In preparation of the Spring 2021 soccer season, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer wanted to give a brief update on the latest COVID-19 information as it relates to youth soccer. Please review our COVID-19 Response document and the updates below.
- All coaches, spectators, referees, players should wear masks at all times. The only time when players or referees do not have to wear masks during participation is if they meet an exception in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings. Section 3 of the Order provides an exception that allows an individual to remove their mask if wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition, or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition or a disability. Proof of meeting the exception is not required. For fully vaccinated individual's, masks should be worn in public places which includes soccer activities.
- Reduction of quarantine duration for a "close contact" - For an individual who is considered a "close contact" with a COVID Positive case, quarantine should ideally be for 14 days from the last time they had contact with you; however, for individuals who do not develop symptoms, quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing or after Day 7 if a specimen collected on or after Day 5 tests negative on a diagnostic test (i.e., PCR, antigen). Symptoms should be monitored for a full 14 days.
- Elimination out-of-state travel restrictions. The state is no longer requiring that people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state, as well as Pennsylvania residents who are returning home from out of state, to test negative for the virus within 72 hours prior to arrival or quarantine.
- Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15% of maximum occupancy, and 20% of maximum occupancy for outdoor events, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 15% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.
We will provide updates as information becomes available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Thank you for your continued support, and good luck with your spring competitions.
Additional Informational Links:
https://www.epysa.org/assets/55/6/spring_2021.pdf
https://www.epysa.org/assets/55/6/covid-19_response_3.9.21.pdf
https://www.epysa.org/covid-19-faqs/
COVID Waiver• Players must use their own equipment (ie: Water Bottles, balls). A bottle of Hand Sanitizer is recommended as well.
• Players, Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Team Managers, and Parents are required to wear a mask while present, practicing, and/or playing on the field.
• Families not able to maintain 6 feet from other families are required to wear masks.
• There will be a 6-foot border line around each field.
• Parents/spectators are not permitted to touch any equipment. This includes balls that go out of bounds.
• All team equipment (balls, cones, etc) will be checked out and returned to the storage sheds before and after each practice to be disinfected.
• Parents should be taking the temperature of each player before coming to practice/games. Temperature over 100.4 is considered high.
• As players arrive, coaches will inquire how they’re feeling. If they are ill or appear to be ill, they will be sent home.