OPFC Return To Play Guidelines

Return To Play Guidelines2020-07-20T18:14:48+00:00

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content including text, graphics, images, and information, are provided for general information purposes only.

Oregon Premier Football Club’s #1 priority is to PLAY ON…SAFELY!

Our number one priority has been and will continue to be the health and safety of our players and their families. We want to stress to our families that there is no pressure to return until you are comfortable returning to the fields. We will work with any family concerned with “return to play” to ensure that their child has a soccer home WHEN they are comfortable returning to the field.

We have used resources from the following agencies and organizations in order to create a thorough return to play strategy:

CDC
US Youth Soccer
Oregon Youth Soccer Association
The United States Olympic Committee

Below is Oregon Premier Football Club’s phased approach to returning to play, based on the official phased approach to reopening Oregon businesses and modifying physical/social distancing from Governor Kate Brown.

We want to clearly communicate the policies and protocols that we will deploy in an effort to keep everyone healthy and as safe as possible as our players return to the field. We ask that all of our members follow these guidelines closely and diligently.

Clackamas County Phases

Policies and Responsibilities

These are the specific responsibilities for the club, players, parents and coaches within the OPFC Return To Play plan.
We must all work together in order to get players back on the field.

Field Maps

Parents can find their player’s scheduled practice field, drop-off and pick-up locations when practice schedules are released in TeamSnap.

Additional FAQs

My main concern is that there will be no soccer season. The basic view seems to be that children are disease vectors and we should just lock them up for the duration. How are you speaking up for the rights of children to get outside and resume team sports?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

Players come first, their physical and mental health are important to us. Being outside in the fresh air and with their team safely is our goal. We will be following federal, state, and local guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety.

We want to stress to our families that there is no pressure to return until you are comfortable returning to the fields. We will work with any family concerned with “return to play” to ensure that their child has a soccer home WHEN they are comfortable returning to the field.

Parents and players need to have a clear understanding of rules put in place to protect them. How will we keep them updated?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

All of our policies will be shared on our website, social media platforms, and emailed out to our members.

What happens if someone on a team gets infected?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

If a player or coach tests positive for Covid 19, we may suspend practices for that player’s team for two weeks
while all players self-quarantine. Our communication to the team will be daily to check on the welfare of our players
and to keep everyone updated. Once a two week quarantine passes, we may restart practices as outlined in this
document. We will work closely with medical experts and local governing bodies to handle any situation where we
have a player or coach test positive for Covid 19.

There are youth with asthma or allergies that take the risk to play soccer despite the outdoor nature. Are we to expect them to wear masks in case they happen to wheeze or sneeze?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

Coaches and sidelines observers will be asked to wear masks initially, but players will only need to wear their masks to and from the car/field.

Are there going to be any safety precautions for the referees?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

Referees will follow the same protocol as players.

There have been discussions around taking temperatures of players and attendees prior to attending sporting events. What does this look like?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

OPFC recommends that parents monitor and check temperatures prior to sending children to practice.

If not soon then, why, when statistics clearly demonstrate at this point that healthy youth are no more likely to succumb to protracted health issues from COVID-19 than any other illness, are we to be expected to radically alter our way of life to a “new normal” both within and without the circle of soccer?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

Because kids can be carriers, and will interact with other at-risk individuals, they may pass the virus on to others unknowingly. Additionally, just as we Honor the Game in soccer, which means following the rules even when you can get away without following them, we choose to partner with our Governor and local officials and follow all mandates to insure the safety of all in our community.

Can we use kick-ins or other modified rules? Assuming there is no handling of the ball except for goalkeepers wearing gloves.2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

OPFC will follow CDC guidelines and USYS directives regarding the transmission of the virus.

Is it safe for players to wear masks and play at the same time? Especially in the heat?2020-05-27T22:41:26+00:00

Understanding that masks can inhibit a player’s ability to breathe during exercise, players will only be asked to wear masks to and from the field.

What happens if the season is cut short due to COVID-19?2020-06-29T04:09:49+00:00

If any portion of the season is canceled due to COVID-19, all registered players will receive a refund for those months.

Promoting Behaviors that Reduce Spread

OPFC encourages behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19. Everyone should follow these guidelines as we return to play.

Staying Home when Appropriate

We are encouraging sick staff, families, and players to stay home. If any staff member or player is not feeling well and or has a high temperature we encourage you to stay at home. While we want everyone on the fields having fun we ask that any player or coach that may not be feeling well to stay at home!

  • Individuals, including coaches, players, and families, should stay home if they have tested positive for or are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Individuals, including coaches, players, and families, who have recently had a close contact with a person with COVID-19 should also stay home and monitor their health.

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

Please wash your hands thoroughly before and after attending any soccer activity. Wash hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds.

  • If soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be used. We will have hand sanitizer available at every field we use.
  • We will not allow spitting and we encourage everyone to cover their coughs and sneezes with the inside of their elbow. Use hand sanitizer after you cough or sneeze.

Cloth Face Coverings

We will follow all requirements concerning face masks as set by Federal, State and County mandates. At this time we do not know what, if any, requirements will be mandated concerning face masks. We will update our recommendation, if we have any, when return to play happens.

As of now, our coaches will wear a face mask when actively coaching near players.

Cleaning and Disinfection

  • Use of shared objects and equipment (e.g., soccer balls) will be limited, and cleaned between sessions.
  • The club will ensure safe and correct use and storage of disinfectants, including storing products securely away from children. We will use products that meet EPA disinfection criteria.

Signs and Messages

The club will post signs in highly visible locations (e.g., at entrances and exits, and in restrooms) that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spread of germs such as by properly washing hands and covering youth coughs and sneezes.

Water Systems

We are requiring staff, and players to bring and use their own water bottles.

Modified Layouts and Social (Physical) Distancing

  • The club will identify adult staff, members or volunteers to help maintain social distancing among youth, coaches, referees, and spectators (if state and local directives allow for spectators).
  • We will make every effort to space players at least 6 feet apart on the field while participating in soccer activities.
  • We will discourage unnecessary physical contact, such as high fives, handshakes, fist bumps, or hugs.
  • We will create distance between players when explaining drills or the rules of the game.
  • We will urge parents to limit the use of carpools or van pools. When riding in an automobile to a sports event, encourage players to ride to the sports event with persons living in their same household.
  • If practices or competition facilities must be shared, we will increase the amount of time between practices and competitions to allow for one group to leave before another group enters the facility. If possible, we will allow time for cleaning and/or disinfecting.

Physical Barriers and Guides

  • The club will provide physical guides, such as signs and cone/paint on playing fields, to make sure that coaches and players remain at least 6 feet apart.

How To Disinfect Clothes

In this section, we provide some basic guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 while doing laundry. This information was gathered from medicalnewstoday.com

Doing Laundry At Home:

  • Launder items with laundry soap or household detergent. Consider using a detergent that contains bleach. However, be sure to read the product description and guidelines to avoid potentially ruining certain clothing items. Consider soaking clothes in a solution containing quaternary ammonium
    before washing them.
  • Choose the warmest available water setting. The WHO recommend water temperatures between 60–90°C (140–194°F). However, high temperatures can damage or shrink delicate clothing items, so remember to read the care labels.
  • Dry clothing completely.
  • Disinfect laundry baskets with 0.1% sodium hypochlorite or one of these household disinfectants, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have approved.
  • Wear gloves when doing laundry. Wash the hands with warm water and soap immediately after removing the gloves. If gloves are not available, wash the hands immediately after handling dirty clothing and avoid touching the face.

Doing Laundry At A Laundromat:

Not everyone has a washing machine in their home. However, those who use laundry facilities can still follow the guidelines that we have listed above. In addition, consider the following precautions when doing laundry in a public place:

  • Maintain a 6-foot (2-meter) distance from other people.
  • Wear disposable gloves and avoid touching the face.
  • Disinfect the surfaces of the washer and dryer.
  • Fold the laundry at home.
  • At home, immediately wash the hands before folding the laundry.
  • Disinfect the laundry basket or consider using disposable laundry bags.
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