BFC Winter Training Safety Protocols
(Based on Shelburne Field House, VSA, CDC and VT Department of Health Guidelines)
TeamSnap + Player Health Check
BFC will use TeamSnap to communicate all practices and games. It is mandatory that all players check-in to TeamSnap before going to each training. Players should also indicate if they will not be attending a training. In addition to indicating availability, all players and coaches must complete a health check via TeamSnap before arriving at Shelburne Field House. TeamSnap's "My Health Check" feature is a questionnaire that opens 8 hours before an event and asks players 4 questions recommended by the CDC for COVID-19 symptom screening.
*"My Health Check" is only accessible on the TeamSnap mobile app. It is not available on the desktop/web version. "My Health Check" is only available 8 hours prior to the event start time to satisfy the requirement that health screening is done the same day as the event. It is important to understand that any coach or player that has an incomplete or red "not cleared" health check will NOT be permitted to attend the event and must leave the facility immediately.
Facial Coverings
All coaches, players and staff are required to bring their own facial coverings. Masks must be worn for the duration of the time anyone is inside the Shelburne Field House (except when drinking water during breaks). Individuals failing to properly mask should be asked to comply or directed to immediately leave the activity or facility. If an individual fails to properly mask, the facility or the State of Vermont may suspend the team’s practices or games indefinitely.
Entering/Exiting Shelburne Field House
Due to the limited number of people permitted in indoor facilities, we are asking all parent/guardians of U12 players and older to drop off and pick up their children OUTSIDE the building. For U10 and under players, prior to the start and immediately following team trainings, a maximum of one guardian per participating family (masks required) is permitted to enter Shelburne Field House briefly (15 minutes or less) in order to ensure their athlete is dressed and equipment is properly secured/removed. Guardians are encouraged to be efficient and are not permitted to remain in the facility during the practice. Six foot spacing must be maintained between members of different households.
Players will enter through the Shelburne Field House main entrance side door. Once inside, all players must go straight to the field. No hanging out in the lobby/bar area! Players should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the scheduled start of training to limit interaction with other groups/people.
From the field, coaches and/or team parents will confirm that all players have completed a health check via TeamSnap.
To exit after training, players will use the side door exit that leads right to the parking lot, or the regular entrance can be used.
All coaches and athletes must maintain a distance of at least 6 ft spacing between individuals AT ALL TIMES!
Player Belongings
All players must bring the following to each training:
1. 2 masks
2. Fully inflated soccer ball
3. Cleats or indoor soccer flats
4. Shin guards
5. Water bottle
When players arrive, they will bring their bags and personal belongings with them onto the field and store everything distanced apart on the sideline. At the end of training, players will need to quickly grab their things and head out of the facility.
BFC Positive COVID-19 Case Response & Protocol
1. Should a BFC staff member or athlete contract COVID-19, report the case as soon as possible to: Board Member Kristin Allosso at allossok@gmail.com or by phone at 802-391-0906. The infected person shall provide names of all BFC members or staff that he/she was in contact with.
2. BFC Staff will notify all club members of a positive COVID-19 case, including date and times of training sessions for the infected person, but ensuring privacy and confidentiality of the member.
3. BFC Staff will notify parents and guardians of athletes that were in close contact with the infected person.
4. BFC will suspend training for affected teams for 14 days pending determination of close contacts.
5. BFC will alert club members and staff when training for affected teams can resume.
References
Youth Sports Recommendations
CDC Guidance if a player gets sick
VT Department of Health Employee Training (VOSHA Training)
VT Department Of Health Pre-Screening Procedures
VT Department of Health Pre-Screening Health Survey
VT "BE SMART, STAY SAFE" ORDER
https://accd.vermont.gov/content/sports-and-organized-sports-guidance
9.1 Sports/Organized Sports Including Youth Leagues, Adult Leagues, Practices, Games, and Tournaments
PHASE ONE: Effective Saturday, December 26, 2020, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume team-based activities strictly limited to no more than 25 participants and:
PHASE TWO: Effective Monday, January 18, 2021, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume full team-based practices including the following activities:
PHASE THREE: Effective Friday, February 12, 2021, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume the following activities:
Additional direction on school-sponsored winter sports programs, applicable to both public and independent schools, has been published by the Agency of Education at: https://education.vermont.gov/documents/aoe-anr-winter-sports-programs-for-the-2020-21-school-year
Organized youth leagues shall:
Vermont-based sports teams may only participate in sporting events in Vermont, and these events may only occur between or involve Vermont-based teams. Individuals from bordering states who belong to a Vermont based team, club, organization or league or routinely utilize a training facility in Vermont may participate in practice sessions, as well as games, competitions and meets, consistent with Vermont’s sports-specific guidance. Any Vermont-based athlete or team that chooses to leave the state to participate in a game, competition or meet must complete a quarantine before returning to work, school or attending public events.
Consistent with the most current guidance available from the American Academy of Pediatrics, all children and adolescents (through age 22) diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, regardless of symptom severity, may not return to play until asymptomatic for at least 14 days and cleared by their primary care physician. Adult athletes or others (e.g. referees) who exercise vigorously during an athletic event diagnosed with COVID-19 should not return to play or vigorous exercise until asymptomatic for two weeks and cleared by their physician.
Indoor sports facilities should take steps to ensure adequate ventilation, including:
9.1 Sports/Organized Sports Including Youth Leagues, Adult Leagues, Practices, Games, and Tournaments
PHASE ONE: Effective Saturday, December 26, 2020, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume team-based activities strictly limited to no more than 25 participants and:
- Individual skill-building exercises;
- Strength and conditioning sessions; and,
- No-contact drills.
PHASE TWO: Effective Monday, January 18, 2021, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume full team-based practices including the following activities:
- Drills involving incidental contact; and
- Team-based scrimmages.
PHASE THREE: Effective Friday, February 12, 2021, organized youth leagues and school-based sports programs (serving individuals age 19 years and younger) may resume the following activities:
- Games, meets and competitions, subject to the restrictions noted below.
Additional direction on school-sponsored winter sports programs, applicable to both public and independent schools, has been published by the Agency of Education at: https://education.vermont.gov/documents/aoe-anr-winter-sports-programs-for-the-2020-21-school-year
Organized youth leagues shall:
- Require all participants to complete a health check, including temperature screening, before arriving at team-based activity.
- Require masks / cloth face coverings to be worn at all times.
- Anyone with a documented medical or behavioral reason for not wearing a facial covering should not be required to wear one.
- Limit participation to 50% of approved fire safety occupancy or one person per 100 square feet.
- Prioritize outdoor activities whenever possible.
- Sports leagues and organizations should prioritize non-contact activity, such as conditioning and drills where physical distance can be maintained, and give strong consideration to implementing modifications to reduce intensity of face-to-face contact and promote physical distancing.
- During times when athletes are not actively participating in practice or competition, all athletes are expected to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet between individuals. Teams must ensure adequate physical distance between players on the sidelines or benches and should structure team meetings to limit congregation.
- Prohibit spectators; only “key personnel” – players, coaches and staff – are allowed to attend team-based activities.
- Guardians must wait in their vehicles and to avoid socializing with other guardians at practices.
- For 10U level athletes, prior to the start of team-based activity and immediately following the team-based activity, a maximum of one guardian per participating family (masks required) is permitted to enter the practice facility briefly (15 minutes or less) in order to ensure their athlete is dressed and equipment is properly secured/removed. Guardians are encouraged to be efficient and are not permitted to remain in the facility during the practice. Six foot spacing must be maintained between members of different households. In an effort to allow coaches/instructors to maintain active management of health and safety protocols during the team-based activity, they may designate a single volunteer safety manager to stay inside the facility during practice to help with young athletes who may need extra assistance with equipment, to use the bathroom facilities or get the attention of a parent waiting outside in an emergency.
- Prohibit congregating before, during, and after practice; promote an “arrive, play, and leave” mentality. Players and coaches should arrive for practices dressed to play to the maximum extent practicable and limit time spent in locker rooms. Any locker room use must adhere to physical distancing and masking requirements.
- Plan facility schedules in a manner that avoids contact between different user groups, including staggered starts and sufficient time between games to minimize contact between arriving and departing cohorts.
- Prohibit team-based social gatherings until all other COVID-19-specific restrictions regulating sports leagues are fully lifted.
- Discourage multi-household carpools to team-based activities.
- Prohibit spitting or expulsion of bodily fluids of any sort on the playing service (field, court, ice, etc.), or anywhere in or around the playing service or in the facility.
- Prohibit sharing of water bottles.
- Regularly and thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment.
- Ensure teams maintain list of participants in each practice for 30 days to assist in contact tracing.
Vermont-based sports teams may only participate in sporting events in Vermont, and these events may only occur between or involve Vermont-based teams. Individuals from bordering states who belong to a Vermont based team, club, organization or league or routinely utilize a training facility in Vermont may participate in practice sessions, as well as games, competitions and meets, consistent with Vermont’s sports-specific guidance. Any Vermont-based athlete or team that chooses to leave the state to participate in a game, competition or meet must complete a quarantine before returning to work, school or attending public events.
Consistent with the most current guidance available from the American Academy of Pediatrics, all children and adolescents (through age 22) diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, regardless of symptom severity, may not return to play until asymptomatic for at least 14 days and cleared by their primary care physician. Adult athletes or others (e.g. referees) who exercise vigorously during an athletic event diagnosed with COVID-19 should not return to play or vigorous exercise until asymptomatic for two weeks and cleared by their physician.
Indoor sports facilities should take steps to ensure adequate ventilation, including:
- Increase the volume of outdoor air to the maximum possible and reduce the volume of recirculated air being returned while the gym is occupied.
- Select maximum filtration levels for the HVAC unit.
- Ensure that the HVAC unit runs continuously while the facility is occupied, and that HVAC unit runs for at least two hours before and two hours after occupancy.