COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR SPRING SEASON 2021 (updated 4/22/21)
Throughout the duration of the soccer season, Red Wing Soccer Club will follow the guidance published by the Minnesota Department of Health which outlines requirements and prevention strategies necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during sports activities.
COVID-19 Organized Sports Practice and Games Guidance for Youth and Adults Coaches, administrators, players and parents should have an understanding of this guidance and how it might affect or alter their experience. The guidance is here to mitigate transmission of the virus while allowing youth players to reap the benefits of participating in a competitive soccer event.
FACE COVERINGS
Face Coverings Per MDH guidelines, face coverings must be worn by all people (coaches, spectators, managers) during practices and games. Players DO NOT have to wear masks while actively playing or practicing soccer but DO need to wear masks on the bench. Please read the MDH guidelines referenced above for the list of exceptions.
For more information, please read Face Coverings in Organized Sports During COVID-19: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/sportsguide.pdf
MYSA and referees will be monitoring the use of face coverings and have the authority to stop a game to enforce the proper use of face coverings. If a team, coach or player is seen to be blatantly ignoring the face covering rule, the offending team is at risk of being assessed a forfeit and individuals are at risk of escalating sanctions.
WEEKLY TESTING RECOMMENDATION
This loosening of the face covering requirement comes with a strong recommendation from MDH to conduct weekly testing. We cannot force anybody to complete testing but wanted to share the information. We will NOT be managing testing for teams.
Effective Monday, April 26, 2021, Minnesota is offering organized sports teams additional testing support and options to order and provide weekly COVID-19 testing to all participants. The Minnesota Department of Health encourages all participants (including athletes, coaches, referees, volunteers, etc.) on a team to participate in weekly testing.
COVID-19 Testing for Minnesota Organized Sports Participants
MDH explained that this testing requirement is part of a larger initiative to curb the spread of COVID-19 in middle and high school aged children. Testing resources are being made available to schools and sports programming across the state and we encourage you to take advantage of these resources. If players are being tested by their schools, that can count towards their recommended weekly testing.
QUARANTINE AND EXPOSURE REQUIREMENTS
In the unfortunate possibility that a participant has had exposure to COVID-19, steps must be taken to determine what quarantine period is necessary for that participant. MYSA will follow the guidelines outlined by MDH: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/contact.pdf
It is important to keep rosters of who was at practices and games so that contact tracing can be done quickly. Participants who are determined to have been exposed are ineligible to participate in practices or games until the appropriate period of quarantine has been completed.
Participants are encouraged to remain safe and vigilant against exposure to minimize their risk of exposure throughout the course of the competition.
If your player or anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 please let the coach and/or manager from your team know IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE do not send your player to practice if there is a possibility that they may need to quarantine. No players will be penalized for missing practices as we work to stop the spread of COVID 19 and keep the season going. If somebody on the team comes to practice and has COVID-19 we will have no choice but to quarantine the entire team.
SPECTATORS
Red Wing Soccer Club strongly encourages only one or two spectators per participant to limit the total number of people at the event. Spectators and participants should leave the premises as soon as possible after their game and are strongly discouraged from remaining at the facility to watch other games.
Spectators are required to wear face coverings. Spectators should remain 6 feet from other spectators if not in their household. Spectators should also remain at least 12 feet from the field to keep an appropriate distance between themselves and any participant. Spectator seating shall not be placed within 12 feet of the field to allow room for players and referees to maintain physical distance.
RESCHEDULING BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE AND QUARANTINE
MYSA is cognizant of the possibility that games may have to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 exposures and the requirement to quarantine. Please understand that there is no guarantee that a game will be rescheduled because of a COVID-19 exposure or quarantine requirement, but we will do our best to have each game played.
Our goal is to allow every team to compete for their spot at the regional events, but we must balance this desire against player safety and logistical considerations. MYSA has final discretion to decide whether games will be rescheduled.
Any questions regarding these policies can be directed to Alison Hanlin, Red Wing Soccer Club President [email protected]