COVID-19 Guidelines (Updated as of 1/3/2022)
Natick Soccer Club has updated our guidelines, recommendations and procedures to ensure the safety of all players, coaches, referees, parents & visiting teams. These protocols follow guidance from the State of Massachusetts, Natick Department of Health (DOH), Mass. Youth Soccer Association, and the Boston Area Youth Soccer League (BAYS).
As of MYSA’s last update for Indoor Guidelines on October 28, 2021, all Recommended Procedures and Protocols remain in place from the end of the Fall season.
Current guidelines for Winter Programming apply to all participants in Natick Soccer activities (players, coaches and spectators).
Natick Soccer Club – Winter Indoor Programming:
- Masks are REQUIRED to be worn at all times by players, coaches and administrators.
- Spectators are not currently permitted at Primetime or Longfellow, our 2 indoor winter programming locations.
- Parents must drop off and pick up players.
- Attendance will be taken at NSC Winter Programming.
GENERAL SAFETY STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES
- Relevant public health guidelines – including from the CDC – should be adhered to when attending all soccer activities.
- Guidelines set in place by the Natick Department of Health and the indoor facility will take precedence.
- Spectator limits and guidelines set by the indoor facility must be adhered to.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
All players and coaches should ensure that they complete a health assessment prior to participating in any soccer activities. This health assessment should consist of the following:
- Ensure the participant’s health. Take one’s temperature daily. A temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) most often means you have a fever caused by an infection or illness.
- If a player has any symptoms, even mild ones, do NOT attend Winter Programming, practice or a game.
COACHES
- It is required that all coaches wear face coverings for all indoor winter programming soccer activities.
- It is recommended that all coaches wear face coverings for all outdoor soccer activities.
- Maintain social distancing.
- Do not allow shared team snacks.
- No group celebrations, hugs, handshakes, fist bumps etc.
PLAYERS
- Face coverings are required for all indoor winter programming soccer activities.
- Players are required to follow local ordinances and the facility rules in regards to wearing face coverings.
- Participants and spectators should only drink from their own container.
- Players should maintain social distancing when not actively playing and while on the sidelines.
- CDC recommendations regarding vaccinations and protection should be followed for indoor soccer activities.
- Players should arrive dressed for soccer activities and leave immediately after.
SPECTATORS
- CDC/Public Health recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated spectators should be followed.
- Masks are recommended to be worn per the CDC Mask recommendations.
- Spectator limits and guidelines of the indoor facility must be adhered to.
FACILITY OPERATORS AND ACTIVITY ORGANIZERS
- Activity organizers and/or coaches should clean and disinfect any equipment provided at the end of each match or session.
POSITIVE CASE / CLOSE CONTACT PROTOCOL
Affected parties should notify coaches and the NSC COVID Safety Officer, Heather Bonner. If a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19, all team activities shall be halted only until the local department of health can be contacted for further direction.
If a player or coach is identified as a close contact in a setting other than a soccer related event, this should be reported to the COVID-19 Safety Officer by the coach or the player’s parent/guardian. A “close contact” is defined by the Natick Department of Health as an individual who has been within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive individual while indoors, for at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period.
Participating in soccer activities, including winter programming, will not be considered close contact.
The NSC may become aware of close contacts as a result of a player’s exposure at school or in another setting. In this instance, quarantine guidelines for return-to-play dates will be evaluated according to the following protocol vetted with the Natick Department of Health:
On December 28, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shortened the recommended time for isolation for individuals with COVID-19. Therefore, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health updated the isolation and quarantine guidelines for COVID-19 illness and exposure.
The Natick Department of Health has published the following updated quarantine protocol for positive cases:
With all close contact protocols, if a person is vaccinated they should follow the guidelines set by the CDC and local health officials. The Natick DOH has published the following updated quarantine protocol for close contact which varies based on vaccination type and status:
Fully vaccinated individuals are expected to monitor for symptoms and stay home and get tested if they experience symptoms.
Players participating in their school’s test and stay program are NOT allowed to participate in soccer activities unless/until they meet the exemption criteria for fully vaccinated close contacts above (i.e. wear a mask x 10 days after exposure, stay home for 5 days after exposure and wear a mask x 10 days after exposure).
The Natick Soccer Club is not privy to and does not participate in the test-and-stay program. Individuals identified as a “close contact” at school (as defined above) must follow the protocols for close contacts outlined above, even if a school letter, communication or email says they can go about their normal activities.
All players/coaches are expected to follow the quarantine process provided to them by the Natick DPH. A player can return to soccer activities on the return date issued by the Natick DPH.
The remainder of the team can continue to practice as normal.
https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/indoor_guidelines_october_28_2021.pdf