The Sterling Soccer safety protocols are built on guidance from national, state, and local governments, US Youth Soccer, and the Virginia Youth Soccer Association.  We will adapt these protocols as public health guidelines change and hopefully ease restrictions.  By working together, we can help reduce the spread, protect those in our community who are most at risk, and return to play safely and responsibly.

IMPORTANT: Players, Parents, and Coaches: Please read your respective Protocol guidelines listed below.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

• If you or your child is sick or experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed* to someone who is sick or having these symptoms, please STAY HOME.
• If you or your child feels uncomfortable participating or is considered high risk, please STAY HOME. Return to play is voluntary. We recognize and respect each member’s responsibility to his/her own safety and the safety of their family and want you to feel comfortable and confident in returning to the field.Coaches will not pressure any player to return to the fields until they are ready to do so
• Sterling Soccer return to play waivers are required to be completed prior to participating in any in-person event
• Prior to attending any Sterling Soccer in-person event, each player should check his or her temperature at home and refrain from participation if her or she has a temperature≥ 100.4 degrees F
• Maintain appropriate social distancing on and off the field where practicable.Everyone is asked to wear a face covering when off the field
• Bring your own water, ball, face covering, and hand sanitizer.Do not share water or equipment prior to, during, or after sessions.Put your name on all your equipment
• For the safety of all, parents will be asked to remove players who are unable to follow these protocols or who demonstrate signs of illness at team events

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

CDC PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS >>

Daily Medical Considerations to Participate in In-Person Events

• The participant (including players, coaches, referees, volunteers and administrators) should conduct a daily temperature check at home before training. If you have a temperature ≥100.4 degrees F do not attend the in-person event
• If thermometers are not available at home, conduct a daily health questionnaire online with the “Coronavirus Self-Checker,” made available by the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/index.html)
• Do not participate in activities if you or any member of your household has any of the symptoms listed below:

   

  • COVID-19 exposure* in past 14 days
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Temperature 100.4 F
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Sinus congestion
  • Cough persistent and/or productive
  • Joint aches and soreness
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Rash

   

• Do not go to in-person events with any of the above symptoms
• Remotely communicate your health status to coaches, instructors, team administrators, or medical staff

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

CDC PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS >>

RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL - PLAYERS

If you’ve been sick with or having symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has been sick with or having symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, please STAY HOME and have your parent notify the club at admin@sterlingsoccerclub.org

FOR PLAYERS PRIOR TO TRAINING

• Be sure all your training gear and equipment has been properly cleaned and sanitized
• With your parent, complete the pre-play temperature check and CDC self-checker questionnaire, and follow the appropriate reporting protocols based on the results
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before arriving to the field
• Bring your own equipment, including your own ball, water and hand sanitizer, as equipment cannot be shared (put your name on all personal belongings)
• If you are a goalkeeper, bring your own goalkeeper's gloves
• Wear a face covering to the field
• Carpooling with others outside of your household should be avoided
• When entering the field either for practice or game/scrimmage your child will get his/her temperature checked by a parent volunteer or a coach. If the player has a temperature ≥100.4 degrees F he/she will not be allowed to participate to the event and will be sent home. He/she will not be allowed on the premises.
• Parents should wait until their children is allowed for the event before leaving the premises

FOR PLAYERS DURING TRAINING

• Enter the field through the designated entrance and head directly to your assigned field
• Players can wear their face mask during practice or choose to take it off while maintaining social distancing
• Practice physical distancing where practicable – do not give hugs, high fives, fist bumps, or touch anything that does not belong to you
• Upon arrival to your training area, place your equipment in the designated area and appropriately space (6 ft. apart) your equipment on the sidelines.
• Use your own ball - do not share or borrow another player's ball
• If you are practicing as a goalkeeper, keep your gloves on at all times, and sanitize your gloves and hand afterwards
• No spitting on the field

FOR PLAYERS AT THE END OF TRAINING

• Collect all personal belongings, including ball, water, sanitizer, and face covering
• When released, exit the field at the designated location and return to your car while maintaining social distancing
• Wear a face covering when leaving the field
• Use hand sanitizer after the session and wash your hands when you get home
• Upon returning home, promptly wash your hands, clean your clothing, and have your parents disinfect your training gear prior to the next session

PLAYERS GUIDELINES FOR GAMES

• Place your personal items and equipment 6 feet away from others
• Wear your face mask if you are not in the game
• Wear face mask after completion of the game and while on-premises

Return to Play Protocol:  PARENTS
 

FOR PARENTS PRIOR TO TRAINING

• Remind your child of their responsibilities before entering the field, during practice and after practice
• Complete your child's preplay check and questionnaire. Follow all appropriate steps as required.
• Check your child’s training gear and equipment to ensure that it is properly cleaned and sanitized
• Complete the pre-play temperature check and CDC self-checker questionnaire, and follow the appropriate reporting protocols based on the results
• Wash both your hands or use hand sanitizer before arriving to the field
• Make sure both parent and child wear face masks to the field
• Do not carpool with others outside of your household to games and practices
• Make sure to accompany your child to the testing or coaches’s station
• When entering the field either for practice or game/scrimmage your child will get his/her temperature checked by a parent volunteer or a coach. If the player has a temperature ≥100.4 degrees F he/she will not be allowed to participate to the event and will be sent home. He/she will not be allowed on the premises.
  • Wait until your child is allowed for the event before leaving the premises

FOR PARENTS DURING TRAINING

• Drop off your child in their designated training area.
• If early, wait in your vehicle until 5 minutes before practice
  time. Allow the previous training group to exit properly. Direct your child to the designated area.
• Parents of younger players - you can walk your players to the designated testing area or entrance.
• Ensure your child uses a hand sanitizer before entering the field and have one in hand during practice.
• Remain on the premises in case of inclement weather or unexpected situations.
• Spectators to training areas are discouraged but if you stay on the field, please keep your face masks on and practice proper distancing.
• No contact with players on the fields are allowed.

FOR PARENTS AT END OF TRAINING

• Pick up your player and leave promptly.
• Do not socialize with any other groups - if you do, please practice proper social distancing, and make sure your face coverings are on.
• Use a hand sanitizer and make sure your child has one as well.
• After returning home, ensure everyone washes their hands; remove all practice clothing and make sure training gear are sanitized.
• If you or your child uses a mobile phone, please also disinfect devices at home.

PARENTS GUIDELINES FOR GAMES

• Wear your mask while on the premises
• Sit in the designated parent's area (check with your team's coach if not sure)
• Keep an appropriate distance from other parents on the sidelines

Return to Play Protocol: COACHES
 

If you’ve been sick with or having symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has been sick with or having symptoms of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, please STAY HOME and notify the club at admin@sterlingsoccerclub.org.

FOR COACHES PRIOR TO TRAINING

• If you feel uncomfortable returning, do not participate. Notify the club administrator to determine alternative options
• Plan training session in accordance with state and local physical distancing guidelines
• Be sure all training gear and equipment has been properly cleaned and sanitized
• Complete your own pre-play temperature check and CDC self-checker questionnaire, and follow the appropriate reporting protocols based on the results
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before arriving to the field
• Remind your team’s families of their responsibilities before, during, and after the event
• Coaches are asked to wear face coverings
• If there is no club centralized location for temperature check, we will ask you to check every players’s temperature. If a player has a temperature ≥100.4 degrees F , he/she cannot participate in the training or the game and will be sent home immediately. The player shall not be allowed on the premises.

FOR COACHES DURING THE EVENT

• Coaches are asked to wear face coverings where practicable for the duration of the session
• Practice physical distancing throughout where practicable – no hugs, high fives, or fist bumps permitted
• Enter the field through the designated entrance
• Greet and direct players as they arrive to place their equipment at a safe distance
• Inform players that they are allowed to remove their face coverings for training sessions or choose to keep them on
• Provide clear direction and guidance to players and monitor their behavior (e.g. social distancing, not sharing equipment, etc.)
• Use your own equipment
• No equipment (balls, water bottles, hair ties, pinnies, gloves, etc.) may be shared during the session
• If using pinnies, make sure they are washed after every session.

FOR COACHES AT THE CONCLUSION OF TRAINING

• Lead and direct players to leave the training area in an orderly fashion and ensure each departs with their parent
• Promptly clear your area of equipment and exit through the appropriate exit
• Use hand sanitizer after the session. Wash your hands when you get home
• Upon returning home, promptly wash your hands, clean your clothing, and disinfect your training gear prior to the next session

COACHES GUIDELINES FOR GAMES

• Wear your face mask at all times
• Place your personal items and equipment 6 feet away from others
• Verify that assistants and parent volunteers have face masks on
• Encourage face mask wearing for players who are not in the game
• Make sure players are social distancing on the sidelines
• Do not substitute multiple players all at once at the midfield - have them enter separately at different spots on the sidelines

• Staff and Coaches are required to immediately report to their Sterling Soccer leadership if they test positive for COVID-19, are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive for or is displaying symptoms of COVID-19
   
• For players who have tested positive for COVID-19, are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive for or is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, their parent or guardian is required to report this to the club at admin@sterlingsoccerclub.org and should provide as much information as possible, such as:
   
  • Child’s first and last name
  • Team
  • Specific symptoms (e.g. sore throat, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, temperature of 100.4 degrees F, chills, headache, sinus congestion, cough persistent and/or productive, joint aches and soreness, vomiting or diarrhea, and/or a rash)
  • Testing: have they been tested, or are they being tested, the results, if applicable
  • Family details: whether the case was identified within another household member, etc.
  • Last date your child participated in a Sterling Soccer in-person event
     
• All names and details will be kept confidential and will only be shared with local health officials
   
• If a case of COVID-19 is reported, Sterling Soccer will communicate with the local health department and follow the appropriate guidelines. All players, coaches and staff who came into contact with that person will be notified. Due to HIPPA laws and to protect the privacy of all involved, the identity of that person will remain anonymous
   
• Once notified that an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or has been in close proximity with any player, coach, or staff member, such individuals must adhere to all guidelines as communicated. These guidelines may include, but are not limited to:
   
  • Notifying your primary physician
  • Adhering to self-isolation and/or quarantine for 14 days or undergo testing and confirm and negative test result
  • Requiring proof of a negative test or a doctor’s note before returning to play
  • Affected teams may transition to Virtual Training during this period until members are cleared to return to in-person programming

COVID19 USESFUL LINKS

• VYSA RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES
   
• CDC - TIPS TO PROTECT PLAYERS
   
• CDC - CONSIDERATION FOR YOUTH SPORTS
   

Phase III – Virginia Guidelines for Recreational Sports

• Per field capacity is 250 (players, coaches, spectators)
• Matches are permitted
• Physical contact introduced but limited to necessary activities and matches
• Close group contact (huddles, high-fives, fist bumps, hugs, etc.) is prohibited
• No sharing of water or equipment
• Shared equipment (balls, scrimmage vests, etc.) must be cleaned and sanitized by the coach prior to and immediately after each session
• Sharing scrimmage vests during a session is prohibited
• Only coaches handle cones and other equipment (e.g. goals)
• Participants are to remain at least six feet apart off the field and as much as possible on the field
• Practice times and duration to account for safety of athletes, maximizing overlap between groups
• Spectators are permitted with social distancing and are asked to wear face coverings