Canton Youth Soccer Club Return to Play Measures for the Fall 2020 Season
The following information is intended to describe the "new normal" for our youth soccer program. It is here to help portray the precautions and mitigations we are taking to help you feel comfortable having your child participate in our program. Note: The mitigations listed are all targeted for the behaviors around the game. The game itself is allowed to be played as it has always meant to be. 

Guidelines and Responsibilities 

Players	Coaches	Parents	Referees
If feeling sick: Any player who is sick, has a persistent cough, is running a temp, or is displaying any symptoms suggesting that the individual may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  With the help of parents, players must self assess their condition and share with their coaches that they are feeling healthy. Posted on this page is a self assessment tool from the MayoClinic. A minor who is displaying the above symptoms will need to be safely isolated on the premises until an adult responsible for the minor can take them home.	If feeling sick: Any coach who is sick, has a persistent cough, running a temp or is displaying symptoms that they may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.	If feeling sick: Any parent who is sick, has a persistent cough, running a temp or is displaying symptoms that they may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.	If feeling sick: Please contact our club Ref Assignor or Club President immediately if you show any signs of the previously mentioned symptoms so a replacement can be found for your game.   If you have contact info for other certified refs that may be available, reach out to them if needed as well.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.
Face Masks: Players must wear masks when in the playing environment and not playing. Wear it during close quarters on the sidelines or during breaks. Wear it coming to the field and when you leave the field. Not necessary or intended to be worn during active play. Parents may chose to have their player wear a face mask during active play.	Face Masks: Coaches are required to wear appropriate face coverings during practices and games. Do your best to get used to talking to the kids while wearing a face mask.  Coaches are required to ensure all players have face masks with them on the premises.	Face Masks: All parents and attendees of games and practices are required to wear face masks at all times and follow all social distancing guidelines. Failure to do so will result in removal from the premises.	Face Masks: Be sure to wear a face mask when entering and leaving the premises. Not necessary to be worn during active play but you may choose to do so.
Personal Belongings: Do not share equipment. Players should have their own water bottle(s), soccer ball, shin guards, pinnies and bags. Keep all belongings packed up in personal bags while on the field.  Players are also responsible for bringing their own face masks and hand sanitizer to any soccer activity. These items should now be a staple in their soccer bags.	Field Help: Have an assistant and a team parent. Utilize your team parent to help keep the kids belongings cleaned up/packed up and separated on the field.   Suggested role for your assistant coach: handle set up of all practice gear such as cones, flags and/or pug goals for the duration of the season.	Drop Off/Pick Up: Please be highly cognizant to times and be very prompt for drop off & pick up. Leave the premises promptly to minimize contact if there are other activities going on on the field.	Game Guidelines: Generally business as usual for referees.
Physical Contact: Minimize physical touching between players and coaches. Coaches shall ensure that all players avoid high fives, handshakes, fist bumps and hugging. We understand this may be very difficult, especially for the younger kids but we need to be diligent in enforcing this protocol. Please discuss this with your players ahead of time.	Physical Contact: Ensure that there is no high fives, hands shakes, fist bumps and hugging at any point during games and practices.	Physical Contact: Please discuss with your children, that while it may be difficult, they need to minimize all physical contact between players and coaches.	Physical Contact: Verbal thank you's, waving and head nods should be implemented with players and coaches.  No hand shakes, high fives or fist bumps.  No handshakes for the coin toss.
Field Equipment: Discuss with your players that cones, pug goals, flags, etc are only to be handled by their coaches.	Attendance: You or your assistant needs to keep an attendance log of every player, coach and volunteer at games & practices.  Ask how everyone is feeling at the start of practices and games. Keep documentation with your attendance log.	Viewing Options: Where applicable, reserve areas where activities are viewable from a parked car for vulnerable spectators.   Consider FaceTime or Facebook Live to share games with vulnerable family members.

 

Players	Coaches	Parents	Referees
If feeling sick: Any player who is sick, has a persistent cough, is running a temp, or is displaying any symptoms suggesting that the individual may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  With the help of parents, players must self assess their condition and share with their coaches that they are feeling healthy. Posted on this page is a self assessment tool from the MayoClinic. A minor who is displaying the above symptoms will need to be safely isolated on the premises until an adult responsible for the minor can take them home.	If feeling sick: Any coach who is sick, has a persistent cough, running a temp or is displaying symptoms that they may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.	If feeling sick: Any parent who is sick, has a persistent cough, running a temp or is displaying symptoms that they may be ill will be prohibited from attending practices or games.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.  Any adult attendee displaying the above symptoms will be asked to leave.	If feeling sick: Please contact our club Ref Assignor or Club President immediately if you show any signs of the previously mentioned symptoms so a replacement can be found for your game.   If you have contact info for other certified refs that may be available, reach out to them if needed as well.  Posted on this page is a self-assessment tool from the MayoClinic.
Personal Belongings: Do not share equipment. Players should have their own water bottle(s), soccer ball, shin guards, pinnies and bags. Keep all belongings packed up in personal bags while on the field.  Players are also responsible for bringing their own face masks and hand sanitizer to any soccer activity. These items should now be a staple in their soccer bags.	Face Masks: Coaches are required to wear appropriate face coverings during practices and games. Do your best to get used to talking to the kids while wearing a face mask.  Coaches are required to ensure all players have face masks with them on the premises.	Face Masks: All parents and attendees of games and practices are required to wear face masks at all times and follow all social distancing guidelines. Failure to do so will result in removal from the premises.	Communication: Verbal thank you's, waving and head nods should be implemented with players and coaches.  No hand shakes, high fives or fist bumps.  No handshakes for the coin toss.
Face Masks: Players must wear masks when in the playing environment and not playing. Wear it during close quarters on the bench, on the sidelines or during breaks. Wear it coming to the field and when you leave the field. Not necessary or intended to be worn during active play. Parents may chose to have their player wear a face mask during active play.	Help On The Field: Have an assistant and a team parent. Utilize your team parent to help keep the kids belongings cleaned up/packed up and separated on the field.   Suggested role for your assistant coach: handle set up of all practice gear such as cones, flags and/or pug goals for the duration of the season.	Viewing Options: Where applicable, reserve areas where activities are viewable from a parked car for vulnerable spectators.   Consider FaceTime or Facebook Live to share games with vulnerable family members.	Game Guidelines: Generally business as usual for referees.
Physical Contact: Minimize physical touching between players and coaches. Coaches shall ensure that all players avoid high fives, handshakes, fist bumps and hugging. We understand this may be very difficult, especially for the younger kids but we need to be diligent in enforcing this protocol. Please discuss this with your players ahead of time.	Attendance: You or your assistant needs to keep an attendance log of every player, coach and volunteer at games & practices.  Ask how everyone is feeling at the start of practices and games. Keep documentation with your attendance log.	Drop Off/Pick Up: Please be highly cognizant to times and be very prompt for drop off & pick up. Leave the premises promptly to minimize contact if there are other activities going on on the field.	Face Masks: Be sure to wear a face mask when entering and leaving the premises.
Field Equipment: Discuss with your players that cones, pug goals, flags, etc are only to be handled by their coaches.	Physical Contact: Ensure that there is no high fives, hands shakes, fist bumps and hugging at any point during games and practices.	Physical Contact: Please discuss with your children, that while it may be difficult, they need to minimize all physical contact between players and coaches.

If a team member or coach contracts COVID-19, all practices and games will be canceled for that team and any additional team associated with it for 14 days. 

If a player or coach is sent home with symptoms, they can return when they have no fever, symptoms have improved, and they receive 2 negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart (CDC guidelines) 

At any time if you have any issues, concerns, suggestions or positive experiences you would like to share, please reach out to any member of our Return To Play committee (contact info can be found on this page). All of us on the Board of Directors want you and your child to have a safe and positive experience. It is our hope with these protocols we can have an enjoyable time watching and playing soccer again. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation as we all learn and grow in this "new normal" together. 

See YOU on the fields!!!
The Canton Youth Soccer Club Board of Directors 

*Return to Play Protocols have been approved by Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) and the Northeast District of CJSA