We hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and is excited for our upcoming Fall Soccer Season. We would like to review some of our organizations updated policies based on current guidelines provided to us by the State of Massachusetts, Mass Youth Soccer and local officials. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy; we will adapt our policies as new guidelines are provided to us.

Health and Safety Policies 

Cleaning and Sanitation

1. Offices and Equipment Storage
   1. Equipment Storage and Office Spaces will only be accessible by staff and employees.
   2. All high touch areas will be cleaned and disinfected frequently.
      1. Light switches, doorknobs, shared work surfaces, faucets and toilet handles.
2. Equipment
   1. All Equipment will be cleaned and sanitized between uses.
      1. Staff will remove visible dirt and then sanitize utilizing approved products.
   2. Equipment will only be accessed by authorized personnel and staff to limit the amount of access and contact
   3. Coaches will be required to clean and sanitize the equipment utilized during practices by their teams.
3. Bathroom Facilities
   1. Proper handwashing signage will be placed in each bathroom and/or hand sink.
   2. Bathrooms will be cleaned and stocked regularly or as needed following the CDC’s Best practices
      1. Hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer
   3. Bathrooms will be deep cleaned and sanitized at the end of each day

 PPE Provided

1. All staff (Coaches, Administrators, Volunteers etc.) will be provided gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies.
2. Hand sanitizer stations will be provided outside the bathrooms at the field house additionally in front of the snack bar

Trash Receptacles

1. Trash receptacles will be placed throughout the Kennedy Field Complex
2. Each person is responsible for throwing away their own trash and should not be picked up by anyone other than the originator.

 Health Verification

1. COVID Safety Officer
   1. Responsible for communicating policies organization wide to all staff, administrators, parents and players.
   2. Will develop a plan along with the Peabody youth Soccer Association Board to close down the league in the event of an outbreak or instructed to do so by local or state authorities in an effort to reduce continual spread of COVID.
2. Each team will have an Assistant Coach or COVID Coordinator to take attendance at soccer practices and games
   1. This person will attend practices and games monitoring the teams and documenting attendance for physical tracing.
      1. They will utilize an Excel Spreadsheet to record names and phone numbers of all who attended from each team for physical tracing
      2. They will send a copy of the record via email to COVID Safety Officer to place in each team's folder weekly.
      3. They will also help to ensure that all attendees follow that safety protocol in place.
   2. This person will notify the COVID Safety Officer and / or President of the league in the event of a close contact or confirmed case so that they can notify the health department and begin notifications if directed; based on team contacts that were turned in that week.
      1. The President and COVID Safety Officer will cancel practices and games for a minimum of 14 days for those teams that have been exposed to a confirmed case if directed to do so by local officials.
3. Coaches will be sending parents an email, text or app request with a reminder before each practice, game or any team event to remind you to stay home if you or your child are sick, symptomatic or have been exposed to COVID 19. 
   1. Are you sick? Are you experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms? (I.e. temperature of 100.3 or above, cough, difficulty breathing etc.)
   2. Have you or your child been exposed to someone with COVID-19? Have you been ordered or encouraged to self-quarantine?
   3. Parents are encouraged to take their child’s temperature before each event to ensure the child is healthy and is OK to play.

Masks

1. Ear-Loop Masks are strongly encouraged to be worn by all adults interacting with players.
   1. Masks are not required for the kids unless their parents require it
      1. Ear-loop Masks are the only ones allowed

Hygiene Practices

1. Shared equipment use is NOT allowed; all players must have their own equipment for each soccer event.
   1. Ear-Loop Mask (Only if parents require it)
   2. Soccer Ball (Size 3, 4 or 5 as defined by age group)
   3. Soccer cleats
   4. Shin-guards
   5. Soccer socks
   6. Goalie gloves - if they want to play goalie
   7. Hand sanitizer
   8. Personal tissues
   9. Water bottle
2. Hand Sanitizer is to be used before, after and during breaks or transitions at games and practices.
3. Coaches and staff will only be allowed to place equipment needed for practice drills or games as they will need to be cleaned and sanitized after each use.

Physical Distancing

1. Spectators
   1. Should spread out as much as possible while on the sidelines
2. Concession Stand
   1. Minimum of 3ft distancing should be maintained while waiting in line
   2. Coaches are asked to take their teams order and then present it to the attendants.
      1. We are trying to eliminate the congestion that would normally arise.

All adults are encouraged to read and understand the Mass Youth Soccer guidelines for more information. https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/assets/61/6/soccer_activities_protocols_september_1_2021.pdf

Thank you all in advance and for your understanding and coherence to the identified guidelines above. We understand the difficulty this presents, and the guidelines as defined by each youth sport is different based on the game play and level of contact.