MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
Try and keep a minimum 6ft when not playing
COMPLETE HEALTH CHECK
Before training and games
SANITIZE YOUR HANDS
Make sure you have sanitizer on hand
OUR COVID-19 PROTOCOLS (VERSION 4.0, PHASE 4)
RETURN TO PLAY
The health and safety of our families, players and coaches remains of the utmost priority. The club will always update all families with any new protocols.
PHASE 4 OF RETURN TO PLAY
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING (6FT)
HEALTH CHECK BEFORE GAMES
SANITIZE YOUR HANDS
EFFECTIVE JUNE 15TH, 2020, OUR CLUB MOVED TO PHASE 4 OF THE RETURN TO PLAY IN LINE WITH STATES GUIDELINES
Participation is at the choice of the family and player. Any training sessions are NOT mandatory, all age groups can continue to train and play.
Guidelines and information is fluid and may be subject to change as per government guidelines, should there be any changes, the club will update all families and members with the new protocols.
OUR RETURN TO PLAY PROCEDURE
Pre-participation: The period of time immediately to departing for training.
Arrival: The journey to the facility and subsequent arrival at training.
Training: The period of time on the field engaged in training.
Departure: Exiting the facility and the journey home.
Post-participation: The period of time at home after practice has concluded.
PRE-PARTICIPATION - PLAYER / PARENT
Decision: Families and players choose to attend training session. It is NOT mandatory to train. Continue to communicate with your coach and Director of Coaching.
Temperature: Check temperature at home before training.
Restrooms: There are porta johns at our complex with hand sanitizer, however, we recommend players use the bathroom at home before training to limit any exposure.
Waivers: Sign and submit updated waiver (under NO circumstances will a player be allowed to train and play without submitting the SA United waiver).
Sanitize: Pack hand sanitizer.
PRE-PARTICIPATION - CLUB / COACH
Follow guidelines: Coach is to ensure teams and players are familiar with the return to play protocols.
Waivers: Check that all waivers have been returned and signed.
Coach waiver: Coach to complete and sign adult waiver.
Masks: Coach to have mask available if appropriate distancing cannot be maintained.
Sanitize: Coach to have hand sanitizer.
Training space: Training space is provided by the club, the DOC is to provide coaches and team field assignments each week of training.
ARRIVAL AT OUR COMPLEX
Transport: We recommend that players ride to training only with members of their household.
Field assignment: On arrival at our complex, exit car and head to assigned field.
Parents and social distancing: Parents and siblings are recommended to stay inside their car, or practice social distancing if observing training from outside their vehicle.
Parent limit: One parent or supervising adult allowed into the complex to limit exposure.
Remain: Parent / guardian asked to remain at complex in case of inclement weather or injury.
TRAINING
Sessions: The coach can continue to hold full team sessions at regular length of 90 minutes.
Check: Please check with your coach and Director of Coaching, as the club may have shortened training sessions to deal with the continued spread of COVID-19 in our area.
Physicality: Opposed activity is permitted.
Coach participation: Coach can integrate into training sessions for instructional purposes; however, they are to practice social distancing from players where possible.
High fives: Do not high five, fist bump, hug, team huddle etc.
Throw ins: Coach is encouraged to limit activities that involved heading the ball, and use kick ins to restart games as opposed to throw ins.
Soccer balls: Players should not touch other player's soccer balls with their hands, feet only. Goalkeepers can handle with their gloves.
Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers can train as normal but are strongly encouraged to not touch their face with the gloves. Disinfect gloves when you get home.
Intensity: Coaches are to remain cautious of training session intensity to reduce injury and allow the players to acclimate back after a long period out of the game.
EQUIPMENT
No sharing: Do not share any water bottles or any other equipment such as towels.
Equipment sanitized: All coach's equipment including cones, balls, goals, mannequins and poles should not be handled by the players and should be disinfected after every use.
Training area: The training area is to be defined clearly so that the designated groups will not touch the same surfaces.
Soccer balls: Any balls provided by the coach where the players share them, should be disinfected after every session. Players are encouraged to disinfect their soccer ball after every session.
Training vests: Training vests are permitted for use but should be washed after every use. Training vests should not be passed from player to player within the same practice or used in two practices back to back by different individuals without washing.
GVTC SPORTSPLEX CONSIDERATIONS
Equipment: Players to place own belongings (backpack, water bottle) on the outside of the field, 10ft away from teammates belongings.
Sanitize: Coach and player should have hand sanitizer available.
Social distance: Parents and spectators are not allowed into the training area. Please stay in the parking area during training.
REINFORCEMENT
Guidelines: The distancing guidelines remain in play wherever possible per medical advice.
Misconception: A common misconception is that the players do not maintain distancing when in full contact soccer activity or training, so why enforce it? Well the answer is, the amount of time players come into contact with each other during training or games is 1-3 seconds on average at any one time. Medical guidance suggests that a longer duration of exposure is necessary to heighten risk of transmission or exposure in an open-air setting.
Before and after: The guidelines provided upon entry, exit, water breaks, team meetings etc. should be enforced as it's typical that gatherings such as these will be longer in duration and in size of group if not managed correctly.
Coach guidelines: Interactions from the coach should also follow said guidelines - maintaining social distancing or wearing masks for staff meetings or gatherings to eliminate any potential exposure / transmission from group to group.
DEPARTURE
Training completed: Coach to organize the training group to leave in an orderly fashion whilst maintaining 10ft distancing.
15 minute window: Sessions have been structured to provide a 15 minute window in between sessions to allow players to arrive and leave sessions safely, limiting exposure to the next training group arriving.
No socializing: Players are to leave the complex after training immediately. No socializing.
Vacate premises: Families are expected to leave the complex immediately once the training session has finished.
POST-PARTICIPATION
Health monitor: Continue to monitor health using the minimum standard health protocol checklist.
Reporting: Parent to report any health concerns to coaching staff and club directors immediately (after medical expert) if any symptoms arise to manage training schedules and help determine if safe to continue.
Attendance records: Coach to maintain an attendance record and report any confirmed cases immediately to club officials to allow the club to take appropriate action.
Our Academy program is a fantastic place for young athletes to continue their soccer education, while constantly challenging and developing their mind and body.
Q. Can we come out to the Sportsplex and see what the environment is like before registering?
A. Of course, we can arrange a free POE for your child and your family to experience our club.
Our Junior program focuses on our athletes learning to compete as a team, developing as an individual, enjoying the pursuit of excellence in a challenging environment.
Q. Entering into the competitive phase of soccer, what can we expect from the program?
A. We offer multiple levels of competitive play, with a club focus and philosophy on developing intelligent, skillful athletes.
Players moving into the Senior program begin to learn about our competition phase, while we develop them for successful high-school and college careers in sport and study.
Q. How do you help players with their college aspirations and recruitment?
A. With a dedicated program director, we provide each athlete with a guide and athlete profile, outlining a timeline to organize their goals and support them in the recruiting process.
Our Recreational program offers a low-cost, fun, creative and non-stressful environment, to not only develop soccer players, but for every player to participate on a team, regardless of their interest or ability.
Q. If my child really enjoys the program, are there any options for movement into the other club programs?
A. Yes of course. We actually have players who have excelled in the program and then progressed into our Academy and Junior programs to further their development.
Developing the very fundamentals of soccer, at the earliest time of a child's development, is crucial in their soccer education.
Q. What does your program offer my young child and why play so early?
A. Our program has a set curriculum based on ball mastery, and a fun challenging environment to instill a passion and love for the game.