.
• Shared Equipment: The use of team provided equipment should be limited to the greatest extent possible and should be disinfected between each use if possible. Balls should be disinfected whenever possible and an adequate supply should be kept on hand.
• Water Bottles: No team coolers are allowed. Parents/guardians should provide separate marked water bottles or sports drink for their child.
• No Contact: No Handshake Policy: A strict no contact policy will be observed for customary game-related activities such as pre-game coaches’ handshakes, coach-player introductions, and post-game handshakes between members of opposing teams. Instead, officials, players, and coaches should use verbal queues such as saying “good game”, without shaking hands, high-fiving, or fist-bumping.
• Facility Modification: Facility entrances and exits should be set up at separate locations whenever possible. Discontinue the use of physical posting of brackets, rules, etc. and instead post online.
• Hand Sanitizer Stations: Webster Lacrosse Club will provide hand washing and/or hand sanitizer stations at field, box/shed locations.
• Facility Sanitation: The Webster Lacrosse Club will regularly clean and sanitize all common areas including seating, door/gate handles, concession stands and similar areas between games and activities. Webster Lacrosse Club will provide cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer near all player seating areas. See CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facility including what cleaning products to use and steps for safe disinfectant use.
• Before The Game: Team staff will sanitize all areas required to be sanitized.
• After The Game: After the completion of the game, the team staff should remove and dispose of all trash.

IMPORTANT RESOURCE LINKS-

NYS -INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION DURING THE COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY – As of 6/18/20

https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SportsAndRecreationMasterGuidance.pdf 

US LACROSSE RETURN TO PLAY GUIDE – https://www.uslacrosse.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/safety/return-to-play-final-1.pdf

 CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html

ASPEN INSTITUTE PROJECT PLAY RETURN TO PLAY Covid-19 Risk Assessment Tool – https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/return-to-play