COVID-19 / Pandemic Policy

COVID-19 #SaferAtHome

Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA remains committed to offering our players and their families a soccer season as long as it is allowed and deemed safe to do so by Metro government, Tennessee State government and Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA).  Please review our COVID-19 / Pandemic Policy below. ALL participants, coaches, spectators and others visiting the Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA facilities must agree to abide by this policy. In an effort to minimize risks while maximizing both safety and fun, some things will be different. We appreciate your help and cooperation. You may also wish to read the linked document below to the TSSA Letter, Information and Research for Reopening Soccer, which contains related information, data and research for resuming soccer! 

We recognize the importance of offering kids (and adults!) a sense of 'normalcy' along with an opportunity for healing for everyone's physical and mental well being! While you wait for the season to begin, we have a page dedicated on our website to individual soccer training individuals can work on at home!

We wish you and your families good health, safety and all the best. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon! 

If you are not feeling well - PLEASE STAY HOME.

Please review the TSSA Letter, Information and Research for Reopening Soccer which contains related information, data, and research for resuming soccer.

Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA COVID-19/Pandemic Policy

  • For the safety of everyone involved with Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA, PLEASE STAY HOME if you or someone in your household is feeling ill, exhibiting ANY symptoms of COVID-19 as outlined by the CDC or otherwise sick. Please notify your coach via phone or text. DO NOT COME TO THE FIELDS. Coaches, please ask all players to confirm they are not exhibiting any symptoms. If someone IS exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms OR OTHER ILLNESS, they must leave the park immediately.
  • Prior to coming to the fields, ALL players, referees, coaches, parents/legal guardians and other spectators are encouraged to clean hands frequently and take other everyday preventative actions in observance of CDC guidance on social distancing and proper hand hygiene.
  • Players are required to practice personal safety along the sideline. This is where you will place your bag, personal cooler and other belongings. Please remind players NOT to share drinks. 
  • NO SHARED COOLERS this season. It is extremely important for players to be properly hydrated prior to play AND to bring enough water, sports drink, juice, etc., for personal hydration during and after the game.
  • At this time, masks are optional off the field for players. Since players are actively exercising on the field they are NOT recommended during play according to the World Health Organization.
  • Players are REQUIRED to use hand sanitizer prior to practice or game. (It is recommended for each player or team to provide their own.) It is RECOMMENDED to use hand sanitizer immediately after play.
  • Coaches are to provide game balls. It is RECOMMENDED that game balls be sanitized before games. Players are responsible for bringing their own soccer balls for training during practice. PLEASE LABEL personal soccer balls, using permanent marker, with the player's name and a contact phone number. It is recommended to sanitize soccer balls immediately after game. 
  • Based on specific age division, other specific rules may be implemented for safety.
  • Strive to practice social distancing (at least 6 ft.) from those not living in the same household when possible such as at practices. Spectators age 65+ and/or with underlying health conditions are recommended to stay home. Spectators may live stream to share with those unable to attend in person.
  • Concessions will only be opened on Saturdays during the HSC/NYSA season. Board members will screen anyone entering Concessions. Due to limited space, no more than 4 people allowed at one time in the building.  This season, only drinks and pre-packaged items will be available for sale.

Plan for a potential COVID-19 case or exposure at Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA:

STAY HOME. No one wants to miss out on a practice or game, especially if feeling well. We all must do what we can to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19. It is far better to miss a practice or game than to miss an entire season!

Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts

  • To help slow the spread of COVID-19, it is very important to notify Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA if you have tested positive or are exhibiting symptoms and awaiting test results. Your privacy will be respected. In accordance with state and local privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations, Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA should notify local health officials, coaches and other impacted volunteers, officials and families immediately of any positive case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws and regulations.
  • We will work with local health officials to develop a reporting system (e.g., letter) youth sports organizations can use to notify health officials and close contacts of cases of COVID-19.
  • Advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

For Players, Coaches, Referees, Board Members, or Family Members WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE:

  • If the player, coach, referee, board member or family member DOES NOT have symptoms, they must be at least 5 days past the day they were tested, or later if advised by a physician, before being allowed to return to Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA facilities.
  • If the player, coach, referee, board member, or family members DOES have symptoms, they must be at least 5 days past when the symptoms began, or later if advised by a physician; they must be feeling better; and they cannot have had a fever in the previous 72 hours during which time they did not take any medication that reduces fever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) before being allowed to return to Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA facilities.

For the player, coach, referee, board member or family member who has been in direct contact with a positive case (Public health officials in their county of residence likely will have contacted them with this information):

  • Such persons must self-isolate for 5 days or longer if advised by physician before returning to Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA with testing recommended. If they become symptomatic during this time, they should be tested. If they test positive, they should follow the information above.

 
For  who have been tested and are awaiting results:

  • Such persons cannot return to Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA facilities until the test results are back.  Before they can return to Heartland Soccer Club: NYSA facilities, they must have both a negative test result and not have been a contact of a positive case within the previous 14 days or longer if recommended by physician. If they test positive, they should follow the information above.

IF I OR A FAMILY MEMBER IS SICK AND NEEDS TO VISIT A MEDICAL PROVIDER, HOW DO WE PROTECT OTHERS?
STAY HOME. First, call your health care provider or an urgent care center to determine if and where you or your family member should go.

If you suspect that you or a family member has COVID-19, please call the MPHD COVID-19 Information Hotline, open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily: 615-862-7777, or the Tennessee Coronavirus Public Information Lines, open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily: (833) 556-2476 or (877)-857-2945.

We realize this is not the norm, but if we all work together players will be able to enjoy soccer once again! Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
 
(Updated August 3, 2022)

Mythbuster - masks and exercise