Z COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS PLAN

Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all members. AYSA has developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our program, and that requires full cooperation from participants, volunteers, and staff. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of all participants, staff, and facilities.

All participants are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of the Preparedness Plan.

AYSA is serious about safety, health and keeping our participants and community safe. Our Preparedness Plan follows the industry guidance developed by the State of Minnesota, which is based upon Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines for COVID-19, Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA) statues, rules and standards, and Minnesota’s relevant and current executive orders.

Questions or concerns regarding this plan should be directed to Arrowhead Youth Soccer Association. Participants with a disability should contact AYSA to discuss potential reasonable accommodations related to COVID-19.

Screening and Policies for Participants Exhibiting Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19
Participants have been informed and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess participants’ health status prior to participating in a program or arriving at a facility and for participants to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.

Stay Home if Feeling Ill. Many times, with the best of intentions, participants attend a program or event even though they feel ill, but participants should not come if they feel ill. If you feel ill, please inform your coach immediately, and do not return until you are no longer ill. Participants who arrive ill to team activities will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
Self-Monitoring. Participants are expected to conduct a self-assessment each day before attending the activity to determine if any COVID-19 symptoms are present. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell.

It is critical that participants do not attend a program or enter a facility while they are experiencing any of these symptoms or combinations of symptoms.

Players/coaches who have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 must follow the CDC guidelines regarding the return to play timeline.

AYSA will inform participants if they are aware an individual has be exposed to a person with COVID-19 while participating in a program or activity. AYSA will protect the privacy of the infected individual’s health status and health information. The name of the person testing positive will not be disclosed unless the individual provides consent.

Exposure or Potential Exposures to COVID-19
AYSA will utilize the CDC’s recommendations for individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Exposure is defined as “close contact within 6 feet of an individual for at least 10 minutes who is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19”. The time-frame for having contact with an individual includes the period of 48 hours before the individual became symptomatic. Persons with a potential exposure shall follow the most up-to-date CDC guidelines regarding Return to Play following COVID-19 exposure.

Hand-Washing
Basic infection prevention measures are required at all facilities at all times. Individuals are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water frequently throughout the day. Hand sanitizer will be used before, during, and after practices when possible.

Respiratory Etiquette
Participants are being asked to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeves or a tissue when coughing and sneezing and to avoid touching their face, mouth, nose and eyes with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in the trash and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward.

Facial Covering Policy
The CDC recommends people wear cloth masks as a public health measure in public settings and where social distancing (a space of six feet apart) is difficult to maintain. All AYSA staff, players, coaches, and spectators must follow the CDC guidelines related to facial coverings.

Social Distancing

Social distancing is required at any AYSA activity through the following engineering and administrative controls:

Participants are to maintain a distance of 6 feet whenever possible. If not possible, additional precautions should be used such as wearing a mask.
Anyone not directly involved in an AYSA sponsored activity is strongly encouraged to avoid the activity area.
Chaperones are recommended to be limited to one per participant.

Communications and Training
This Preparedness Plan is visible on www.arrowheadsoccer.com. Additional communications and training will be ongoing as needs and procedures change. Staff will monitor program effectiveness and ensure clubs and their members understand and adhere to necessary precautions. All participants are required to follow this plan and request clarifications, as necessary.

Programs and events may require additional safety and health measures and information will be provided by AYSA staff. Please read all safety training provided by AYSA prior to participation or arrival at an event. The plan supplements existing employment policies, rules, procedures and regulations. All current policies, rules procedures and regulations remain in full effect, except instances where this plan directly contradicts another current policy, rule, procedure or regulation in which case this plan supersedes existing policy, rule, procedure or regulations. Therefore, participants are encouraged to review all other such policies, rules, procedures and regulations in conjunction with this plan.

Resources:

MN Department of Health

Sports Practice and Games Guidance for Youth and Adults:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/sportsguide.pdf

Guidance for Organized Sports:

https://staysafe.mn.gov/industry-guidance/organized-sports.jsp

Close Contacts and Tracing:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/close.html

If You Are Sick:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/sick.html

Testing Information:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/testsites/index.html