Return to Play - BUFC Player Safety Plan

RETURN TO PLAY - BUFC PLAYER SAFETY PLAN

To view entire Safety Plan document

UPDATED JUNE 15, 2020

As required by the State of Washington and Washington Youth Soccer, the club has created a Safety Plan which contains detailed information, rules, and procedures pertaining to all facets of our Operations and how we will conduct ourselves over the next weeks and months. Additionally, Bellevue United / Newport FC has adopted several new Policies in response to current conditions. Our hope is that in time, many of these rules, policies, and procedures will be lifted or removed and that the sport of soccer returns to something closer to how we remember it.

The Safety Plan in its entirety is available for public viewing and by CLICKING HERE. This communication contains information of interest to the players and families that make up our soccer community. Please take the time to read through and understand the information contained here.

With many more details to follow, here are 10 important rules to remember:

Be smart: if you are sick, stay home for at least fourteen (14) days. This applies to everyone: players, coaches, and parents. If you have been sick, remain home for at least 3 days after recovery.
Screening: During the first week, we will greet all participants before practice and ask if they have been sick in the last 14 days or in direct contact with a person who is sick. Players will be sent home immediately if the answer is “yes.” After the first week, coaches will greet players as they arrive and do a quick health check.
Sanitize: have hand sanitizer available and encourage hand washing before and after all activities.
Group play: all activities will be limited to the max number allowed in the current phase.
Physical play: We will facilitate soccer activities that eliminate physical contact. All drills and small-sided games will have as little physical contact as possible. Tackling, shielding, etc. is prohibited until further notice.
No high-fives, handshakes, or hugs: as much as we want to physically connect, this is not a safe practice for anybody right now.
Masks: coaches and spectators should wear a mask before, during, and after practice. Players should wear a mask when not actively practicing.
Drop-off/pick-up: parents should remain in car for drop-off and pick-up. No spectators will be allowed during Phase 2 and once we progress to Phase 3, all spectators must remain 6 feet apart.
Water bottles: to minimize accidental sharing of water, players must keep their water bottles in their own bag when not in use.
Have fun, stay positive: everyone is looking to each other to stay calm, supportive, and compassionate during this time.

PLAYER SAFETY

Players and player families will receive instructions from the Club regarding personal safety and protocols in place during Phase 2. Instructions include the following:

Players Should:

Take temperature daily. If a player is feeling ill, has a fever above 100.3 degrees F, or is exhibiting any symptoms, please keep the player home and notify the club immediately.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after training, and any contact outside your home.
Bring and use hand sanitizer with you at every training session. Players should sanitize their hands at the beginning and end of each training session.
Players should avoid carpooling, if possible. However, if carpooling is done it should be limited to players on the same team and training in the same group for the duration of Phase 2. Please advise the team’s coach of carpool situations. Once a carpool group is established, please do not switch to a different carpool group.
Wear a mask before and after all training sessions. This protects others if you are unknowingly carrying the virus.
Do not touch or share anyone else’s equipment.
Bring your own ball to training and label it as your own.
Practice social distancing and place bags and other equipment in specified areas at least 6 feet apart from teammates’ equipment during sessions.
When possible, players should store their equipment in their bag//backpack when not in use
Wash and sanitize all equipment before and after every training session.
No group celebrations with players closer than six feet, no high fives, hugs, cheers, etc.
DO NOT share water. Keep water bottles in their own bag when not in use.
Tackling, shielding, and other forms of play that assume physical contact is prohibited until further notice.

The Club has established the following policy regarding players exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or who suspect exposure:

If someone in your household or someone whom you know that your player(s) had contact with is diagnosed with COVID-19, then:

Player must self-isolate for fourteen (14) days
Immediately notify team and club officials
Review the COVID Case Positive document published by the Washington State Department of Health (linked at our website)
Players must also be symptom free for at least three (3) days prior to returning to play. Player(s) may only return sooner if a medical provider provides written confirmation that the player(s) tested negative for COVID-19 and releases the player(s) in writing to resume training.

FIELD LOGISTICS AND PROCEDURES

All coaches, players, and families will receive clear instructions about how fields will be setup during Phase 2 and the protocols and procedures related to each field.

GENERAL RULES

Volunteers and coaches should park in areas that do not create congestion around the designated pickup/drop-off zones
Drivers and any other non-players are always to remain in their cars. There will be zero tolerance for parents/guardians/etc. on the sidelines or in the general area of practice during Phase 2. This will be strictly enforced.
Please do not arrive to the field more than 5 minutes prior to your player’s assigned start time. Please also make sure that you are prompt to be at the designated pickup zone ON TIME.
Carpools should be limited strictly to teammates, and the group of players should always stay in the same carpool. This group should be communicated to the coach so that the group can be assigned to the same practice group.
When being dropped off, players should wear their face mask prior to exiting the car and keep it on until training begins. Once training is over and players are preparing to return to the pickup zone, they should again wear the mask and keep it on until they are inside the vehicle. Masks should be stored in the player’s backpack during training.
Fields will be setup by the assigned coaches for each practice. Volunteers should not be used for field setup; however, if it is necessary to have a volunteer perform this, all setup activity must be complete and the volunteer clear of the field prior to player arrival.
Players are to place their equipment and bags in designated areas and no closer than six feet apart. If possible, all player equipment should be stored in their bags when not in use.
Each field will have a screener who is tasked with greeting players as they arrive to the field. Players must check in with the screener prior to entering the field area.

In complying with the State and with Washington Youth Soccer, during phase 2 we will divide our training areas in a way that provides spacing for small groups of players and compartmentalization. Specifically, small fields will be divided into four quadrants of equal proportions and large fields may be divided into 6 sections if there is enough space. Each section will include a 10-yard buffer from other sections and provide a minimum of 1,000 square yards for each group of 5 players.

For protocols related to specific fields in the Bellevue United FC / Newport FC area, please see Appendix A.

APPENDIX A

INDIVIDUAL FIELD PROTOCOLS

The Club utilizes several fields across Bellevue for its teams’ practices and training. Protocol for each field is contained in this section (fields are alphabetically listed).

CHINOOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dropoff and Pickup locations:

Chinook East Field: Players are to be dropped off and picked up in the lower lot below the tennis courts.

Chinook West Field: Players are to be dropped off and picked up in the bus loading zone (off 96th Ave)

Ingress/Egress:

Chinook East Field Access: Players will enter and depart Chinook East via the concrete stairs at the end of the lower parking lot. This will minimize player exposure to the Chinook West field.

Chinook West Field Access: Players will enter and depart Chinook West via the ADA Concrete Ramp OR via the fire access road at the west end of the Chinook West field. This will minimize player exposure to the Chinook East Field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

For both Chinook East and Chinook West: Player bags and equipment are to be placed along the touchline immediately adjacent to the players’ assigned field space. Each player should keep their items no less than six (6) feet apart from neighboring items.

CLYDE HILL ELEMENTARY

Dropoff and Pickup location:

Players will be dropped off and picked up in the North parking lot of the school adjacent to the field.

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter and exit the field via the gate located adjacent to the North parking lot for Clyde Hill Elementary School, taking care to maintain proper social distancing from other players/coaches. Masks are to be worn when arriving/departing the field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

Player bags and equipment are to be placed along the touchline directly adjacent to their assigned practice area on the field, with each player placing their items no less than six (6) feet from neighboring items.

ENATAI ELEMENTARY

Dropoff and Pickup Location:

Players will be dropped off and picked up in the main parking lot for Enatai Elementary School.

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter and exit the field via the access gate at the North end of the field, taking care to maintain proper social distancing from other players/coaches. Masks are to be worn when arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment Bags:

Player bags and other related items are to be placed along the chain link fence on the East side of the fields with each player placing items no less than six (6) feet apart from neighboring items.

NEWPORT HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY

Dropoff and Pickup Locations:

Player drop-off will be the south end of the field along SE 54th PL.

Player pickup will be the north end of the field along 117th Ave SE

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter by the southeast corner by the playground. Players will exit by the northwest corner opposite of the playground. Masks are to be worn while arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

Player bags and equipment are to be placed along the touchline immediately adjacent to the players’ assigned field space. Each player should keep their items no less than six (6) feet apart from neighboring items.

MEDINA ELEMENTARY

Dropoff and Pickup Locations:

Non-players are to remain in their cars throughout the pickup procedure.

Player drop-off will be in the parking lot to the North of the field (entrance is on 81st Ave NE).

Player pickup should occur in the parking lot to the West of the field (entrance on NE 8th), providing for distance from any arriving players in the North parking lot for subsequent practices.

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter and exit the field via the entrance adjacent to the ballfield backstop, taking care to maintain proper social distancing while entering through the chain link gate. Masks are to be worn while arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

Player bags and equipment are to be placed along the chain link fence on the north side of the practice field with each player placing items no less than six (6) feet apart from neighboring items.

NEWPORT HILLS PARK

Dropoff and Pickup Location:

Players will be dropped off by the restrooms (north end of the field). Players will be picked up by the gazebo (south end of the field).

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter by the restrooms. Players will exit by the gazebo. Masks are to be worn when arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment Bags:

TYEE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dropoff and Pickup locations:

Players are to be dropped off by the gym (off SE 40th St) and picked up in the bus loading zone (off SE Allen Rd, Bellevue)

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter via the concrete stairs by the gym. Players will exit the south end of the field toward the play shed. Masks are to be worn while arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

WILBURTON FIELD

Drop-off and Pickup locations:

Players will be dropped off in the lower parking lot adjacent to the field. It is recommended drivers drop players at the top of the stairs at the Northeast corner of the field, immediately departing thereafter to allow for the next driver to drop-off, and so forth.

Players will be picked up in either the lower or upper lot following.

Ingress/Egress:

Players will enter and exit the field via the stairs located at the Northeast corner of the field, taking care to maintain proper social distancing from other players/coaches. Masks are to be worn when arriving and departing the field.

Player Equipment/Bags:

Player bags and other related items are to be placed along the touchline directly adjacent to their assigned practice area on the field, with each player placing items no less than six (6) feet apart. In some cases, bags/equipment may be placed on the opposite side of the track to allow for proper distancing requirements.

BELLEVUE UNITED FC