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*** Important COVID-19 Information *** (updated 9/2/2021)

Click Here for the National AYSO COVID-19 Guidelines

Region 9 will be abiding by all guidelines and rulings issued by:

Face Coverings Q&A

Will unvaccinated children and youth be required or recommended to wear a mask during recess outdoors if they cannot maintain physical distancing?

In general, unvaccinated children and youth do not need to wear a mask outdoors, even if they cannot maintain physical distancing. However, per CDC recommendations, in areas of substantial to high transmission, people who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact (including high-risk contact sports) with other people who are not fully vaccinated.

Should I keep my mask on in the locker room and weight room?

Yes, masks are required indoors for all unvaccinated persons. Much of sports-related transmission is known to occur off the field. Universal masking is also strongly recommended, especially in crowded indoor communal spaces where distancing cannot be maintained or athletic areas with poor ventilation. This includes weight rooms, locker rooms, team meetings, and social gatherings.

What if wearing a mask may cause a safety hazard?

Masks are required for unvaccinated persons while playing all indoor sports unless wearing a mask poses a choking hazard[1].  For these activities, CDPH recommends at least one of the following:

  • Performing the activity outdoors;
  • Performing at least weekly screening testing with either PCR testing (1:1 or pooled PCR) or antigen testing of all unvaccinated individuals participating in these indoor activities.

COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports

When should face masks be worn?

The risks and benefits of indoor sports, in addition to the current community prevalence of COVID-19, should be carefully considered when making decisions about continuing or resuming indoor sports. Face masks have been shown to decrease transmission rates of SARS-CoV-2, including in the context of indoor sports. Proper use of a face mask for all indoor sports training, competition, and on the sidelines is strongly recommended for people who are not fully vaccinated, except in the case where the mask bears a safety risk, as outlined below. Proper face mask use during indoor sports decreases risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to rates as low as with outdoor sports.

Face masks have been shown to be well tolerated by most people who wear them for exercise; the mask may need to be removed under certain circumstances. Face masks should not be worn for competitive cheerleading (tumbling/stunting/flying) and gymnastics (while on the different apparatuses) because of the theoretical risk that the mask may get caught on objects and become a choking hazard or accidently impair vision. During wrestling contact, a face mask could become a choking hazard and is discouraged unless an adult coach or official is closely monitoring for safety purposes. People who swim/dive/participate in water sports should not wear a face mask while they are in the water, because a wet face mask may be more difficult to breathe through. Any face mask that becomes saturated with sweat should be changed immediately. If other sport-specific scenarios arise in which a face mask may obstruct a person’s view or become a choking hazard, league officials should use their discretion to determine whether risk of mask use outweighs risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Sports performed outside are lower risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and a face mask may not be necessary for all sport-related activities. For outdoor sports, athletes who are not fully vaccinated should be encouraged to wear face masks on the sidelines and during all group training and competition in which there is sustained contact of 3 feet or less.

All athletes who are not fully vaccinated should always wear a face mask between practice drills, on the sidelines, arriving at or departing from the playing facility, in a locker room, while not on the playing field, and during shared transportation to/from an event. All people, regardless of vaccine status, should consider wearing a face mask in crowded indoor spaces, such as a in locker room and during shared transportation. It is important that the face mask fits the athlete well and is worn over the nose and below the chin. If the face mask is removed for a break, the athlete should remain at least 3 feet away from all other people. Face masks should be worn by coaches, officials, spectators, and volunteers at all times, unless fully vaccinated. Coaches and other club/school officials should monitor proper use and encourage all athletes to have a properly worn face mask in place in accordance with the above guidance and local regulations.

AYSO COVID-19 REPORTING PROTOCOLS AND GUIDANCE

IMPORTANT AYSO REGION 9 COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
September 2, 2021

New guidance AYSO National and local government officials regarding the reporting of COVID and related protocols. See Guidance and Information sources at the end of this notice.

First, we continue to encourage any spectators at training and games to maintain physical distancing (6 ft+). We also continue to ask coaches and players to also maintain physical distancing (6 ft+) when not active on the field.  Anyone is welcome to also wear a mask whether playing, coaching or observing.

IDENTIFY
Recognizing the symptoms and acting are important steps to reducing the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to review the recommendations issued by the Center for Disease Control. The County asked us to refer families to them as situations and recommendations may differ on a family by family basis.

ISOLATE
Any, player, volunteer, spectator who has COVID-19 symptoms should self-quarantine and seek appropriate medical advice and/or care.

REPORT
Families and any volunteer should self-report to the Region 1) if they have symptoms of COVID-19, 2) a positive test for COVID-19, or 3) were exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

AYSO will make every effort to protect the confidentiality and privacy of all involved including never revealing the name of the individual or family reporting a case of COVID-19 except to the local health agency as required.

Steps For Reporting:
1)     Families should report to their Team Manager or Coach

2)     Coaches will fill out the AYSO Injury Incident Report for the reporting player and/or volunteer

3)     Coaches will send the Injury Incident Report to the Safety Director ([email protected])

4)     The Regional Commissioner will send the report to the AYSO National office and contact County of Ventura Health Officials with contact info

5)     Regional Commissioner will notify coach/team/parent affected families with Health Official instructions

RETURN
1)     Families will fill-out and sign a Return to Play form indicating the person(s) is symptom free and fulfilled the Ventura County quarantine time frame – and then can return AYSO events (practices, games, meetings, etc.). This form should be sent to the Safety Director ([email protected]).

2)     The Region will advise coaches and families on when they can resume activities


The safety and well-being of all our participants and families is our first priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work through these difficult times. Please continue below for more detailed guidance from the County of Ventura Health Department staff as well as links to more resources.

Sincerely,
Kathryn and Brendon Moore
Regional Commissioners

 

GUIDANCE FROM THE COUNTY OF VENTURA

General Guidance (Aug 13, 2021):
1.     Report COVID-19 positives and Exposed individuals to Public Health as part of the reportable diseases.

2.     Identify through screening (before the game) any symptomatic players/coach/support staff. Isolate and send them home immediately.

3.     As soon as someone is reported as positive, do not let them play that day and send home immediately.

4.     Identify two days before the positive person’s last day of attendance in order to count close contact exposed individuals (close contact: 15 mins or with the positive person, who were within 6 feet or closer in the last 24 hours).

5.     Create a list (also known as line list) to identify who exactly fits the close contact definition

6.     Quarantine all close contacts and isolate the positive people

7.     Recommend all of the exposed people to get tested 3-5 days post last exposure

8.     Monitor symptoms

9.     Clean and disinfect areas any shared items, commonly used places

10.   Notify parents to answer Public Health’s calls for case investigations

Scenario Guidance (Aug 13, 2021):
These scenarios generated the following recommendations

YOUTH SPORTS SCENARIO A
1) Team A has a player at practice who tested positive within 2 days after practice (2 day count back if was not symptomatic or if we don't know) 

2) All on team A should quarantine, monitor symptoms and is asked to test within 3-5 days of the potential exposure - and then test again at 10th day if had been negative (can take up to 14 days to show up)

YOUTH SPORTS SCENARIO B
1) Team B - A sibling/parent has someone in their household (close contact) - or has come in close contact with someone (within 6 ft for 15 min in 24 hr. period) who tested positive within 2 days of the last Team B practice. They themselves have no symptoms.

2) All on team B - not a hard quarantine but monitor symptoms and asked to test within 3-5 days of the potential exposure - and then test again at 10th day if it had been negative (can take up to 14 days to show up) - even if no symptoms the County would like you tested because can carry and be asymptomatic. The individual who had close contact but does not show symptoms should get tested with 3-5 days and again at the 10th day.

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