Sample COVID-19 Guidelines For Amateur Sports Tournaments

(Note: These are general guidelines developed from CDC, state, and governing body sources. Sport-specific additions, deletions, and changes to these guidelines should be made. In addition, these guidelines should be modified to comply with state and local laws and guidelines as regards COVID-19)

Page Under Construction: Last updated: 6-29-20

COVID-19 And Amateur Sports

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. While the risk of serious illness or loss of life is greatest in those 65 years of age or older with pre-existing health conditions, persons in every age group can become infected with COVID-19 and some may become seriously ill or even die.

With rare exceptions, COVID-19 is not claiming the lives of our children. However, a child with a mild or even asymptomatic case of COVID-19 can spread that infection to others who may be far more vulnerable.

COVID-19 is spread from person to person through contact that is close enough to share droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, speaking, and even just breathing. COVID-19 can also be spread by touching objects where contaminated droplets have landed followed by touching of mouth, nose, or eyes. Due to this easy manner of transmission, an infant, child, young person, or adult who is infected with COVID-19 can spread the infection to others with which they come into contact, such as members of their household, coaches and players. Infected persons with mild or even no symptoms can spread COVID-19.

Due to these risks, sports organizations are adopting and implementing return to play protective guidelines such as the ones listed below to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 transmission. Many of these guidelines have been adjusted for youth in sporting activities and a result are not as strict as what could be applied for adults in other social and business settings.

Parents should monitor the health of their children and not send them to participate in sports events if they exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19. Adult participants should do the same. They should seek COVID-19 testing promptly and report results to team staff and sports organization officials given the implications for other participants, families, and staff. Parents of minor participants and adult participants should protect any vulnerable persons in the same household with whom they come into frequent, close contact. They should also be aware of the enhanced risks for those age 65 or over and/or with compromised immune systems for 14 days after such frequent, close contact.

These are minimum guidelines to reduce COVID-19 transmission risks for players, staff (event and team), parents/guardians, and spectators.

COVID-19 Coordinator: Appoint a COVID-19 coordinator to oversee all aspects of the COVID-19 risk management plan including customization, implementation, monitoring, updates/changes, communications, staff training, regulatory compliance, documentation, and answering participant, parent/guardian and staff questions about COVID-19 concerns.
State And Local COVID-19 Mandates And Guidelines: In addition to these minimum guidelines, you should follow all state and local mandates and guidelines as regards COVID-19 and youth sports including but not limited to start dates and limitations on crowd sizes.
Waiver / Release: An approved Minor waiver/release with COVID-19 language form should be signed by all parents/guardians and players prior to participation. An approved Adult Waiver/Release with COVID-19 language should be signed prior to participation by all event staff and team staff who are employees, independent contractors, or volunteers
Signage: COVID warning signage should be conspicuously posted at entry, exit, and in bathrooms warning of COVID-19 risks and what steps can be taken to reduce such risks such as social distancing, use of face coverings, frequent hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer, and enhanced risks to those with underlying conditions and over the age of 65.
Duty To Disclose, Quarantine, And Return To Activity: If a staff member or player has tested positive for COVID-19, exhibits symptoms but has not been tested, or has had close contact, such staff member or parent/guardian on behalf of player must immediately notify the COVID-19 coordinator and must remain in quarantine until meeting state or CDC Criteria For Discontinuing Home Isolation. Return to activity should be cleared by the COVID-19 coordinator who may require written clearance from a health care professional.
Stay Home When Appropriate: Players, staff, parents/guardians, and spectators should stay home or at the motel under isolation when they are showing signs of COVID-19, have a temperature, or have had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
If COVID Symptoms Exhibited At Tournament: If a staff member, player, parent/guardian, or spectator exhibits symptoms during an event, they should immediately be separated and sent home or to a health care facility depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Duty To Inform, Quarantine, And Return To Activity: Any staff member or player who has tested positive for COVID-19, exhibits symptoms but has not been tested, or has had close contact must immediately notify the COVID-19 coordinator and must remain in quarantine until meeting state or CDC Criteria For Discontinuing Home Isolation. Return to activity should be cleared by the COVID-19 coordinator who may require written clearance from a health care professional.
Notification To Third Parties: The COVID-19 coordinator should notify local health officials, staff, and family members of participants immediately of any lab confirmed case of COVID-19 for any staff member or participant while complying with local and state privacy/ confidentiality laws as well as with HIPAA and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Daily Screening: Conduct pre-event observation and/or questioning of all players and staff about the existence of any COVID-19 symptoms including cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or known close contact with person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19.
Social Distancing: All players, staff, parents/guardians, and spectators not of the same household should practice social distancing of 6 ft. whenever possible.
No Congregation: Team staff, players, parents/guardians, and spectators should not congregate prior to the event and should stay in cars until right before warm ups and should avoid other groups that are leaving the prior event. Players, parents/guardians, spectators, and team staff should quickly exit after the event and go directly to their cars without congregating with other teams or spectators in common areas.
Team Check In Process: Team staff and players should continue social distancing during the team check in process for competitions. There should be a single point of contact for teams during events.
Pre-Game Warm Ups: During pre-game, players and staff should maintain the 6 ft. distance if possible during warm ups and drills and should only have close contact during actual competition.
Staff Face Coverings: Staff are encouraged to wear face coverings whenever within 6 ft. of another player, staff member, or parent.
Player Face Coverings: Players are encouraged to wear face coverings in close contact areas and situations where applicable. Players should be allowed to wear face coverings in competition should they choose to do so as long as they don’t compromise their safety.
Parent / Spectator Face Coverings: Parents and spectators are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings whenever they are at the facility and within 6 ft. of a person not of the same household.
Personal Hygiene: Staff, players, parents/guardians, and spectators should practice proper hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol), abstain from touching their face (mouth, nose or eyes), refrain from spitting, and cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw tissue in the trash. In addition as a back up, players and staff should carry their own hand sanitizer.
Player Equipment: Player provided equipment should be kept in a bag and should be spaced to encourage social distancing. Players should bring their own disinfectant wipes to wipe down their own equipment between use.
Shared Equipment: The use of team provided equipment should be limited to the greatest extent possible and should be disinfected between each use if possible. Balls should be disinfected whenever possible and an adequate supply should be kept on hand.
Water Bottles: No team or dugout coolers should be provided. Parents should provide separate marked water bottles or sports drink for their child.
No Contact: No Handshake Policy: A strict no contact policy will be observed for customary game-related activities such as pre-game coaches’ handshakes, umpire-coach-player introductions, and post-game handshakes between members of opposing teams. Instead, officials, players, and coaches should use verbal queues such as saying “good game”, without shaking hands, high-fiving, or fist-bumping.
Facility Modification: Facility entrances and exists should be set up at separate locations whenever possible. Discontinue the use of physical posting of brackets, rules, etc. and instead post online.
Facility Washing / Hand Sanitizer Stations: The tournament host should provide hand washing and/or hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility and near dugouts.
Facility Sanitation: The tournament host will regularly clean and sanitize all common areas including dugouts, other seating, water fountains, bathrooms, concession stands and similar areas between games and activities. The tournament host will also provide cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer near all dugouts or other player seating areas. See CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facility including what cleaning products to use and steps for safe disinfectant use.
Concessions: Concession staff must wear gloves and face coverings; practice social distancing whenever possible with co workers; frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and after all potential contamination events; may use hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) but not as a substitute for hand washing; frequently sanitize all surfaces; mark off 6 ft. spacing for patron lines; minimize handling of cash, credit cards, and mobile devices whenever possible.
Before The Event: Team staff should wipe down and sanitize all dugout and other sideline seating areas including railings and equipment racks.
After The Event: After the completion of the event, the team staff should remove and dispose of all trash.
Awards: All team or player awards will be presented wrapped up and given to the team manager, or his/her designee. There will not be any presentation on the field.

DISCLAIMER AND HOLD HARMLESS/INDEMNIFICATION

THIS SAMPLE COVID-19 RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL GUIDELINES AND EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS TRAINING AND IS NOT AN ALL ENCOMPASSING PLAN. THIS SAMPLE PLAN MAY CONTAIN INCORRECT INFORMATION OR MAY OMIT CRITICAL INFORMATION. EACH SPORTS ORGANIZATION SHOULD CONSULT OTHER SOURCES AND EXPERTS IN ORDER TO CUSTOMIZE THEIR OWN PLANS. NO LEGAL ADVICE IS BEING PROVIDED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN IS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF LIABILITY. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT A SAFETY PROGRAM AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF STAFF, PARTICIPANTS, PARENTS/GUARDIANS, SPECTATORS, HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OR OTHER THIRD PARTIES. SADLER AND COMPANY, INC.; DBA SADLER SPORTS & RECREATION INSURANCE DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY RESULTING FROM THE DISSEMINATION OF THIS PLAN. IN EXCHANGE FOR RECEIPT OF THIS INFORMATION, SPORTS ORGANIZATION AND ITS RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATORS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY SADLER AND COMPANY, INC.; DBA SADLER SPORTS & RECREATION INSURANCE AND ITS RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES FOR ANY CLAIMS OF BODILY INJURY (INCLUDING ILLNESS OR SICKNESS), PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY (EX: SLANDER, LIBEL, FALSE IMPRISONMENT, ETC.), ADVERTISING INJURY, BREACH OF CONTRACT, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY VIOLATIONS OR OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEY’S FEES) TO THEMSELVES OR THIRD PARTIES.