Port Washington Soccer Club

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Updated September 1, 2021

 

In anticipation of our Fall 2021 season, the board of directors of the Port Washington Soccer Club has implemented the following protocols to keep our players and families as safe as possible during club activities.  These protocols will be posted on our web site, and are subject to change without notice.

Generally, the club will follow CDC, state and local guidelines as well as recommended protocols outlined by U.S. Soccer on the ussoccer.com web site (and linked from the PWSC web site as well).  Further, players participating in travel soccer leagues will be subject to the specific protocols outlined by those leagues.

In addition to those guidelines, here are some specific details of our plans for both Intramural and Travel soccer programs:

 

General Guidelines for All Programs

• Vaccination – this is a personal choice for all players, parents and trainers.  While we believe many of our players 12 and older, as well as most parents and trainers are vaccinated, we must all use precautions that do not presume full vaccination of all participants and/or spectators.  Nevertheless, for outdoor activities (which comprise almost all PWSC fall season activities), CDC and local guidance presumes a much lower level of risk compared to indoor activities.
• To the extent possible, individuals should try to remain at least 6 feet apart, even in outdoor settings.
• All programs will incorporate scrimmaging, which cannot be kept 100% contact free; parents should consider whether or not their players should participate in any scrimmaging portions of training sessions, and should advise the player to refrain from such activities (trainers cannot manage such exclusions, so players will need to advise trainers if they will not participate in a scrimmage).
• Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions are recommended to obtain updated written clearance from a physician to participate.
• For individuals who have tested positive for Covid-19, they will need to provide confirmation of Covid-19 negative status to return to activities.
• For individuals (including players, coaches, trainers, managers and administrators) who have experienced known Covid-19 exposure in the past 10 days, the following is recommended:
  • home quarantine for up to 14 days and negative COVID-19 test. 
  • written confirmation of Covid-19 clearance from a physician (following CDC guidelines).
• Please report any onset of new symptoms immediately to president@portsoccerclub.com, and refrain from attending any PWSC activities until the above recommendations are followed and medical clearance is obtained.  We are a community, and must rely on our collective honesty to keep ourselves and our families as safe as possible.  Failure to report Covid-19 symptoms or a positive Covid-19 test result could adversely impact others in the club, and may, at the discretion of the board, result in suspension and/or expulsion from the PWSC (without any refunds).   

Intramural Soccer

As our youngest group, it is every adult’s (parents, guardians, coaches, managers, trainers) responsibility to uphold the rules of protocol that follows to ensure the safety of the players and members of the club.

Organization of Play:

• Players in the intramural program will be grouped into “pods” for the duration of the season, and will primarily train within their pods.
• Trainers for each pod may vary due to scheduling and conflicts. 

Safe Distance Protocol:

• While not mandatory, masks may be worn, at the option of each family, but we cannot require other players in a Pod to wear masks.
• Upon arrival at the field, players will be directed to their Pod’s home base, where there will be cones set up for each player to place their belongings.
• While at the field, players will be instructed to remain at a safe distance from other players.
• Parents must remain 6 feet away from the field’s touchlines (sidelines) or end-lines.
• It is recommended to uphold a 6-foot distance between families or groups while spectating.
• Trainers may wear masks when speaking in close quarters with players.  

Player Protocol:

• There is absolutely no sharing of water bottles.
• Every player should have a bag, clearly labeled with their name, containing hydration bottles, mask, hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol content), and sanitizing wipes to clean their soccer ball (as needed).
• The club will not provide sanitizer for all players. Each player must include this in their supplies.
• Each player is responsible for depositing their own garbage and wipes in trash cans at the field or at home.
• The club will not provide clean-up or sanitization.

 

Intramural Plus Soccer

To ensure the safety of our players in the Intramural Plus Soccer Program, the guidelines will be the same as the Intramural Program in addition to the following modifications below.

Organization of Play:

• The Intramural Plus program will be restricted to play amongst teams within the club. There will be no competition with teams outside of our club.

Safe Distance Protocol:

• Players may wear masks at the field, but we cannot require all other players to wear masks during their time at the field.
• Parents must remain 6 feet away from the field’s touchlines (sidelines) or end-lines.
• It is recommended to uphold a 6-foot distance between families or groups while spectating.
• Trainers may wear masks when speaking with players in close quarters.  

Player Protocol:

• All goalies should refrain from spitting on gloves and use a water-bottle to moisten them. 
• There is absolutely no sharing of water bottles.
• Every player should have a bag, clearly labeled with their name, containing hydration bottles, mask, hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol content), and sanitizing wipes to clean their soccer ball (as needed).
• The club will not provide sanitizer for all players. Each player must include this in their supplies.
• Each player is responsible for depositing their own garbage and wipes in trash cans at the field or at home.
• The club will not provide clean-up or sanitization. 

Issue Processing Protocol:

• If a parent or stakeholder has concerns regarding the inclusion or exclusion of any specific protocol or the implementation and execution of that protocol, they are required to report the issue to their Team Manager by email and copy the PWSC Board at president@portsoccerclub.com.  The issue will be resolved at the team level with the other parent stakeholders, but if an issue of compliance can't be resolved or is deemed too serious to resolve through additional risk mitigation, the board may take action to suspend some or all team activities.

Travel Soccer

To ensure the safety of our players in the Travel Soccer Program, they will follow the same guidelines as the Intramural Plus Program in addition to the following modifications below.

Safe Distance Protocol:

• Foldable team benches will be allowed, but players are encouraged to wear masks while sitting on benches (regardless of vaccination status).

Player Protocol:

• All goalies should refrain from spitting on gloves and use a water-bottle to moisten them, if necessary. 
• There is absolutely no sharing of water bottles.
• Every player from our club should have a bag, clearly labeled with their name, containing hydration bottles, mask, hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol content), and sanitizing wipes to clean their soccer ball (as needed).
• The club will not provide sanitizer for all players. Each player from our club must include this in their supplies.
• Each player and parent from our club is responsible for depositing their own garbage and wipes in trash cans at the field or at home.  If there is leftover trash at the field the team owns the responsibility to make sure it is disposed of.
• The club will not provide clean-up or sanitization. 

Travel Game Expectations:

• The club has no authority to influence protocols or standards applied by those who are not affiliated with the Port Washington Soccer Club.  These people may include opposing players, match officials, field officials, opposing parents, spectators, managers, coaches, trainers, etc.  While we would hope that third parties would participate with a duty of care that follows common sense safety protocols, we do not have the authority to influence their compliance.  All interactions with third party unaffiliated persons is at your own risk.  We ask that nobody try to enforce any protocols on unaffiliated persons in a way that violates social distancing or safety norms.  Instead, we ask that parents and team managers protect the safety of our players and members and distance themselves from any risks, or pull the team and parents from any risks that can't be resolved, even at the expense of forfeiting a game.

Issue Processing Protocol:

• If a parent or stakeholder has concerns regarding the inclusion or exclusion of any specific protocol or the implementation and execution of that protocol, they are required to report the issue to their Team Manager by email and copy the PWSC Board at president@portsoccerclub.com.  The issue will be resolved at the team level with the other parent stakeholders, but if an issue of compliance can't be resolved or is deemed too serious to resolve through additional risk mitigation, the board may take action to suspend some or all team activities.