Region 114 COVID-19 Safety Protocol

Region 114 is committed to moving forward with our Fall 2021 season in a safe and responsible manner. If mandates are put in place by the City of Long Beach Health Department, we will comply as required.

Any scenario in which many people gather together poses a risk for COVID-19 transmission. Coaches, volunteers, players, and spectators should use this guidance to understand what health practices are in place as soccer practices and games resume.

What are the latest mandates for Long Beach sports organizations?

Sports organizations that practice and play in Long Beach city limits are under the jurisdiction of the City of Long Beach Health Department. You can find City of Long Beach Health Orders here.

As of September 25th, all Youth Sports Organizations operating in the City of Long Beach must adhere to the health protocols outlined in Appendix W "Protocol for Youth Recreational Sports." This mandates weekly testing for unvaccinated volunteers and players age 12+, unless said person has recovered from a positive COVID infection in the past 90 days. Test must be conducted and results received prior to inter-team competitions. (In other words, prior to your weekend game vs other teams.) Players under the age of 12, and fully-vaccinated volunteers (as least two weeks post their final injection), do not require weekly testing.

To help us track who requires weekly testing for the duration of the season, all volunteers were asked to submit a one-time Certification of Vaccination status to [email protected].

I am a coach of players age 12 and up. What must I do weekly?

The city requires a WEEKLY attestation that each unvaccinated player has been tested. (Unless they have recovered from a positive diagnosis in the past 90 days.) Our Region's COVID safety officer, Mike Bledsoe ([email protected]), has sent each U14 - U19 Head Coach a "COVID-19 Testing Attestation Record" that must be submitted weekly by Friday. On the worksheet, coaches must indicate which players have attested to completing their weekly testing. (We do not ask, not want, players to submit personal health records or testing proof; their lawful attestation will suffice.) If you are a U14-U19 Coach and did not receive this form, please reach out to Mike Bledsoe.

Failure to comply with the above health mandate will result in game suspensions for players or teams, loss of volunteer points, and/or possible exclusion from post-season play.

I am an unvaccinated volunteer. What must I do weekly?

The city requires a WEEKLY attestation by all unvaccinated volunteers that they have received a weekly test. (Unless they have recovered from a positive diagnosis in the past 90 days.) Region 114 Volunteers are asked to self-attest that they received a weekly test in this Google form. (We do not ask, not want, to collect your testing records or other protected health information; your self-attestation suffices.)

Failure to comply with the above health mandate will result in game suspensions for volunteers or teams, loss of volunteer points, and/or possible exclusion from post-season play.

What do I do if a parent or player on my team tests positive for COVID-19?

Neither AYSO nor Region 114 set their own quarantine/isolation protocols. What is described below is a summary from the latest City of Long Beach Health Department public health orders. If there is any question about what is written below, or if the information below has been obsoleted by more recent public health orders, please refer to the City of Long Beach website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.

First step, immediately notify Region 114 COVID Safety Officer Mike Bledsoe at [email protected]. Provide your Coach's name and the affected player or parent's name. This will begin an process to determine what exposure notification and possible quarantine may be required.

The City of Long Beach says you must self-quarantine for 7 to 14 days if you have been in close contact with someone who has or is likely to have COVID-19 within 2 days prior to their symptom onset, or positive test in the absence of symptoms.

The CDC defines “close contact” as being within 6 feet of the infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more.

Example 1: Player A was at practice on Monday, and tested positive on Thursday without symptoms. This was more than 48 hours since practice, and therefore would not require you to self-quarantine.

Example 2: Player A was at practice on Monday, and noticed symptoms Wednesday morning. Player A tested positive Thursday. Player B stood next to Player A six times, 1 minute each time, during an hour-long practice. That is a total of 6 minutes of close contact, and would not meet the CDC definition of close contact. Player B would not have to self-quarantine.

Coaches are urged to design sessions and water breaks to limit the amount of close contact between players to less than 15 minutes total during a session. Doing so will avoid the need for your entire team and family to self-quarantine.

If you have been fewer than 6 feet apart for more than 15 minutes within 48 hours of someone having a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, then the City of Long Beach Heath Department's Quarantine orders require you self-quarantine for at least 7 days up to 14 days. View City of Long Beach Quarantine Orders here.

What do I do if I get COVID-19

The City of Long Beach Health Department's Isolation orders require that persons diagnosed with COVID-19 self-isolate for at least 10 days since symptom onset (or a positive test if no symptoms), and at last 24 hours since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. View City of Long Beach Isolation Orders here.

In addition, immediately notify Region 114 COVID Safety Officer Mike Bledsoe at [email protected]. Provide your Coach's name and the affected player or parent's name. This will begin an process to determine what exposure notification and possible quarantine may be required.

Do I have to wear a mask at practice or games?

At this time, the City of Long Beach Public Health does not have any current health orders mandating masks for outdoor activities with fewer than 10,000 participants. However, the CDC, the City of Long Beach, and other public health agencies in the region recommend wearing masks when possible.

What are things I can do to keep my team safe?

While there are no mask mandates for outdoor soccer activities, some coaches may ask participants to wear masks out of an abundance of caution. There are other steps a Coach can take to limit close contact and reduce the need for quarantine:

• Team activities should be held outside, to the extent possible. Face masks are required of all individuals in indoor public settings per current health orders.
• Encourage players to remain 6 feet apart when not engaged in active play (such as at water breaks).
• Design your sessions to limit the amount of standing in lines
• Coaches keep six feet distance

AYSO and the City of Long Beach recommend following CDC Guidance for Outdoor Recreation. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Staying at least 6 feet apart
• Limiting the amount of time spent with people who don’t live with you
• Practicing good hand hygiene

The CDC suggests the safest choice is to wear a mask when you can’t stay at least 6 feet apart. These are not mandated or required, but recommendations that have shown to be effective in limiting the transmission of disease.

Are there any restrictions to team snacks?

There are no restrictions, although common sense dictates if you provide snacks, to do so with individually wrapped items, and avoid sharing food that involves handling the same food items that others will eat.

Can I get a refund due to COVID mandates being put in place?

No, we cannot issue refunds to families who choose to opt out of participating because of COVID requirements. Our plan as a region is to continue our Fall 2021 season in a safe and responsible manner, which means helping all players, spectators, and volunteers fully comply with City of Long Beach public health orders.