| Covid-19 Practice Protocol |
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| 1) Prior to attending any team training event or practices, each player and coach will check his or her temperature at home, and refrain from participation if he or she has a fever (≥100.4 degrees F). Absence due to illness needs to be reported to club DOC. |
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| 2) Arrival of players should be no more than 15 minutes prior to scheduled training time. |
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| 3) Upon arrival to any team training event or practice, coaches will ask each player: |
| Have you had any close contact with a sick individual or anyone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days? |
| Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days? |
| Are you currently suffering from or demonstrating any symptoms such as cough, fever, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, new loss of taste of smell, diarrhea, congestion or runny nose? |
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| Any player answering “yes” to a question or demonstrating symptoms of illness at any point should be removed from practice and should seek guidance from his or her physician before attempting to return to training. Players with confirmed COVID-19 cases need to be quarantined 10 days. The 10 day period begins when the symptoms first occurred. Player needs to be fever free and symptom free upon return. |
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| If someone comes into contact with an infected person, they must Self-quarantine for 14 days from the day they came into contact. For example, a player has a parent who has a confirmed case, but they are not experiencing symptoms. |
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| In the event a head coach tests positive for COVID-19, the assistant coach should fill in for the 10 day period. Coaches may also team up with another RFC coach as a back-up in case an assistant is unavailable. |
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| 4) Upon arrival, during training as much as possible, during breaks, and after training, players should maintain physical distancing guidelines (6 feet apart) avoiding physical contact with each other, including celebrations, handshakes, high-fives, team huddles, etc. Players should also place bags, water bottles, and equipment 6 feet apart from others. |
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| Team discussions should be conducted with proper social distancing in mind between players, and coach. |
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| 5) Practices are closed for parents/spectators |
| Must stay away from the field, outside of fences, and maintain at least 6 feet between other parents/individuals in attendance. Ideally, parents will remain in cars to reduce the risk of disease transmission. |
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| 6) Inter-Club Scrimmages are limited to one parent per player in attendance to help aid social distancing. |
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| 7) In the event of an injury, staff may assess and facilitate management of the injured individual in accordance with proper first aid management. Family members may participate in injury management and come into the training area as necessary, other players should maintain proper social distance. |
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| 8) Equipment |
| Players should bring their own equipment (ball, hand sanitizer, water --bottle, towels, etc.) such that minimal equipment is shared between players. Players and coaches may contact another individual’s soccer ball with their feet but should not contact it with their hands (Except at Goal Keeper Training) |
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| Training vests can be used but should be washed before and after each use. Do not share the same training vests between players. We recommend having a separate bag for clean and dirty vests especially with coaches who have multiple teams. |
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| Equipment used by staff (cones, for example) should not be handled by players or other attendees and should be disinfected after use. |
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| 9) Restrooms will be cleaned regularly to reduce risk of transmission. Hand sanitizer and/or soap will be available and should be used immediately before and after restroom use. |
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| 10) Crowd size |
| Training of any group size can be conducted with no restrictions on training activities. Contact between players may occur during play. Coaches can integrate into training environments for instruction purposes but should not be in contact with players. |
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| Multiple groups can train simultaneously within the same single location as long as social distancing guidelines and group size restrictions are met. It is recommended all coaches wear a mask. |
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| 11) Hydration Reminders |
| As temperatures go up so does the risk of dehydration. It is important for all athletes to begin each exercise session well-hydrated. Hydration should consist of water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes. |
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| Coaches should give players a hydration break at least every 15 minutes. Please make sure to remind players to hydrate right after the session. |
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| This is stage 1 of our return to play this fall. These guidelines are subject to change due to the fluidity of this pandemic. The guidelines could become more rigorous or more lenient as we move forward. |