Return to Play Guidelines

Content

Northside Chicago AYSO Return to Play Guidelines

Prior to Coming to the Field

PRIOR to coming to the field - parents are asked to take their player’s temperature and assess overall health. Any child who is not feeling well or who has a temperature must remain at home. We will provide a screening checklist to parents and volunteers.
Coaches should assess their own health and take their temperature. Any coach or volunteer who is not feeling well or who has a temperature must remain at home.
Players ensure you have all your necessary equipment including but not limited to: facemask, a full water bottle, soccer ball, shin guards and pinnie.
Coaches should ensure they have their facemask, coach’s bag, attendance forms, wellness checklist, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes.

At the Field – Arrival

Coaches will ensure all equipment (cones, flags, goals, etc.) are sanitized at the start of each session
All participants and spectators/parents should arrive at the field wearing their facemasks
Players’ families are asked to arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before practice and scrimmages to limit overlap with other families playing earlier
Families that arrive early must wait 30 feet from their designated field
Parents will check their player in with their coach at the designated field.
Families in a household are expected to remain socially distanced (6ft away) from other players and families.
Coaches will complete a wellness questionnaire with each player/parent in their pod at the beginning of each session and log the answers on the attendance form.
These questions are consistent with those used by the Chicago Park District for summer camps:

Have you had a body temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or have you used a fever reducer in the previous 24 hours to treat a body temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit?
Do you have a new cough that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
Do you have a new or worsening sore throat that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
Do you have a new or worsening shortness of breath that you cannot attribute to another health condition?
Have you recently developed a complete loss of smell or taste?

Players will be assigned a designated area to place their personal equipment (water bottle, jacket etc.)
All participants will be asked to use hand sanitizer before joining the session
Field Monitors will be assigned to ensure all protocols are followed during the session and to provide any support or guidance to coaches and spectators on our policies.

At the Field – During the Session - Spectators

We would like to limit spectators to only members of the participants immediate household
Spectators who choose to stay must wear a facemask if they are less than 6 feet away from others not in their immediate household
Spectators must be a minimum of 10 feet from the pod that is practicing or playing
Spectators must remain a minimum of 6 feet from other spectators who are not in your household
If you need to speak with a coach, consider using email or text after the session

At the Field – During the Session – Players & Coaches

Players and coaches and volunteers will keep facemasks ON at all times during drills and scrimmages
Coaches will create a designated area 10+ feet from the pod where a participant who needs to take off their masks will be able to do so safely
Coaches will remain 6 feet from players – no huddles
Players will keep their personal equipment in a designated spot 6 feet from other players
Coaches will provide necessary breaks for players between drills and scrimmages
Coaches will clean equipment throughout the session as needed
Players will keep their facemasks ON at all times (on and off the field unless in the designated area where they can remove their mask)
No goal high fives, chest bumps, etc.
Players not active in a drill or scrimmage will remain 6 feet apart at all times
Referees will not use traditional whistles - electronic whistles will be provided
Players are not allowed to share any equipment with another player during drills or scrimmages such as water bottle, soccer ball or pinnie
Players will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer throughout the session
Only coaches should touch or handle shared equipment such as cones, flags, goals, game ball etc.
Any player who exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms will be socially distanced from the pod and parent/guardian will be called for immediate pick up

After the Session

No post-game handshakes
Players & spectators must leave the field immediately after each session
Any post-session talks should be limited and social distanced
Coaches will sanitize equipment (ball, cones, goal posts) after each session
Coaches will take a picture of the attendance form and email it to [email protected]
Players and coaches should wash their facemasks, and pinnies or coach shirt after each session

Reporting Symptoms or COVID-19 Diagnosis

Volunteers and families should self-report to the Region at [email protected] if they have symptoms of COVID-19, a positive test for COVID-19, or were exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
We will make every effort to protect the confidentiality and privacy of all involved including never revealing the name of the individual or family reporting a case of COVID19 except to the local health agency as required.
We will contact those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 and advise them to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop. We will not share who tested positive – even if they ask.
For more information, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing-comms.html
This means that if someone in a pod tests positive for Covid-19 – we will notify everyone in the pod and ask the entire pod to remain at home for a minimum of 14 days.

Return to Play After Covid-19 Diagnosis

If participant is diagnosed with Covid-19 or has Covid-19 symptoms, they should wait to return to play for a minimum of 14 days after symptom onset AND until feverless (without fever-reducing medication) and symptom free for at least 72 hours.
OR confirmed to not have COVID-19 via 2 negative COVID-19 tests in a row, with testing done at least 24 hours apart.