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RETURN TO SOCCER/SAFE PLAY SOCCER

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On June 1, 2020 VIASPORT presented their Return to Sport guidelines. These guidelines provide direction to Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO’s) and clubs who fall under BC Soccer’s governance. On June 2rd, BC Soccer announced their return to play requirements that clubs will need to meet to start modified programming. As a result of these announcements / guidelines North Delta FC is excited to be starting our ‘safe soccer’ program.

 

 

NDFC understands that we will need to balance safety with the players soccer experience.  In order to maximize safety and the soccer experience, NDFC has adapted the direction from the health and sport authorities to form our club specific return to play protocols. It is essential that all participants are diligent in following instructions and communicate the importance of this to their children. Collectively we want to be leaders in bringing our children back to the parks safely and we all have a role to play to make this happen. We understand that families may have different comfort with the risks associated with returning to play; individuals will need to assess our safe soccer program and make an informed decision that best suits their family's risk assessments.

We appreciate the leadership from VIASPORT, Canada Soccer, BC Soccer, and the City of Delta for their ongoing efforts and support to bring the beautiful game back to our parks. 

We also want to thank our families for their ongoing patience and support as we try and navigate these challenging times. We are not back to normal, but we are back to something and that is an excellent first step!​

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SAFE SOCCER - PHASE 1

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Per VIA Sport, we are entering into the "transition measures". As a result, all of our safe soccer, return to play information is based on the specific points listed in their chart. While the club will ensure that we create the safest possible environment as guided by health and sport authorities, it is essential that all participants do their part in following the guidelines. 

 

During this transitional phase, here are our specific adjustments in each of the areas listed in the chart. Our expectation is that parents read and educate their children on these expectations prior to attending the first session. Club staff will also be enforcing these protocols at the field. 

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Restrictions in Place

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• A minimum of 2M (6 feet) of physical distancing will be maintained at all times. Grids, player, and coaching areas have all been established to ensure that, at no point, any encroachment of personal space occurs.

• All full sized 11 v 11 soccer fields will have no more than 50 participants on the field. Full fields will be broken into grids and some grids will have more or less participants than others, but the total number of participants will not exceed 50. 

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Enhanced Protocols

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• All participants will be asked to use our hand sanitizer stations prior to the start of their session and as they leave the facility or field.

• Anyone (participants and parents) attending safe soccer must review the symptoms check list daily. Anyone exhibiting any of the COVID-19 symptoms SHALL NOT attend and will need to report this to the club contact. We will also have signage at the fields, reminding everyone to check their symptoms, prior to participating. 

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Facilities

 

• All training sessions will be held on North Delta fields.

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Participants

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• As mentioned, the group size, per full field, will be limited to 50 people and for Delsom Turf as it is larger than a full field, we will be limited to 70 peope.. 

• In order to limit the number of spectators, we are asking that players only attend with one other person. Spectators are expected to manage social distancing in the designated areas, outside the field of play. Club staff will disperse anyone not social distancing. 

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Non-Contact Activities

 

• All training plans and sessions will be designed to keep players in their own areas, and to not come into contact with other players. There will be no 1v1 activities, and no small or full sized games. 

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Competition

 

• During this time, no games will occur. We will add in club games first, followed by inter club games, when it is deemed safe to do so. VIASPORT indicates this may be in phase 2 timeline TBD​.

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Equipment

 

• Players are required to bring their own drinks or medical needs. Each player will have their personal equipment behind their specific training area. Personal items are not to be shared or mixed with those from other players. 

• Players should wear appropriate footwear (cleats). Shin pads at this point are optional, as there will be no contact with other players. Face masks are also considered optional. 

• Training equipment will consist of cones small nets and soccer balls. These will be managed and sanitized daily by the coaches and not touched by players, with the exception of the balls by the player's feet and GK gloves.

 

Participation Guidelines. ​

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While we don't want to alarm participants, we do want to recognize the importance and role that players and parents play in ensuring that we resume soccer, safely. We have established the following guidelines for participants: 

 

• Parents must fill out the Return to Play Waiver on behalf of all family members. This will need to be filled out at time of registration.

• Parents are asked to review all return to play protocols and to sit down with their children and explain the information and importance of following all protocols and rules. Staff will also work with players on this but it will be appreciated if this is reinforced by all adults. 

• Groups from U6-U7 will require a parent/adult to participate with the child during the session. This will help to ensure the younger player stays in his/her own space. Because the parent and player are from the same household, this is acceptable under VIASPORT guidelines. 

• For older groups we feel that players will understand and listen to instructions, especially if the parents reinforce the rules beforehand. Any players who are struggling with the concept and are not able to stay in their space, will require parent participation or will be removed from the session. 

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Risk Management

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We are taking every recommended step to ensure the safety of all participants. In addition to information provide on our return to play page, here are additional measures in place to mitigate risk: 

 

• Appointment of a Risk Management/Officer. Steve Rothmund, the North Delta FC Executive Director will serve in this role. He can be reached by email. This role will: 

• Monitor advice and direction from health and sport authorities

• Oversee all program implementation to ensure safe soccer compliance 

• All sessions will be delivered by a staff coach, who has been trained in safe soccer protocols ​and will be under the supervision of our TD.

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NDFC is committed to keeping players on the field. In order to do this safely, we will be holding our staff and participants to the highest standards of the recommendations from the health authorities. We understand that some of these protocols are inconvenient, but we expect 100% compliance from everyone involved. Please do not be offended if you receive a reminder of these protocols. We all have a role to play to get our sport back to normal and to keep our community safe and healthy. 

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Facility Management/Oversite

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Facilities are defined as all areas, from the parking lot, to the casual spectator area, washrooms, to the fields of play. 

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Parking lots, sidewalks, and getting to/from the fields of play

• Similar to other parking lots, the expectation is that people: 

• Do not congregate ​

• Maintain physical distancing at all times 

• If a player is at an age that they will not be able to manage the above two points, they should be accompanied by an adult 

 

Casual spectator areas will be around the fields of play. Our expectation is: 

• A maximum of one spectator per family is allowed 

• Physical distancing is maintained in the casual areas 

• Masks are optional but recommended per the health authority's guidance 

• Spectators are to stay on the side of the field where their child is participating and not move between or into other casual areas.

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NDFC Staff and designated volunteers will be breaking up any congregation of people and reminding anyone who is not practicing social distancing. Anyone found repeatedly defying this protocol, after having been informed, will be removed from the facilities for the duration of the program. 

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Scheduling

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We have put together a time sensitive timeline that all members are expected to follow: 

• Arrive not more than 10 minutes prior to your scheduled session.

• Come to the field fully dressed with all personal equipment in a bag.

• Arrive at the side of your field/grid 5 minutes prior to your scheduled start time. At this point the session head coach will assign you to a specific box in your field.

• Players who are late may not be included in the session.

• At the conclusion of your session players will gather their personal equipment and immediately leave the field of play. All participants are asked to leave the facility within 10 minutes of the conclusion of your scheduled session.

• Players will not be permitted to congregate after the conclusion of their session. 

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Your cooperation and compliance with the above protocol is very much appreciated and will help ensure that we avoid any bottlenecking of people and instances where social distancing becomes more challenging. 

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Your specific schedule will be communicated directly by email. If you have questions about your schedule or the location of your field of play, please email us prior to arriving so we can assist you. 

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Equipment Management & Cleaning

 

Personal equipment (water/drinks and any apparel/footwear or medical needs) will be the responsibility of each player. We require that players do not bring a bag to the field or share personal equipment under any circumstances. All water bottles need to have the player's name clearly marked on the bottle.

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Training equipment used in the session will be will be sanitized after each session by the team coach with disinfectant cleaning products. Training equipment is not to be handled above the waist by players at any time. 

 

First Aid

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As there will be no contact, we expect the risk of injury to be very low. Should a minor injury occur, here is our protocol for managing: 

• The session head coach will communicate with the player to assess the injury verbally, at the minimum 2M physical distance

• Depending on the injury, the following may occur: 

• The player will sit out until they feel better to re-join ​

• The player will walk to their parent for attention

• The player will receive first aid treatment from staff or coach.

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All fields will have a first aid kit on site. If a staff member provides first aid support they will do so with a mask and gloves on at all times as physical distancing will no longer be possible. 

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In the event of an unforeseen serious injury, 911 will be called. 

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