Warminster Soccer Club Safety Expectations & Requirements

Revised 1/25/2022

Warminster Soccer Club will continue to follow guidance set-forth by the Center for Disease Control and Pennsylvania Department of Health when setting Club safety expectations and requirements relative to COVID-19. The rules and requirements that follow are effective immediately and applicable to all WSC members as well as those visiting our facilities for games, scrimmages, or training:

- The Pennsylvania Department of Health lifted the statewide masking order on June 28^th, 2021. In addition, local counties lifted the masking requirement for youth in sports during “high exertion” outdoor activities in May 2021. Therefore, masks are not required for youth participating in outdoor soccer activities.  

- Coaches and spectators are recommended to continue to wear well-fitted masks, whether fully vaccinated or not, if they cannot stay at least 6 feet apart from people who don’t live in the same household.

- No player, coach, trainer, or other approved team volunteer can attend practice if they are feeling sick. No exception. Temperature self-checks should be done prior to each practice or game. Participants should have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 10 days and no known exposure before sending him or her to training. When in doubt, stay home.

- If a player, coach, trainer, or other approved team volunteer receives a positive COVID-19 test, the individual and/or team representative must immediately notify a member of the WSC Board of Directors to assist in quarantine timing and return to play approval. Quarantine or self-isolation will be required as followed:

o If the individual has symptoms, they are required to self-isolate for 5 days. Isolation may end after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications and your symptoms are improving). You must wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others in public and should not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.

o If the individual does not develop symptoms, they are required to self-isolate for 5 days. Isolation may end after 5 full days however you must continue to wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others in public and should not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.

o Relative to the above timeline, Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test and Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.

- If a player, coach, trainer or other approved team volunteer is identified as a close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 (defined as being less than 6-feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hr period), the individual and/or team representative must immediately notify a member of the WSC Board of Directors to assist in quarantine timing and return to team approval. Quarantine or self-isolation will be required as followed:

o If the exposed individual IS NOT up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, they must self-isolate for 5 full days. Isolation may end after 5 full days however you must continue to wear a well-fitted mask for 10 full days any time you are around others in public and should not go places where you are unable to wear a mask. Even if you don’t develop symptoms, it is recommended you get tested at least 5 days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

o If the exposed individual IS up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations OR had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days, you do NOT need to quarantine or self-isolate UNLESS you develop symptoms. If you develop symptoms, isolate immediately and get tested – continue to stay home until you know the results. Whether symptomatic or not, individuals should continue to take precautions until day 10 including wearing a well-fitted mask any time in public.

o Relative to the above timeline, Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test and Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.

- Keep accurate records of those participants and approved volunteers who attend each practice or game to assist in close contact notifications as may be necessary.

- Social distancing of at least 6 feet should be maintained at all times, where feasible.

o Coaches should mark off space using cones or other suitable place markers to create individual areas for each participant and their equipment that is at least six feet from the next participants’ space. No participants or their equipment should be sitting together in a group.

o Social distancing should be maintained on the sidelines for all games - team benches or bleachers are prohibited as they do not allow for proper social distancing unless participants are wearing a mask when sitting within 6-feet of one another.

- Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

o Make sure to emphasize to all participants the importance of washing hands or using hand sanitizer before, during, and after competitions or practices.

- Each coach is required to carry a medical kit or bag equipped with gloves, extra face covering, sanitizer and facial tissues. Only one coach may attend to an injured player during which they must wear facial covering and gloves.

- Only coaches may touch or move equipment.

- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and equipment after training.

- No shared scrimmage vests or pinnies, equipment, or clothing.

- All water or related liquid brought by team participants must be labeled to reduce risk of accidental shared use.

- No spitting.

- Remember that parents determine their child’s participation – if they are not comfortable returning to play under these requirements, they should be allowed to return when comfortable without repercussions.

- Please allow for the team before you to exit the field prior to you entering, social distancing needs to continue to be maintained as teams transition within the facility and parking lot.

For Games & Scrimmages (beyond that which is required and described above):

- Participants/Players and approved Coaches will be on the same sideline as their teams spectators.

- Allow teams and supporters at previous games to leave the venue or field of play prior to entering.

- Coaches and participants should maintain social distancing during half-time, water breaks and at all times when off the field of play.

- We recommend no more than two (2) parent/supporters per player attend each game. It is strongly recommended that anyone over the age of 65 and/or with pre-existing conditions do not attend.