In response to the COVID-19 situation at the Alabama Safer-at-Home Order,[UPDATED AS OF Jan 12th, 2021] Southern Soccer has developed some guidelines for our upcoming 2021 tournaments. We know you are all excited about returning to the field, but we have to take precautions to try and limit contact between players, tournament staff, referees, volunteers, and spectators. It is critical that you all adhere to these guidelines to ensure the safety and health of everyone involved with the 2021Tournaments! We have based this guide directly from recommendations and guidelines from the Alabama Depart of Public Health, and the CDC.
Here are the rules specifically stated by the State of Alabama as well as Huntsville Parks and Rec regarding Athletic activities.
10. Athletic activities. Effective May 22, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., persons attending or participating in athletic activities shall comply with the following rules.
a. Permitted team activities. From May 22, 2020, at 5:00 P.M., until June 14, 2020, participation in team athletic activities is limited to practices that involve conditioning, skill drills, and similar activities, subject to the rules of this paragraph. Beginning June 15, 2020, participation in team athletic activities may proceed in any respect subject to the rules of this paragraph.
b. Social distancing.
(i) Players, coaches, officials, and spectators shall not congregate within 6 feet of a person from another household except to the extent necessary—and only to the extent necessary—for players, coaches, and officials to directly participate in the athletic activity.
(ii) Players, coaches, officials, and spectators shall refrain from high fives, handshakes, and other physical contact except to the extent necessary—and only to the extent necessary—for players, coaches, and officials to directly participate in the athletic activity.
c. Facial coverings. Players, coaches, and officials shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times except when a player or official is directly participating in the athletic activity.
d. Sanitation. Players, coaches, and officials shall not share water coolers, drinking stations, water bottles, cups, or other drinking devices. Organizers of athletic activities shall take reasonable steps, where practicable, to regularly disinfect frequently used items and surfaces.
For purposes of this paragraph, “athletic activities” means “sports that involve interaction with another person of closer than six feet” and “activities that require use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment.” In addition to complying with the requirements of this paragraph, persons attending or participating in athletic activities are strongly encouraged to comply with any guidelines adopted by the relevant governing organization, if one exists for the athletic activity in question, to the extent those guidelines are consistent with the requirements of this paragraph.
Guidelines for 2021 Tournaments
Players – If you are not comfortable returning to play now, DON’T. We understand everyone’s situation is different and unique regarding when they may be comfortable or able to participate in soccer.
Spectators – We are highly encouraging spectators to stay at home this summer. However, if you do attend one of our tournaments, you are responsible for adhering to these guidelines.
SELF-SCREEN
Before attending the tournament all players, coaches, staff, volunteers, and spectators must complete a COVID-19 self-screen. Screening includes answering the following questions:
- Have you had a fever with a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 48-hours?
- Do you have any of these systems: cough, headache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, fatigue, or other flu-like symptoms?
- Have you experienced any of the above described symptoms within the last 14 days?
- Have you had exposure to a person under quarantine for COVID-19 within the last 14-days?
- Have you had exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?
- Are you an at risk individual? Immunocompromised? (provide link)
If you answer YES to any of the screening questions, please STAY HOME!
TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES
Prior to Tournament
- Prior to coming to the tournament, captains are responsible for getting their roster filled out and ALL players to sign their waiver online.
- If you have a participant under the age of 19, they must have a parent or guardian fill out the waiver, and give directly to your captain.
- All players, referees, volunteers, staff must complete a self-screen to ensure the safety of all participants in the tournament
Tournament Check-in Procedures (Applies to players, spectators, referees, volunteers, organizers or anyone in attendance)
Each day of the tournament, before entering the field, take your temperature. If your temperature is over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, you are not permitted to play in the tournament. You must be temperature free for 48-hours to return to the tournament.
The tournament organizers will only interact with captains for all registration activities. Each captain will need to check-in at the main tent prior to their first game to acquire participation wrist bands. We will only give wrist bands for the number of participants that have signed waivers. You will have one opportunity each day to adjust your roster under the roster guidelines. If your players need a new wrist band (it “fell off”), the captain will need to come to the tent to get another wrist band, we will keep track of how many wrist bands we have given you. We realize this will limit our ability to ensure roster integrity, so we are on the honor system. Our tournaments are just for fun, please abide by the rules and no roster shenanigans. If your roster is questioned by an opposing team, we reserve the right to ask for identification of any participants.
We will clean the table, any hard surfaces, or materials at the main tent that may be touched by multiple people periodically.
Tournament Procedures
These procedures cover the rules during the play of the tournament.
- Prior to your game, please do not congregate or gather around other teams. Teams are encouraged to set up on the opposite side of the field from the teams that are currently on the field before you to limit unnecessary interaction.
- While you are on the sidelines during your game, maintain a minimal physical distance of 6-feet from other players and spectators that are not part of your household.
- Refrain from any physical contact per the Alabama guidelines (High-fives, handshakes, fist-bumps, hugs, player huddles, group celebrations, and the like)
- A mask or facial covering (self-supplied) that covers your nose and mouth while not participating directly in the activity is recommended but not required.
- No sharing of water/drinking bottles, coolers, cups, food, equipment. We will not be providing water jugs at this year’s tournament.
- We will not provide on-site vending of shirts or snacks/drinks. Please bring your own and do not share.
- We will be posting the tournament result online, so there is no need to come to the main tent.
- Southern Soccer uses City provided soccer facilities and fields to conduct our soccer tournament. City Parks and Rec staff are responsible for routinely cleaning and sanitizing restrooms and other “high-touch” areas.
- Referees will text scores to the tournament directors directly after each game is completed.
- Referees will interact with the assignor for pay-out at the end of the day or tournament.
As someone participating or attending the tournament, you are responsible for adhering to these guidelines in order to participate in the tournament. We will make updates to these based on any new information from the City of Huntsville, State of Alabama, CDC, and ADPH.