Practice/scrimmage/game/meet/tournament

hosted by SYC

1. Masks are highly encouraged, but NOT REQUIRED.

2. No sharing of personal equipment (water bottles, gloves, etc.)

3. Recommend wiping playing equipment (balls, etc.) at least twice a game (beginning and halftime or between quarters/periods).

4. No Daily Check-In.  However, if a player or family member is exhibiting COVID-like symptoms, please follow the guidelines above based on your vaccination status.

5. Report any positive COVID-19 cases associated with youth sports to the SYC Operations Manager (County requirement).

Practice/scrimmage/game/meet/tournament

hosted by other clubs/venues

Traveling SYC Teams will follow the established COVID-19 policies of the host club/venue while participating in their events.

Practice/scrimmage/game/meet/tournament

hosted by SYC

1. Please note that Fairfax County has changed its policy regarding masks indoors at its facilities, including the gyms used by SYC.  Masks are no longer required, although you are certainly free to wear one if you choose to do so.  SYC follows the policy of the owner/operator of the building in which we conduct events, so for SYC indoor events at FCPS schools, masks are not required of either participants or spectators. 

2. Players may choose to wear masks or not wear masks while actively playing.  That is a family decision. 

3. No sharing of personal equipment (water bottles, gloves, etc.)

4. Recommend wiping playing equipment (balls, etc.) at least twice a game (beginning and halftime or between quarters/periods).

5. No Daily Check-In.  However, if a player or family member is exhibiting COVID-like symptoms, please follow the guidelines above based on your vaccination status.

6. Report any positive COVID-19 cases associated with youth sports to the SYC Operations Manager (County requirement).

Practice/scrimmage/game/meet/tournament

hosted by other clubs/venues

Traveling SYC Teams will follow the established COVID-19 policies of the host club/venue while participating in their events.

Before Practice: Before coming to practice ensure you have completed any daily health screenings.

Arrival

• All participants will be expected to complete screening check-in procedures.

• Parents will be required to show email proof of screening completion or certify as such in writing on arrival.

• Participants should bring hand sanitizer and use at beginning of practice or game.  SYC will provide sanitizer also.

• Social distancing required (6’ +) for players and participants.  

• All participants must practice social distancing, with the exception of limited periods of game play that don’t allow for the full 6’ of distancing.  Coaches and assistants will ensure as much social distancing as possible, including drills that allow for social distancing and team “huddles” that provide the 6’ spacing.  The goal is 95%+ social distancing and keeping the non-social distance periods to a minimum duration.

• Mask wearing is generally optional for players.  Mask wearing is mandatory for coaches and assistants, except where social distancing of 15’ or more can be established (certain drills, breaks).

• Participant personal items must be spaced out or held by parents; dugout areas will only be used for entering and leaving the field.

• Dugout area during games will be limited to a 4-person maximum, with 6’ social distancing.

• Parents / spectators are permitted, masks optional, but 10’+ social distancing must be maintained.

• No team snacks please.

• There will be at least 10 minutes of buffer time between scheduled end time of a practice and start time of a practice, if another team is using the field.  For games, there will be at least 10 minutes of buffer time between the end of one game and when any players from the next game are asked to show up for warm-ups.

• We plan to minimize any shared equipment but it may not be feasible to have no shared equipment.  For any shared equipment:

• Helmet face guards to be sanitized after each use

• Balls and bats to be sanitized at the end of each practice or game

• Use hand sanitizer issued to coaches to spray participants’ hands
• Coaches must wear masks during practices and games, except during break periods where social distancing of 20’+ can be maintained

Head Coach duties

• Responsible to make sure daily check-in occurs
• Monitor participant distancing
• Maintain supply of hand sanitizer and Lysol (provided by SYC)
• Have guidelines in hand and be ready to answer questions

Field monitor (COVID coach); assign a volunteer for each practice or game to take charge of the daily check ins and monitor social distancing.  This person’s primary task is monitoring COVID safety and reporting transgressions to the team’s head coach and, as needed, to the softball commissioner and to SYC admin.

• Contact the SYC office or the SYC softball commissioner with any questions or concerns about Return to Play procedures.