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Miami United FC Academy Return To Play Policies – established May 29, 2020

The staff of Miami United FC Academy, like you, are anxious to return to normal activities as soon as safely and practically possible and within the Governor’s and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance.  As we begin to phase in our return to play, IEP Soccer will be implementing the following return to play protocols while considering the CDC guidelines and guidance provided by local health professionals and infectious disease specialists.  

The information contained in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is provided for general informational purposes only. The knowledge and circumstances surrounding COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, Miami United FC Academy makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the completeness of this information. Further, you should seek advice from medical professionals and/or public health officials if you have specific questions about your return to training and competition.

I. GENERAL GUIDELINES:  The following will be applied regardless of the Return to Play phase:
 
a.     Participation in any group activities is only allowed if you have had no signs or symptoms of Covid-19, no signs or symptoms that may have been Covid-19, have not been exposed to someone who has had signs or symptoms of Covid-19 for a minimum period of 14 days before participation 

b.     If you are sick or feel sick, STAY HOME

c.    At risk individuals, youth or adult, STAY HOME (if you are unsure if you are considered at risk, please consult your medical provider directly) 

d.   All players, parents, and staff will take their temperature prior to departing for the fields.  Anyone with a temperature of 100 or more will not be allowed to participate for a minimum of 14 days 

e.    No one is to share water, towels, or any personal equipment, including but not limited to shin guards, tape, hairbands, jersey/uniform, pinnies or bibs of any kind.  Please note coaches may assign a pinnie/bib to a player to take home and care for OR ask that each player brings/wears their own alternative color shirt
 
f.    No centralized hydration or refreshment stations

g.   Respect for each individual’s choices will be the top priority. If a player wishes to wear a face mask this will be allowed, and accommodations made if needed
  
h.   If a player, parent or family is not comfortable returning to play, they should not return.  This decision will not be held against the player, parent or family

i.    All facilities, will develop their own policies and procedures. All players, parents and families are expected to abide by all facility policies

II. PHASE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES: In addition to the above, the following will be applied during each specific phase.

A.   Phase I Guidelines (May 15-June 10)

• Focused on return to activity with individual training; no group drills
• No contact
• Groups not to exceed 10 participants including coaches
• Coaches/staff will take their temperature prior to arriving at the fields and will confirm that all players performed their own temperature checks before arriving  
• No sharing of water or equipment.  Each player must utilize his or her own ball.  Equipment and balls must be disinfected after each session.  
• Participants must remain a minimum of 10 feet apart
• No spectators on sidelines.  All spectators must adhere to facility regulations and must maintain maximum social distancing
• Coaches must wear masks at all times when they are within 10 feet of anybody
• Players are encouraged to wear masks, although they may be removed during play
• Practice times will be set to maximize social distancing 
• Sessions to allow for one group to leave the area before the next arrives

B. Phase II Guidelines (TBD): Guidelines will be communicated before entering the next phase

• It is important to note that this is an ongoing situation and environment. Miami United FC Academy will continue to monitor guidance from the Federal, state and local authorities. We will communicate to you additional phase restrictions as they are developed.  
  
  

Additional References:                
 
Florida Youth Soccer (FYSA)
US Youth Soccer (USYS)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)


Updated July 8, 2020

Limited information is available to characterize the spectrum of clinical illness, transmission efficiency, and the duration of viral shedding for persons with COVID-19. This guidance is based on available information about COVID-19 and subject to change as additional information becomes available.

REPORTING:  

• Per the club protocol, as a reminder players who have a fever or are ill should not attend any in-person session.
• If a player has a known exposure* to a person who has been tested positive for COVID-19 or a known exposure to a person who has been otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19: 
  • the parent/guardian is required to email  [email protected] within 72 hours of identification,
  • player should self-isolate forat least 14 days, and the player should not attend in-person sessions.(see below for Return to Play after  Illness/Exposure details)
• If a player has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test): 
  • the parent/guardian is required to email [email protected] within 72 hours of identification,
  • player should self-isolate for at least 14 days, and the player should not attend in-person sessions.(see below for Return to Play after Illness/Exposure details)

COMMUNICATION:  If a player has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test), has attended a team in-person session, and has notified the club as directed, the club will notify the entire team of the exposure while protecting the confidentiality of the individual's identity.

RETURN TO PLAY after ILLNESS or EXPOSURE*:  The decision to discontinue home isolation for persons with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should be made in the context of local circumstances and may be amended as such.

Players who have a known exposure or infection may return to play after 14 days or ALL of the following criteria have been met (whichever is longer):

• Fever-free for at least 72 hours following symptoms
• AND: other respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) improving
• AND: at least 10 days since symptoms first began
• AND: a negative test result

* Per the CDC, "exposure" is currently defined as close contact (<6 feet) for 15 minutes or more.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html