Overview:
Sporting Astoria Soccer Club is committed to providing our adult/youth players with a venue for returning to the field of play in Spring 2021 that is both safe and carefully aligned with federal, state, and local regulations. All social activities during the pandemic carry an inherent risk, but as a community we can collectively manage that risk by following a basic set of guidelines adapted from best practices and recommendations by public health officials.
The purpose of these guidelines is not to impose an unreasonable burden, but simply to create the safest possible environment for our players, coaches, volunteers, and their families during an exceptional time. The spring 2021 season can only succeed with total buy-in from all stakeholders. We appreciate your patience, understanding, flexibility, and goodwill in helping to make the season possible.
Confirmation upon Registration:
- All prospective registrants will be made aware of these guidelines prior to registration, with the understanding that consent to follow the guidelines in their entirety is a condition of participation on any team.
Updates to These Guidelines:
- In the event that these guidelines need to be modified during the season, the latest version will always be posted on our club Website.
Applicability:
- The guidelines detailed here will be in effect at all times and apply to both our adult and youth programs.
General Hygienic Best Practices:
All players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators should continue to adhere to best practices for personal hygiene as established and well-publicized by federal, state, and local public health authorities. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Wear a securely-fitted face covering/mask to protect others and yourself.
- Maintain a distance of at least six feet from others whenever possible. For situations when players are engaging in competition, see the Players section for additional guidelines.
- Use personal hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
Cover all coughs and sneezes as fully as possible with the crook of your elbow, not with your hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you believe you may have been exposed to illness, stay home.
- Stay home if you do not feel well or if you present symptoms such as fever or cough. For persistent symptoms, consult a health professional.
- Those with health conditions and/or immune-deficiencies should use their best judgement concerning whether to attend a scheduled match or program.
Players:
- Players on the bench must wear face coverings/masks.
- Players must wear face coverings/masks while entering from and exiting to the street.
- Players should maintain social distance.
- Each player must bring his or her own personal equipment. Sharing of equipment is prohibited, except by players who reside within the same household.
- Each player must bring his or her own personal water bottle, clearly labeled, as well as any personal snacks or food. Sharing of water bottles and/or snacks is prohibited. Each player is responsible for disposing their empty water bottle and/or snack wrappers.
- Players should carry their own personal hand sanitizer, clearly labeled, among their standard equipment and bring it with them.
- Handshakes and other forms of personal contact celebrations (high fives, fist/elbow bumps, group huddles, etc.) are prohibited.
- Players and their families should vacate the field as soon as is reasonably possible after the conclusion of their match or program to minimize unnecessary contact with players, coaches, and spectators from the next game.
Coaches / Volunteers:
- Coaches and volunteers are responsible for modeling careful adherence to safety guidelines and therefore will be held to higher standards of compliance by the club.
- Coaches and volunteers will wear face coverings/masks at all times, including while entering from and exiting to the street.
- Coaches will work to ensure that games proceed in accordance with these guidelines.
- Child/participant safety will always take priority over contest outcomes or completion of training sessions.
- Coaches will serve as information liaisons responsible for immediately communicating potential exposures to their players. In such scenarios, coaches should also adhere on the side of caution by canceling team practices and youth programs until a notice can be sent out to all members and their families.
Referees
- Adult Team: Referees will adhere to guidelines mandated by their association.
- There are no assigned referees for our youth programs.
Parents / Spectators:
- Adult players are responsible for monitoring their health and making smart, COVID-safe decisions about whether to attend games and practices.
- Parents are responsible for monitoring their children’s health and making smart, COVID-safe decisions about whether to attend games and practices. Parents should keep at home children who do not feel well. In cases of potential exposure, parents should notify both their child’s coach immediately.
- NYS regulations, no more than two spectators (including family members and caretakers) may accompany any individual player to games or practices.
- Spectators must wear face coverings/masks at all times, including while entering from and exiting to the street.
- Spectators should minimize time at the field before and after scheduled games. Arrival more than 30 minutes beforehand is discouraged.
- All spectators should follow best social distancing practices, remaining at least six feet away from individuals outside their households. Portable chairs and other forms of personal seating are strongly encouraged to help space out the spectator area.
- Spectators are prohibited from entering the field or team benches.
- Spectators can help coaches and other spectators by modeling careful adherence to safety guidelines.
Game Equipment:
- The club shall furnish soccer balls.
- Youth programs players must not head the ball.
- There are no goalkeepers in our youth programs.
- All soccer balls should be carefully tracked and limited in number.
- The club shall furnish youth soccer goals. Youth players must avoid touching the goals.
- Coaches are responsible for sanitizing all soccer balls and soccer goals after each adult or youth event.
Violations:
- Players who violate these guidelines, will receive one initial warning from club officials; a second violation will result in suspension.
- Parents / spectators who violate these guidelines will be asked to leave the field; a second violation will result in the affiliated child to be removed from the program.
- Individuals whose behavior immediately results in any social distancing fines imposed by the city or state will be held responsible for paying said fines.
Reporting Violations:
- The entire club and its members share the responsibility of keeping adult and youth programs safe. Friendly, judgement-free reminders about these safety protocols are encouraged when individuals forget to comply. For habitual or flagrant offenses, members are encouraged to reach out to the club officials to voice their concerns privately.
Emergency Protocols:
- In the event that a member of the club tests positive at any point, the league will promptly issue an announcement, including which groups, if any, may have been exposed through contact.
- All club announcements of this nature will be aimed exclusively at community safety and will protect the confidentiality of individuals.
- Leagues, who the club is a member of, will be mandate on how to proceed in the event of positive cases, including, but not limited to, canceled/rescheduled games, or the termination of the season.
Schedule:
- Schedules are subject to change at any time as mandated by the club or participating league.
Thank you for helping to keep our Sporting Astoria Soccer Club community safe!