COVID-19 Rules/Guidelines

** Note: These Rules/guidelines may change at any time per health/government requirements. The league will notify you via email if this should occur.

Arrival to the Parks:

Upon arrival on the night of play, each player will be required to check the attendance sheet provided, and fill out the screening questions as well. This will need to be EACH WEEK, and provides information to the state for contract tracing if someone in our group should become ill will COVID-19.

Out of state players:

Players who reside outside of Vermont, may participate in the league, but must follow Vermont Heath guidelines for quarantine (neighboring counties will less than 400 cases, can play without quarantine). See the state’s map on safe counties at their website: https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel

Game Schedule:

The current re-opening requirements do not allow for 1 team to play multiple teams in a single evening. Our league will be working out a schedule to accommodate only play 1 team per evening.

Subs:

Subs will be allowed to play for teams, but they can only play for one team per night. They cannot shift to another team in the same night. You also cannot grab a player from another team to help you that night, unless they are playing for your team the whole night.

Equipment Use:

To avoid spread of the COVID-19 virus, equipment use should be limited to the same people for the entire evening. This means that balls should not be used on multiple courts, but should stick with the same match all evening. At the beginning and end of each match, balls should be wiped down with provided disinfectant.

Participants Attending Recreational Sport Programs or Leagues Responsibilities

• Anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or awaiting test-results must self-isolate until: o It’s been 3 full days of no fever without the use of fever-reducing medication, and

o Other symptoms have improved, and

o At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

• If symptoms begin while participating in sport, the individual must be sent home as soon as possible. Keep sick participants separate from well participants and limit staff contact as much as possible.

• People with a temperature greater than 100.4 F must be sent home until they have and no fever for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

• Equipment, and other supplies touched by participants must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected regularly, although recreational sport programs and leagues should limit sharing these materials as much as possible.

• No spitting on the field or sideline.

• No sharing of water bottles.

• Do not touch or share other players equipment, pinnies, etc.

• Players must keep their jersey on while on the field and within the general vicinity of the field of play.

• “Arrive, Play, Leave”. No gathering at the field or in the parking lot after games.

• Spectators should be kept to a minimum, and must follow current state social gathering limits and physical distancing guidelines.

• Personal equipment should be stored in a bag immediately following each game or training session. Clothes / uniform should be laundered and all personal equipment sanitized after each game or training session.

• Players are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer for use or wash their hands prior to, at half time, between innings, and immediately following a game or training session.

• Practice physical distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.

• No group celebrations. No celebrations that require physical contact.

• Respect other players. If you have concerns of being ill, STAY HOME!!!

• If you’re not comfortable returning to play, PLEASE DON’T. You are the only person who knows yourself best. Do what you feel is right.

• All participants should wear a cloth face covering prior to and immediately following each game or training session.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with hands.

• Voluntarily sign the Communicable Disease Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk.

What if someone in the league contracts COVID-19?

Hopefully, this will not happen. However, if it should, we will use the contact information you provided on the team rosters (or daily attendance sheet for subs), to reach out each of you and notify you this has occurred. It is strongly encouraged, at this point, that you contact your health care professional for further guidance on actions to take.

We will also be notifying all parks and rec departments of the incident, and reaching out to the Vermont Contact Tracing team at the Vermont Department of Health for further instructions.

When will a player who has contracted COVID-19 be allowed to play?

As per the CDC, conditions that will need to be met before any player that contracts COVID-19 will be allowed to resume play include: o At least 3 days has passed with no fever; and,

o Symptoms have improved (i.e., cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, etc.); and,

o It has been at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared.

We Encourage the Following Healthy Hygiene Behaviors

• Avoid touching your face.

• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used if soap and water are not readily available. Follow these 5 steps for hand washing or hand sanitizing every time.

a. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap with paper towel and apply soap.

b. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

c. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

d. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

e. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

• Players should bring and use hand sanitizer prior to, during and after sessions when handwashing is not available.

• Cover mouth and nose (with arm or elbow, not hands) when coughing or sneezing and wash hands afterward.

• Frequently clean commonly used surfaces and equipment with an antiseptic cleanser.

• Avoid contact with other individuals (shaking hands, for example).

• Stay home if you feel sick and contact your health care provider.

Cloth Facial Coverings

It is recommended that all players, coaches, officials, staff and spectators have a cloth facial covering in their possession for times when physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Face coverings should be worn as much as possible. The CDC acknowledges that face coverings may be challenging for players (especially young players) to wear while playing sports. Organizations should strongly encourage players to wear face coverings while not engaged in active play (e.g., during warm-ups, while on the sideline or in the dug-out).