KC ATHLETICS CLUB COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR THE 2020-2021 FALL SEASON

As of 7/31/2020

INTRODUCTION

KC Athletics believes that providing a sporting outlet for our players and families is beneficial and contributes to the overall well-being of our athletes.  Benefits can be attained through the joy of participation, physical activity, and socialization with teammates and friends.  However, as we prepare for the fall soccer season, it is imperative that we provide our club programs with a relentless commitment to the health and safety of our players, families, coaching/administrative staff, game officials, and all of our opponents. 

Our club will continue to follow all local, state, regional and national guidelines. Official guidelines will supersede any protocols outlined here.

Director of Operations, Kenda Childers, is the lead contact for all matters relating to COVID-19.  Kenda can be reached at kchilders@athleticskc.com.   Any questions and reporting of cases need to be immediately directed to her.

IMPORTANT: These procedures relate to ALL club activities, including, games, practices, scrimmages, clinics, pre-season training, club pick-up games, etc.   These protocols are mandatory which shall be strictly followed and are not simply “guidelines” or “suggestions.”

Protocol updates will be communicated via email and will also be available at all times on our club website - www.athleticskc.com

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Everyone should:

• Avoid touching their own faces
• Frequently wash hands with soap/water or alcohol-based sanitizer for at least 20 seconds
• Mouths need to be covered (but not with hands) whenever a person coughs or sneezes
• A face mask or face covering should be worn whenever outside but not exercising
• Commonly used surfaces need to be frequently cleaned
• Maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet
• Avoid any contact with others (including greetings – high 5s, handshakes, etc.)
• Always stay home when in doubt

Symptoms for COVID-19 include the following:

• Fever (> 100.4 degree F)
• Dry cough
• Shortness in breath
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Loss of sense of smell and/or taste
• For a more detailed list of symptoms, consult the CDC web-site:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide the club protocols to coaches, staff members, players and families
• Follow all local and national restrictions
• Identify Kenda Childers as our lead COVID-19 contact person:  kchilders@athletics.com / 913-283-0272
• Train all staff members on club protocols and procedures
• Report any/all cases to health authorities and disseminate information to all members when appropriate, subject to all applicable privacy laws
• Have an emergency plan in place
• Provide appropriately-sized training facilities to allow for social distancing
• Limit spectator attendance for all practices
• Insist home monitoring by players, families and staff for symptoms
• Keep an attendance record through SportsEngine for all practices and games
• Provide disinfectant wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitizer at all fields

COACH RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor for symptoms
• Stay home if any signs or symptoms occur and find appropriate “cover” for all missed sessions
• Use masks or face coverings in all club activities, even when coaching
• Get a verbal confirmation from each player upon arrival that they have not experienced any of the COVID-19 symptoms
• Upon arriving at practice and games, place cones on the sidelines for bags to enforce social distancing
• Take all necessary precautions to isolate a player from team members/staff if they appear unwell during practices/games until such time as a parent can pick-up
• Get a verbal confirmation from the coach of the opposition that their players have not shown any signs of the symptoms prior to any game
• Ensure all team huddles follow the social distancing protocols including masks being worn
• Avoid any contact with players – this includes “elbows”
• Ensure social distancing/mask wearing is being maintained during all sideline time
• Ensure that no training aids and equipment are touched by players
• Ensure that no training vests are used, unless each player is given their own vest for the entirety of the season
• Maintain a positive demeanor

FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor for symptoms
• Ensure every player has a mask when exiting the vehicle for training and games
• Stay home if any signs of symptoms occur
• Keep older family members and those with underlying medical concerns from all club activities
• Avoid gathering in groups in practice parking lots and maintain social distancing
• Stay in the car or parking lot when waiting for “pick-up”
• Wear a mask when in the practice or game facility
• Be aware of and follow all out-of-state travel mandates
• Consider restricting or avoiding car pooling
• Notify the club immediately if any family members become symptomatic

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor for symptoms
• Stay home if any signs of symptoms occur
• Wear a mask when walking to and from the fields, while on sidelines during games, during any team huddles, while stretching, etc.
• Bring own equipment – balls, water bottle, towel etc.
• Avoid contact with other players’ gear, water bottles, backpacks, etc.
• Avoid contact with any training aids such as cones, poles, etc.
• Maintain social distancing at all times when not participating in an activity including water breaks
• Disinfect hands prior to and after every club activity
• Refrain from spitting
• Mouths need to be covered (but not with hands) whenever a person coughs or sneezes
• Avoid all group celebrations

REturn to play after exposure:

Exposure is defined as being (1) within 6-feet of (2) an unmasked person with confirmed COVID-19 (3) for longer than 10 minutes. These three scenarios together define exposure/close contact.

For example, exposure includes but is not limited to:

• Caring for a sick person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
• Living in the same household as an individual with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infecting
• Coming in direct contact with secretions from an individual with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection (being coughed or sneezed on, sharing water bottle or utensils, etc.)

SYMPTOMATIC PLAYER/STAFF MEMBERS with a laboratory-confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection

• Cannot attend club events until:
  • At least 3 days(72hours )have passed since resolution of fever (defined as ≥ 100.4 degrees F) without the use of fever-reducing medications and respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), AND…
  • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared

OR:

• Resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, AND…
• Improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), AND…
• Negative results of an FDA authorized molecular assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (two negative specimens)

ASYMPTOMATIC PLAYERS/STAFF MEMBERS with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19

• Cannot attend club events until:
  • At least 10 days have passed since test since their first positive COVID-19 diagnosis assuming

 no symptoms since that time. If person develops symptoms, then management should be guided as above for symptomatic individuals.

OR:

• Negative results of an FDA authorized SARS-CoV-2 RNA test from at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected ≥24 hours apart (two negative specimens).

EXPOSED/CLOSE CONTACT PLAYERS/STAFF MEMBERS to a suspected or diagnosed case of COVID-19

• Cannot attend club events until:
  • At least 14 days after exposure, based on the time it takes to develop illness. They may return to activities after 14 days if they continue to not show any symptoms.
  • See above for exposure/close contact definition.

References:

• CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevent
• Elite Clubs National League Recommendations for Returning to Play in a Training Environment
• Kansas Youth Soccer Association COVID-19 Updates
• Missouri Youth Soccer Association Return to Play Recommendations
• US Club Soccer Coronavirus
• U.S. Soccer Play On

----------

These protocols are in place until stated otherwise and may be updated throughout the fall season. Alerts will be made if any protocols change within this document. Thank you for following all mandatory protocols so we can ensure a safe and healthy environment for all involved with KC Athletics!