The following guidelines and protocols are in place to mitigate COVID risks.. The Return to Play & Mitigation Plan is written documentation of the implementation of the COVID-19 risk management program for the Juneau Youth Football League. The plan will adhere to practices consistent with the State of Alaska Department of Health & Social Services and the City & Borough of Juneau.
JYFL will require coaches to follow best-practice recommendations to reduce the chance of exposure to COVID-19 between Board Members, Coaches, Participants, Volunteers, Spectators, and the Public.
Due to the Juneau Youth Football League's dependency on CBJ Fields and Facilities, JYFL participants and Coaches may be subject to further requirements at a later date.
Communications
● Defining Event: An event is any player, coaches, and volunteer activity organized and approved by JYFL
● Defining Participant: For the purpose of this mitigation plan, “Participant” means any person participating in an event with JYFL including all official volunteers (anyone on an official roster), players, and spectators.
● Pre-Season: JYFL will disseminate information to all participants about the COVID-19 risk and practices that should be undertaken to mitigate risks. Information will be disseminated by way of email, social media and coach talks.
● COVID-19 Self-Reporting: JYFL Board Members and Coaches will comply with all regulatory requirements, privacy policies, and information sharing regulations as regards to COVID-19 self-reporting of symptoms, or positive tests by players, volunteers, as well as by related family members with whom they have had close contact.
● Training: JYFL will train or provide information to all participants on appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.
Management
● Implementation: The League will post this mitigation plan on our website at www.juneaufootball.com and notices of policy will be posted at each playing field.
● COVID-19 Coordinator: JYFL will enact one or more, possibly a team, as “Covid Coordinators” to oversee all aspects of the COVID risk management plan, including development from appropriate resources, implementation, monitoring, updates/changes, communications, staff training, regulatory compliance, and answering player, parent, and staff questions about COVID concerns.
● Waiver & Release: All participants must complete and submit a JYFL COVID Sports Waiver and Release form prior to participation in any session.
● Back Up Staffing Plan: JYFL will have a backup staffing plan that will include Coaches and Volunteers to step up in the case a Board Member or Coach becomes infected.
● Personal Protective Equipment: All Participants should adhere to current CBJ guidelines in regards to social distancing, mask wearing, etc.
● Social Distancing Monitors: All Participants strongly encouraged to practice social distancing between players, staff, and spectators when not in active game play.
● Stay Home When Appropriate: Staff, Official Volunteers, Players, Spectators, and Parents will stay home when experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, have a temperature over 100.3 Fahrenheit, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
Events
● Hygiene: All participants must sanitize their hands upon arrival to the field and prior to departure.
● Social Distancing: During events, participants should try to maintain the 6 ft. distance standard if possible. This standard also applies during warmups and drills and should only have close contact during actual competition.
● No Handshakes/Celebrations: Participants should refrain from handshakes and high fives.
● Staff Provided Mask, Hand Sanitizer and Wipes: JYFL will provide masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes for disinfecting to Coaches for their team use. Participants are encouraged to wash or sanitize their hands at the end of practice and games and during breaks.
● Scheduling: Schedule will allow enough time between events to allow participants to exit prior to a new group entering the field.
● Game Play: Only registered Participants and approved JYFL Volunteers will be allowed on the Turf (including sidelines) during any game. Social Distancing will be practiced during games when appropriate.
Pre-Event (Practices, Scrimmages, Games, Competitions, Showcase)
● Tracing: Attendance logs will include information necessary to facilitate contact tracing of a confirmed exposure.
● Social Distancing: During pre-game, participants are encouraged to maintain a 6 ft. distance if possible, during warmups and drills.
● Disinfect Hard Surfaces: When arriving at team seating or sideline areas, teams are responsible to disinfect all hard surfaces such as benches, railings, and equipment racks.
Post-Event (Practices, Scrimmages, Games, Competitions, Showcase)
● Cleaning: Team staff will clean and dispose of all trash from player seating or sideline areas when departing practice or games. When an active participant is identified as being COVID-19 positive by testing, CDC cleaning and disinfecting must be performed as soon after the confirmation of a positive test as practical. In lieu of performing CDC cleaning and disinfecting, the athletic facility may shut down for a period of at least 72 consecutive hours to allow for natural deactivation of the virus, followed by site personnel performing a comprehensive disinfection of all common surfaces.
▪ Cleaning and disinfecting should be conducted in compliance with CDC protocols:
▪ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-businessresponse.html
▪ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html
Playing Equipment
● Spacing of Player Equipment: Player equipment should be spaced accordingly to prevent close contact when possible.
● Player Provided Equipment: Players will be encouraged to bring their own equipment and to not share with others. Player provided equipment should be kept separate and in individual bags or containers.
● Limit Team Shared Equipment: The use of team shared equipment (e.g. balls, pads, etc.) will be limited whenever possible and will be sanitized after use. Otherwise, the team will limit use of team shared supplies and equipment to one group of players at a time and sanitize between uses.
● Personal Protective Equipment: Information on purchasing splash shields and special masks for football participants will be provided to parents prior to participation.
● Water Bottles: Players and staff should bring their own water bottles to all team activities to help to reduce transmission risk. Individuals should take their own water bottles home each night for cleaning and sanitation. Visiting teams should also bring their own water bottles.
Facilities
● Posted Notice: At the entrances to the playing fields the League will post a sign stating:
“Anyone entering this field agrees not to participate in any activities if they:
○ Are exhibiting recognized symptoms consistent with COVID-19;
○ Have knowingly been in contact with a suspected or positive case of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, and are under isolation restriction by a healthcare provider or public health staff member;
○ Are within 72 hours of exhibiting significant COVID-19 symptoms or a fever;
○ When recovering from a case of COVID-19, are less than 14 days from onset or less than 72 hours since the end of significant symptoms or fever; and
○ Have traveled outside of Juneau, and have not complied with the most recent CBJ and/or State Travel Mandates, which can be found at: https://covid19.alaska.gov/health-advisories/
● Public Restrooms: We will encourage limited numbers in public restrooms when possible.
● Cleaning/Disinfecting: Staff should use disposable disinfectant wipes on all equipment used, door handles, railings and frequently touched surfaces used during practice and games.
● Entrance/Exit: When possible, multiple entrances and exits will be open to avoid congestion.