COVID Action Plan and Return to Play Guidelines

Wilmington Lacrosse Association (“WLA”) is committed to supporting youth lacrosse while protecting the health and safety of our WLA community.  In an effort to safely return to play this spring, the below COVID Action Plan and Return to Play Guidelines (collectively, the “Plan”) will be implemented by WLA.   All players, coaches, and parents/guardians, and spectators (collectively “participants”) will be required to read, understand, and comply with the Plan in order to participate in and/or attend any WLA events.  For the purpose of the Plan, WLA events include practices, games, and/or any activity or event in which WLA is involved. 

This Plan is subject to revision pending future announcements or decisions from, including but not limited to, WLA, the State of Delaware, Delaware Division of Public Health (“DPH”), national health organizations, our respective leagues, any other State where a WLA event is held, and any city, county or state office or private facility responsible for issuing park/field permits and/or field rental. WLA will communicate the Plan and any modifications to all participants. WLA reserves the right to enforce compliance with the Plan and will take corrective action, including removal from the WLA team and/or removal from the WLA event, for failure to comply.   If a WLA event is held in a state other than Delaware, all participants will also be subject to state/ local orders issued by the state where the event is held in addition to the Plan.

A.       General

1.  WLA will educate participants on the Plan, state and local regulations, and any other necessary information.

2.   Participants considered high risk for COVID-19 complications should continue to stay at home and are encouraged to obtain medical clearance for participation and/or attendance at a WLA event.

3.  SAFETY & HYGIENE COORDINATOR

Each program will have a Safety & Hygiene Coordinator (the “Coordinator” or “Coordinators” collectively).  All COVID-related communications/questions will be directed to the Coordinator for the program in which you play.  You can contact the Coordinators via email at the addresses below.    

• The Girls Program Safety & Hygiene Coordinator is: 
  • Jennifer O’Neal
  • Email: girls@wilmingtonlacrosse.com
• The Boys Program Safety & Hygiene Coordinator is:
  • Erin Walther
  • Email:  erin@wilmingtonlacrosse.com

4.  Notification for COVID positive or COVID Exposure

• If a coach tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to Covid-19, he or she must immediately notify the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her program. 
• If a player tests positive for COVID-19, the player’s parent/guardian must immediately notify the player’s Head Coach and the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her program.
• The Safety and Hygiene Coordinator will notify participants, officials, opposing teams, leagues, facilities/fields, DPH, and/or any other entity as required that an individual tested positive for COVID-19.   WLA is required to notify DPH with the name, address and phone number of the infected player or coach. 

5. Participants cannot participate in a WLA event if they are feeling sick or experiencing the following COVID-19 symptoms:

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fever of 99.4 degrees or higher

• Chills

• Muscle pain

• Sore throat

• New loss of taste or smell

If a participant is uncertain about his or her health or whether symptomatic, he or she will not participate in the WLA event. If there are any disputes onsite about a participant’s health and ability to participate, the Head Coach will determine whether or not the individual may participate in the WLA event.   

6. HEALTH ASSESSMENT

• Players and coaches will be required to complete a health assessment on Team Snap prior to every WLA event.  Parents/Guardians of players should complete the health assessment for their player.   WLA will monitor player and coach attendance at WLA events and completion of the health assessment questions.  If a player or coach fails to complete the assessment or fails the assessment, itself, he or she cannot participate in the WLA event.  Failing the health assessment means answering “yes” to any of the questions.

7.  ARRIVAL TIMES FOR WLA EVENTS

• Each player should arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to a WLA event.   The player shall remain in his or her vehicle until the start of the WLA event so as to reduce gathering.   

8. DEPARTURE TIMES FOR WLA EVENTS

• Participants shall immediately depart at the conclusion of a WLA event.  There will be no gathering after an event. Teams should not linger at or near the next game or in the parking lot and should clear space for the following teams and spectators. Team meetings/discussions should occur at the next WLA event.

9.  No team tents.

10.  Hand sanitizer will be available at events for participants.

11.  If at any time, a player, coach or parent/guardian is no longer comfortable with participation in WLA events, he or she will not be obligated to participate. In the event a player will no longer participate in WLA, parents/guardians should notify their player’s Head Coach and the respective program director.

12.  WLA or the facility where WLA events occur will place proper signage instructing participants and spectators about required face coverings, maintaining 6 feet distance, hand washing, and to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

B.       Coaches

1. Coaches that feel ill, are displaying COVID-19 symptoms, are exposed or have a reasonable belief of possible exposure to COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19 cannot participate in a WLA event. In addition, if a coach is pending results from a COVID-19 test and he or she is having symptoms, he or she cannot participate in a WLA event until he or she tests negative and his or her symptoms are fully abated.

2.  NOTIFICATION

• If a coach tests positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to COVID-19, the coach must notify the Safety & Hygiene Coordinator for their program. WLA is required to provide DPH with the name, address, and phone number of a coach who tests positive. 
• If a parent/guardian reports to you that his/her child has tested positive or been exposed to COVID-19, you must immediately report this information to the Safety & Hygiene Coordinator.

3.  HEALTH ASSESSMENT

• Coaches must complete the health assessment on Team Snap on the day or and prior to a WLA event.

4.  FACE COVERINGS

• Coaches must wear a face covering at all times during WLA events including entry and exit on the field.

5.  EQUIPMENT

• Coaches must wash communal team pinnies after use at a WLA event.
• Equipment (e.g., goalie pads) should not be shared where possible.  If equipment is shared, it must be sanitized between usages.

6.  SOCIAL DISTANCING

• Coaches should maintain social distancing on and off the field except during in play situations
• No huddles, hand-shakes, fist-bumps, high-fives, chest-bumps, or other unnecessary, non-sports related contact
• Adequate space for water breaks and equipment should be provided

7.  If a player develops symptoms or becomes ill during a WLA event, a coach will isolate the player from other participants and immediately contact the player’s parent/guardian to pick up the player from the event.

C.       Players

1.   Players that are feeling ill, displaying COVID-19 symptoms, are exposed to COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19 cannot participate in a WLA event. In addition, if a player is pending results from a COVID-19 test and he or she is having symptoms, he or she cannot participate in a WLA event until he or she tests negative and his or her symptoms are fully abated.

2.  HEALTH ASSESSMENT

• A health assessment will be submitted for each player by his or her parent/guardian on the day of and prior to the start of any WLA event.  If the health assessment is either not completed or the player fails the health assessment by answering “yes” to any question, he or she cannot participate in the WLA event 

3. Players should arrive at WLA events dressed and ready to participate to the extent possible.

4.  SOCIAL DISTANCING

• Players should maintain social distancing both on and off the field except during in play situations.
• No high fives, hugs, chest bumps, post-game handshakes, or other unnecessary, non-sports related contact.

5.  FACE COVERING

• Players must wear a face covering at all times during any WLA event including entering and exiting the field.

6.  Players should sanitize or wash their hands before and after a WLA event.

7.  Players should not share equipment, water bottles, sticks, etc 

8.  No spitting.

9.  Players must bring their own water bottle. No food may be brought to share at any WLA event.

D.       Parents / Guardians

1.  Parents/Guardians or Spectators[1] who are feeling ill, displaying COVID-19 symptoms, are exposed or have a reasonable belief of possible exposure to COVID-19, or test positive for COVID-19 cannot attend a WLA event. In addition, if Parents/Guardians or Spectators are pending results from a COVID-19 test and they are having symptoms, they should not attend a WLA event until they receive negative test results and their symptoms are fully abated. 

2.   HEALTH ASSESSMENT

• Parents/Guardians must complete their player’s health assessment on Team Snap on the day of and prior to a WLA event. 

3.  NOTIFICATION

• Parents/Guardians must notify the Safety & Hygiene Coordinator of their program and their player’s coach, if their player tests positive or is exposed to COVID-19.   WLA is required to provide DPH with the name, address, and phone number of a player that tests positive.           

E.  Spectators at WLA Events

• Spectator attendance at WLA events must comply with the state mandates/orders and the field/facility at which the event is held
• Certain fields/facilities will not allow spectators at WLA events. If this is the case, the respective program director will notify parents/guardians 
• Spectators should not enter the field until their game time commences
• Spectators are required to maintain social distancing at WLA events with people not in their household
• Spectators are required to wear a face covering at all times during WLA events including entry and exit from the field
• Spectators are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer to WLA events
• Spectators should wash or sanitize hands before and after a WLA event

Spectators are encouraged to drop off their player or stay in their car during practices to limit the number of people in the play area (even if spectators are allowed). Car pools are discouraged.  Drop off and pick up of players at practices should be close to start and end times of the WLA event to avoid congregations before and after the event. We recognize that this may not always be feasible given a player’s age.  If a parent/guardian attends a practice, he or she must wear a face covering at all times and maintain social distancing.

E.  Notification, Prohibiting & Resuming Participation in WLA Events, and Cancellation/Suspension of WLA Events

1. TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

a.        Notification Following COVID-19 Positive Test

If a coach tests positive for COVID-19, the coach must immediately notify the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her program. 

If a player test positive for COVID-19, the player’s parent/guardian must immediately notify the player’s Head Coach and the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her program.

The Safety and Hygiene Coordinator will notify participants, officials, opposing teams, leagues, facilities/fields, DPH, and/or any other entity as required that an individual tested positive for COVID-19.   WLA is required to notify DPH with the name, address and phone number of the infected player or coach. 

b.        Prohibiting & Resuming Participation in WLA Events Following a COVID-19 Positive Test

• An infected coach cannot participate in any WLA events until the coach provides to the respective Safety and Hygiene Coordinator written confirmation from DPH that the coach can resume activities and his or her symptoms, if any, are fully abated.   
• An infected player cannot participate in any WLA event until the player’s parent/guardian provides written confirmation to the respective Safety and Hygiene Coordinator from the DPH that the player can resume activities and confirms that the player’s symptoms, if any, are fully abated.  
• It is the responsibility of the player’s parent/guardian or the coach to secure this documentation and provide the documentation and any other information to the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator. 

WLA reserves the right to override any determinations regarding resumption of participation in WLA events.

3.  EXPOSURE TO COVID-19

a.        Notification Following COVID-19 Exposure

• If a coach is exposed to COVID-19, the coach must immediately notify the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her respective program. 
• If a player is exposed to COVID-19, the parent/guardian must immediately notify the player’s coach and the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator for his or her respective program. 
• The Safety and Hygiene Coordinator will notify participants, officials, opposing teams, leagues, facilities/fields, DPH, and/or any other entity as required that an individual was exposed to COVID-19 so that health monitoring and testing can occur for the other participants.

b.        Prohibiting & Resuming Participation in WLA Events COVID-19 Exposure  

• If a player or coach is exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the player or coach cannot participate in a WLA event until 10 days has passed from the date of the last exposure to the infected person. In addition, all symptoms, if any, must be fully abated before return to play.  WLA reserves the right to extend this to 14 days based on specific circumstances. The coach or the player’s parent/guardian must contact the Safety and Health Coordinator to confirm when the exposed coach or player can return to WLA events.
• If a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19 and participates in a WLA event within 48 hours prior to the testing or the onset of symptoms, the entire WLA team and coaches will be treated as an exposure for the purposes of prohibiting and resuming play in WLA events.   The exposed WLA players and coaches cannot participate in WLA events for 10 days from the date of the last exposure. In addition, all symptoms, if any, must be fully abated.  WLA reserves the right to extend this to 14 days based on specific circumstances.  The Safety and Hygiene Coordinator will notify the coach when the team can resume play.  

WLA reserves the right to override any other determinations regarding resumption of participation in WLA events.

4.   PENDING TESTING & SYMPTOMS- Prohibiting & Resuming Participation in WLA events

1. A player or coach who is being tested for COVID-19 and is symptomatic cannot participate in a WLA event until he or she receives negative test results and symptoms are fully abated.  The coach or the player’s parent or guardian should notify the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator of these circumstances.

5.   EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS- Prohibiting & Resuming Participation in WLA events

a.   A player or coach who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 is not able to participate in WLA events until the symptoms fully abate and they receive negative test results.   The coach or the player’s parent or guardian should notify the Safety and Hygiene Coordinator of these circumstances.

6.  CANCELLATION/SUSPENSION OF WLA EVENTS - WLA will make decisions with respect to suspension and/or cancellation of WLA events on a case by case basis.    WLA reserves the right to suspend and/or cancel WLA events in its discretion. WLA is further subject to the suspension and/or cancellation of WLA events based on state directives, league mandates, and field and facility directives.