HSA Select

HSA Select

Return to Play Guidelines

HSA Select Return to Play Guidelines are based on WYS Return to Play Guidelines, announcement/guidelines from Governor Inslee’s office and guidance from Seattle Parks.

This page includes the following topics:

Mask Mandate removed
Health Check
NPSL Gameday Protocols and Safety Plan Fall 2021
Covid-19 Coordinators
Field Maps

Mask Mandate Removed

July 3, 2021

To: All HSA Select Families

The governor's office fully re-opened the state on June 30th, after more than a year of restrictions. The mask mandate was removed for all vaccinated people, and is now just a suggestion for non-vaccinated people. But for those of us using Seattle Parks fields, which is city controlled, we had to wait for their permission to remove that mandate while practicing on their fields.

We just received notice Friday afternoon that Seattle Parks has officially adopted the state guidance listed here, effective immediately. This is a wordy document, but the applicable verbiage is:

People are not required to wear face coverings in any of the following situations:
- When outdoors. People who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are encouraged to wear face coverings in crowded outdoor settings.

This is great news for our players, as it has been a difficult year practicing with masks on. Even though the mask mandate has been removed, you are still welcome to send your player to practice with a mask.

HSA Select Committee

More information:

Washington Youth Soccer Return to Play Guidance
NPSL Gameday Protocols and Safety Plan Fall 2021 (Posted Sept. 5, 2021)
Order of the WA Secretary of Health Amending Order 20-03 (June 2021)
Sporting Activities COVID-19 Requirements (Updated June 2, 2021)

Health Check (Recommended)

All players and coaches are encouraged to do Health Checks prior to training and games.

If your team is using TeamSnap, there is a very easy process for players (and coaches) to complete the health check on the day of an event. The coach or team manager can check TeamSnap at the field and then check in with players who have not completed it.

General Overview

TeamSnap's health check is a questionnaire that opens 12 hours before an event and asks members questions recommended by the CDC for COVID-19 symptom screening. This paid plan feature is free to all TeamSnap customers during the COVID-19 pandemic and is available within all TeamSnap teams.

For more information on the TeamSnap Health Check, view:

If a team is not using TeamSnap, then the manual process is for the coach or team manager to ask each player the following questions. A Yes response to any question means the player should not participate.

Have you experienced a fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater in the past 14 days? Y/N
Have you received a positive result from a COVID-19 test within the past 14 days? Y/N
In the past 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone that has or had symptoms of COVID-19 that required you to quarantine? Y/N
In the past 14 days, have you or someone you have been in contact with traveled to an area that required quarantine upon return? Y/N
In the past 14 days, have you experienced any of these symptoms that are not attributed to another health condition: cough, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, shortness of breath, or a sore throat? Y/N

NPSL Gameday Protocols and Safety Plan Fall 2021

For Fall 2021, we will be adhering to:
NPSL Gameday Protocols and Safety Plan Fall 2021 (posted September 5, 2021).

FULL TEXT BELOW.

As of 8/29/2021, the WA State Governor’s Office and Department of Health are NOT requiring players, coaches, or spectators to wear masks at training or games, although they may chose to wear one. Physical distancing among spectators is strongly encouraged. WA Youth Soccer will continue to follow the guidance of these two offices with regards to the health and safety of players. Should any new guidelines come out that effect players, coaches, or spectators at training or games, this document will be updated and redistributed.

NOTE: Certain counties, clubs, or field providers may have tighter restrictions in place that may involve mask mandates, etc, and it is the responsibility of the hosting club to notify opponents in advance of what rules are in place.

IN CASE OF A POSITIVE COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS:

When an athlete is diagnosed with COVID-19:

Have the player stay home and isolate for 10 days.
If the infected player was in contact with their team within 48 hours of diagnosis (date of positive test or date of symptom onset) – whichever was earlier), notify the parents/guardians that “someone” on the team has tested positive for the virus (do not reveal name of infected individual). Outdoor soccer activities are considered low risk exposures and do not require quarantine unless >15 minutes of contact with the infected individual within 6 feet over 24 hours, or other special circumstances (ie, carpool, social or indoor exposure). Each player may choose to be tested for COVID-19 (especially non-vaccinated players).
If the infected player played in a game with their team within 48 hours of diagnosis, Club COVID Contact must notify the opposing team immediately with suggestions as above.
Infected player cannot return to practice or games until they have written medical clearance from their physician.
Disinfectant all equipment.

When a coach has come in contact with or is infected with COVID-19:

Get tested and stay home.
Contact your club immediately.
Inform the team – if you have maintained social distance from all your players, players do not necessarily need to get tested but it can be considered, as stated above.
Disinfect all equipment.

CLUB RESPONSIBLITIES:

By registering your team to the league, the club and their teams, coaches, players, and parents agree to follow all league protocols, policies, and responsibilities.
Provide opponents with any rules that are specific to your fields to be shared with visiting teams.
If possible, have separate ingress and egress points to minimize traffic flow coming into and leaving the field/complex. Send to opponents.
Provide adequate field space for social distancing.
All clubs are responsible for keeping attendance for which players are at every game.
Have an effective communication plan in place, identify strategies for working with public health to notify adult leaders, youth, and their families if the organization learns a participant or adult leader has developed COVID-19 and may have been infectious to others while at a youth activity, while maintaining confidentiality as per law.
Have an action plan in place, in case of a positive test (steps listed below in case of positive case)
Train and educate all staff to protocols and requirements, including state and local regulations, CDC recommendations, and other necessary information.
Clubs should forward by email to coaches, players, and parents, all league protocols, policies, and expectations around game day.
Clubs will email their referee group about all league protocols, policies, and expectations around game day.
Clubs will communicate any cancelations or shutdowns as quickly as possible to all team administrators and club leadership.
Clubs will designate a COVID-19 contact person for any positive cases to communicate with opposing teams and referee assignor should a case arise around a game weekend.
Clubs should communicate with coaches, players and parents that COVID-19 protocols will follow local public health and CDC guidelines.

COACH RESPONSIBILITIES:

No coach that is sick or has signs or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 should attend.
Maintain physical distance (>6 feet) as much as possible.
Masks are recommended.
Make sure that your team has left the field within 5 minutes of the game ending.
Clustering of players should be avoided. There should be no gathering and socializing before or after the game by players. Coaches should not assemble their teams closely together for instruction; players should be spaced at least 6 feet apart for team meetings or instruction.
No handshakes or fist bumps during or after the game.

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES:

No player that is sick or has signs or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 should attend.
Wait until prior game’s teams have vacated the bench area before entering the space.
Masks are recommended on the sidelines when not playing.
Soccer bags should be placed at least 6 feet apart from one another where possible.
Use hand sanitizer before and after the game.
Clustering of players should be avoided.
No handshakes or fist bumps during or after the game.

PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITIES:

No parent/guardian/caregiver or player that is sick or has signs or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 should attend.
Spectators should remain socially distanced as much as possible.
Masks are recommended.
Do not loiter around field. Avoid gathering of people.

SCHEDULING:

Schedule games with time buffers in between where possible to allow minimal contact between games.
If the scheduled home team does not have field availability, they should work with the away team to host the match on the scheduled day.
Should both teams not be able to make the scheduled game day work, but there is an open date acceptable to both teams that can be scheduled, teams may do so.
No forfeiture fees for last minute cancellations due to COVID-19 will be assessed.

CLUB PLAYER PASS:

Player pass may be used in the event of injuries/ sickness to provide enough players to field a team up to (14) players for 11v11, (12) players for 9v9, and (10) players for 7v7 matches.
Teams may only use up to 3 player passes for any game.
All player passes must be monitored and recorded by the club for contact tracing purposes.

REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Before leaving for the field, Referees should ask themselves the following questions:

Have you knowingly come into contact with anyone who has, is being tested for, or is exhibiting signs of coronavirus?
Are you exhibiting any of the following symptoms which are not caused by any other condition?
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
If the referee answers yes to any of these questions, they should notify their assignor and refrain from officiating the game.

Pre-Game:

The referee crew should set up their belongings in an area away from all others while maintaining 6-ft/2-yd space from each other.
Assistant referees are expected to bring their own flags to the field. The flags don’t need to match each other.
Referee equipment should not be shared, but if shared, it should be sanitized before and after the match.
Referees should carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for their own personal use.
Referees may use a regular whistle or an electronic whistle.
During the referee crew pregame discussion, continue to maintain 6-ft/2-yd space and insure all COVID-19 protocols are discussed.
Player Check-In:
- Rosters
  - Have the coach place the roster at the end of the bench to minimize close contact.
  - Have the coach read the player passes.
Coin Toss:
- No coin toss.
- While maintaining 6-ft space, the Home team picks direction to attack. Away team gets kick-off.
No player walkouts or handshakes prior to the game.

After the Game:

For contact tracing purposes, if a referee is to test positive for COVID after a match, they need to notify the assignor immediately. The assignor will be responsible for notifying the appropriate club official.