WYF 2020 COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Coaches and Parents:

Wellesley Youth Football (WYF) has developed a list of health and safety protocols for players, coaches, referees and fans to limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and the novel coronavirus. These safety precautions were developed in conjunction with American Youth Football (AYF), the Centers for Disease Control, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in consultation with the Wellesley town boards.

WYF is asking that all participants in skills, games and practices adhere to these rules and procedures so that everyone can enjoy a season of youth football. If you have any questions about these rules, or any other guidance from WYF, please be sure to contact us.

 

Healthy Practices:

• All players and coaches should practice good general health habits, including maintenance of adequate hydration, consumption of a varied, vitamin-rich diet with sufficient vegetables and fruits, and getting adequate sleep.

• Any player, coach or referee that is feeling ill, is running a fever, or shows signs of periodic coughing or sneezing should leave the field immediately.

 

No Handshakes/Personal Contact Celebrations:

• Players and coaches should take measures to prevent all but the essential contact necessary to play the game. This should include refraining from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc.

• Players and families should vacate the field/facility as soon as is reasonably possible after the conclusion of their game to minimize unnecessary contact with players, coaches, and spectators from the next game, ideally within 15 minutes.

 

Drinks and Snacks:

• Athletes, managers/coaches, and referees should bring their own personal drinks to all team activities. Drinks should be labeled with the person’s name.

• Individuals should take their own drink containers home each night for cleaning and sanitation or use single-use bottles.

• There should be no use of shared or team beverages.

• Teams should not share any snacks or food. Players should bring individual, pre-packaged food, if needed.

 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): In summary, players, coaches and referees must have a protective face covering at every clinic, game or practice. Players are not required to cover their face on the field, but must have a protective face covering on their face on when on the sidelines. Coaches should wear theirs during clinics, games and practices and cover their mouth and nose when 6 feet of distance is not an option.

• All managers/coaches, volunteers, referees, etc., should wear PPE whenever applicable and possible, such as cloth face coverings and protective medical gloves.

• Gaiters are preferable to face masks with loops over the ears, as they are a better fit for sports activities.

• Players should wear cloth face coverings when in close contact areas and in places where recommended social distancing is challenging or not feasible.

• Players should not wear protective medical gloves on the field during game play.

• Players are not required to wear a cloth face covering while on the field during game play.

• Players will be permitted to wear a cloth face covering on the field during game play, if physically able to do so, based on any directive of a medical provider or individual determination of the player/parent/guardian. 

• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

• If a player refuses to wear a protective face covering, or is otherwise putting other players, coaches, or referees at risk by not respecting social distancing, that player should be removed from the clinic, game or practice immediately and told to leave the field.

 

Sidelines:

• Managers/coaches and players should be assigned spots on the sidelines or on the field so that they are at least six feet apart.

• Players are to stay at their assigned spots when on the sidelines or while waiting their turn to play.

• Managers/coaches should wear a cloth face covering while on the sidelines. Players

should wear a cloth face covering while on the sidelines when their helmet is off.

 

Player Equipment:

• Player equipment should be spaced accordingly on the field to prevent direct contact.

• Measures should be enacted to avoid, or minimize, equipment sharing when feasible.

 

• Player’s equipment should be cleaned and disinfected after each use by a parent/guardian/caretaker, where applicable.

• Individuals disinfecting equipment are encouraged to use gloves while using disinfectants and follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. All disinfectants should be stored properly, in a safe area, out of reach of children.

 

Skills Clinic:

• Only registered players will be allowed on the field and in the complex. One parent of a player can accompany your child to check-in to ensure all paperwork including COVID-19 waiver has been completed.  Once check-in is complete parents must return to their car. 

• Parents must wear a mask when speaking to coaches and league administrators.

• No spectators will be permitted to stay in the sports complex - we ask all parents to remain in their cars. This will be strictly enforced.

• All players must check-in at the Main Entrance of the HS Stadium (entrance gate off of State Street. follow path from HS parking lot)  

• Players should wear face coverings to and from Skills Clinic

• No equipment needed just water, cleats and a mouth guard

• Bring plenty of water.  Covid Guidelines prohibit us to supply water or drinks.

• All players much have a signed WYF WAIVER/RELEASE FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES INCLUDING COVID-19.  Players will not be permitted to participate in the Skills Clinic on the field without it.

 

Questions?

 

Brian Cullinan, WYF President

brian.p.cullinan13@gmail.com 

 

Maura Renzella, WYF Administrator

wyf.player.reg@gmail.com

 

Dear Families,

We hope all of our Baystate Families are safe and healthy during these difficult times.

We would like to let you know that the Baystate Youth Football & Cheerleading’s Executive Board and the Baystate Contingency Committee have been meeting frequently to discuss a safe and responsible re-entry plan for the 2020 season.  As a result of these many meetings, the Baystate Executive Board has decided to suspend the start of the Baystate Youth Football and Cheerleading season until the week of September 7, 2020.  This is a tentative start date as we will continue to review the current state and local guidelines to ensure our compliance prior to starting.

 

Please know that the safety of our children, families, and volunteers are of the utmost importance to us.

Thank you,

Baystate Youth Football & Cheerleading’s Executive Board