MYH COVID-19 POLICY cont.

Players, guardians and siblings are required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when in the rink and/or on rink property (includes parking lots).

Players are required to wear a mask or face covering at all times when playing and when on the bench.

Players, guardians and siblings are allowed to enter the rink no sooner than 15 minutes before the start of skills, practice or games. All players are required to enter the rink fully dressed with the exception of skates, gloves, and helmet. This applies to skills, practice and games. Please follow rink instructions on where to finish getting dressed, and where to leave your hockey bag. All players who have finished skills, practice or games are asked to remove their skates, gloves and helmets while in the rink and then exit the rink as quickly as possible. Players can then remove the rest of their equipment in or at their car, or upon returning home and while social distancing.

CDC and State Guidance:

MYH in previously planned conjunction with other Marshfield Youth Sport organizations, will follow the CDC guidelines for safely returning to youth sport activity. These guidelines can be found here:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html

Additionally, we will follow guidance from the State of Massachusetts on safely reopening and playing. These items can be found here:

• https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts.

• https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-standards-for-youth-and-adult-amateur-sports-activities-phase-iii-step-1/download

Mass Hockey resources: https://www.mahockey.org/hockeyresources.

Mass Hockey ADM Skills and Drills: https://www.admkids.com/

USA Hockey resources: https://www.usahockey.com/playersafety

In addition to the CDC, State, and NGO guidelines, MYH required and implemented the following safety measures:

“MYH COVID19 Cross Check Test” for guardians of each participant shall certify before they enter any rink:

1. I took my child’s temperature less than 2 hours before their practice or game and it was less than 100.4 degrees.

2. My child has not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle ache or pain, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell). If they have experienced these symptoms, they have since tested negative for COVID-19 since the onset of symptoms AND/OR have a doctor’s note stating that it is safe for the child to return to play.

3. My child has neither tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days nor awaiting test results, and not knowingly been in close contact with anyone (including household) that has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

• All parents were required to sign a one-time waiver - agreeing to continuous adherence to the Safety Standards for duration of the 2020-2021 MYH Season, from the time of your registration through April 2021 (provided by MYH online and at the rinks).

Example of participating in a scheduled skate in Phase 3, Step 2 as amended 11/6/2020:

• RSVP with MYH electronically within 24 hours of ice time

• FACE COVERINGS: Players, coaches and officials are required to wear face coverings at all times. This includes during play. Acceptable face coverings should follow the guidance issued by the CDC (CLICK HERE FOR LINK). Products that are specific to hockey (CCM “Game On”, Bauer Concept 3 Splash Guard, etc.) are understood to be acceptable. (p.6 of Guidance)

• MODIFICATIONS TO SPORT: Previous modifications that required the elimination of deliberate contact are no longer in effect. This means that body-checking is allowed as

• permissible by USA Hockey playing rules. (p.4 of Guidance)

• TRANSPORTATION: If carpooling to an event (which is strongly discouraged), all parties must wear face coverings. (p.11 of Guidance)

• Skater and up to 2 guardians can enter 15 minutes before ice time with masks on

• Arrive fully dressed, can put skates and other gear on in the rink

• Effective 11/7/2020, locker rooms are closed until further notice.

• Follow foot traffic flow charts in facility (enter one point, exit another point)

• Go on ice, pull mask down, put labeled water bottle on your side of the ice bench dasher

• No sharing of water bottles

• No spitting out water or fluids on the ice or areas around the benches

• Social distance on the ice, but stay in your cohort

• Coach will keep attendance record of everyone on the ice for the respective MYH event and make attendance sheets available at the request of the MYH COVID Committee

• Coaches should keep, distribute, and collect practice pucks

• Coaches should bring their own whiteboard, it is recommended that coaches minimize gatherings at the white board.

• Collect water bottle, go off the ice at the end of practice, pull mask up

• Everyone should leave the building with a mask on no more than 30 minutes after ice time concludes

Hockey Specific Guidelines Summary:

• Youth and Adult ages allowed on the ice

• Cohorts of 25 on the ice at least 20 feet apart, 2 groups max, everyone maintaining social distance, stay in your group entire hour

• Coaches responsible for executing on all guidelines on the ice

• All skills and drills (skating and shooting), no battles, no contact, no 3v3s

• Everyone should wear a mask at all times when in the rink, even while playing.

• Up to 2 guardians per participant as long as they can social distance in the stands

• Everyone must bring their own water bottle (labeling encouraged), no sharing allowed

• Facilitate proper hygiene, wash hands before and after ice time, use hand sanitizer

• No full clear shield required

Coaches:

• Attendance records will be mandatory in Phase 3, coaches will be required to keep attendance record of everyone on the ice for the respective MYH event and make attendance sheets available at the request of the MYH COVID Committee

• Responsible for all contact and cleaning of pucks, cones, or anything used on the ice

• Players are highly encouraged to have sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer in their hockey bag and/or with their personal belongings for use before skating, after skating and as required.

• Coaches assigned to any ice hour will be responsible for all enforcement of guidelines and protocol during that time

Players:

• Try to stay 6 feet apart on the ice at all times

• Reminder no sharing of water bottles (please label with name)

• Keep all equipment on while on the ice at all times, including no physical contact with pucks

Parents:

• Wash / disinfect all equipment used on the ice each time

• Up to 2 guardians in the rink per participant. Self-attest health before entering the rink “MYH COVID19 Cross-Check Test”

MYH:

MYH COVID-19 Safety Committee for all concerns & communications:

*All Hockey and MYH Specific guidelines are subject to change at any time per MYH Board approval.

For reference from the latest State Youth Sports Document (November 6, 2020):

Activity Organizers should read and comply with Guidelines for Activity Organizers.

SPORTS & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ALLOWED BY RISK LEVEL DURING PHASE III, STEP 2

The risk associated with an activity is also dependent on the type of play. The following types of play are defined by level from least to greatest risk.

• Level 1: Individual or socially distanced group activities (non-contact workouts, aerobic conditioning, individual skill work, and drills)

• Level 2: Competitive Practices (Intra-team/group games, contact drills, and scrimmages)

• Level 3: Competitions (Inter-team games, meets, matches, races, etc.)

• Level 4: Tournaments

In Phase III, Step 2, sports and recreational activities are subject to the limitations and guidelines set forth below:

• Sports and activities included in the Lower Risk category can participate in Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 type of play.

• Sports and activities included in the Moderate Risk can participate in Level 1, 2, and 3 type of play.

• Sports and activities included in the Higher Risk category that require intermittent close proximity or moderate contact (basketball, lacrosse, ice-hockey, ultimate frisbee) or sports that require high contact but are only performed outdoors (football and rugby) can participate in Level 1, 2 and 3 type of play. For the avoidance of doubt, football and rugby must only engage in the permissible activities outdoors. Sports and activities included in the Higher Risk category that are performed indoors and require sustained high contact (wrestling, competitive cheer, pair figure skating) can participate in Level 1 and modified Level 2 cohort play (as described below).

Modified Level 2 Cohort Play

The aforementioned high-risk indoor sports that require high contact (close physical or face-to- face contact), may only engage in Level 1 and modified Level 2 Cohort play using a cohort concept for competitive contact practices or training, provided that Facility Operators and Activity Organizers meet the following minimum requirements:

• Training activities must be performed in “cohorts” of the same small group of individuals that performs all training activities together and without interacting with other individuals or cohorts.

• Cohorts can be no larger than ten (10) participants and the same cohort assignments must be used for every training session or class.

• Participants cannot be a member of multiple cohorts, nor can cohort assignments rotate.

• Training areas or boundaries must be marked so that training cohorts are separated in all directions by at least 14 feet. Class sizes should be capped by the number of available training areas based on the size of the facility and in no event more than 25 people on a playing surface.

• A cohort can compete against other cohorts if each cohort performs separately from other cohorts (e.g., pair figure skating, or small group synchronized swimming) and no contact occurs between cohorts.

SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PLAY

All Facility Operators and Activity Organizers of activities must develop and implement safety standards to minimize the risk of transmission of infection among participants, especially for High Risk sports and those sports conducted in indoor settings and are expected to ensure compliance by all participants. Safety standards should be disseminated regularly. Some of the mitigation strategies that should be incorporated into safety standards include, but are not limited to:

• Identifying measures that can be implemented to increase physical distancing, where feasible.

• In races or similar activities where players typically start or finish together, staggering starts to avoid close contact. Starting lines should also be adjusted to allow for 6 feet distancing between participants at the start (e.g., have runners in every other lane, spacing competitors on start line 6 feet apart). If space is limited, staggered start times should be used to allow appropriate spacing for participants for each starting group.

• Conducting the activity or sport outdoors where possible, as outdoor participation is generally safer than indoors and allows for greater distancing.

• Shortening activities, practices, and game play or performing the activity with fewer participants to the extent possible.

• Modifying the activity or sport to reduce the sharing of equipment or to allow for cleaning of shared equipment between participants.

• Utilizing cohorts, even if not required to do so as specified above, of the same participants over the course of an entire program or season.

Mandatory Facial Coverings for All Sports:

Facility Operators and Activity Organizers must require facial coverings to be worn by all participants during active play except:

• During swimming, water polo, water aerobics or other sports where individuals are in the water; or

• For individuals with a documented medical condition or disability that makes them unable to wear a face covering.

For purposes of this guidance, a facial covering means a face mask or cloth facial covering that completely covers the nose and mouth.

Participants should take frequent breaks when they are out of proximity to other players, using caution to avoid touching the front or inside of the face covering by using the ties or ear loops to remove and replace. Participants for all sports must wear facial coverings on the bench at all times and in any huddles or time-outs.

This requirement applies to all spectators and chaperones, coaches, staff, referees, umpires, and other officials.

TRANSPORTATION AND OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL

• Transportation

• Facility Owners, Activity Organizers, participants, staff, coaches, volunteers and guardians/parents must also comply with all relevant transportation safety requirements, including but not limited to, ensuring that staff, volunteers, and parents/guardians are not transporting athletes that are not immediate family members. In the event that transportation of non-family members becomes necessary, all parties in the vehicle must wear cloth face coverings or face masks and to the extent possible have external air circulating in the vehicle such as opening a window.

REQUIRED SAFETY PROTOCOLS

All Facility Operators and Activity Organizers must adhere to the following safety standards.

1. SOCIAL DISTANCING

Facility Operator Guidance

• Indoor facilities must limit capacity to no more than 50% of the building’s maximum permitted occupancy and ensure adequate social distancing of at least 6 feet for all visitors and staff. Facility Owners must ensure that visitors are not congregating in small areas, hallways or lobbies or blocking traffic flow.

STAFFING AND OPERATIONS

Facility Operator Guidance

• Any concessions or food service must follow the Safety Standards for Restaurants.

• Facility Operators should work with Activity Organizers to stagger activity start and end times or to put in place other protocols to limit contact between all visitors as much as possible. This also allows for more time to clean the facility between users. Operators must have daily schedules prepared in advance.

• Facility Operators of indoor facilities shall establish traffic patterns (one-way flow, designated exits and entrances where possible), and limit capacity to maintain social distancing for the facility, including any restrooms.

• Facility Operators must post notice to employees, workers, and participants of important health information and relevant safety measures.

• Require workers who test positive for COVID-19 to disclose to the workplace employer for purposes of cleaning / disinfecting and contact tracing. If the employer is notified of a positive case at the workplace, the employer must notify the Local Board of Health (LBOH) in the city or town where the workplace is located and assist the LBOH to advise likely contacts to isolate and self-quarantine. Testing of other workers may be recommended consistent with guidance and /or at the request of the LBOH.

• Employers should take measures to ensure employees comply with all State-issued rules concerning out of state travel for any employer-paid or employer-reimbursed travel.

• Facility Operators shall not knowingly allow an Activity Organizer to use a facility if the Activity Organizer is continuing to organize sports activities despite a notice of non-compliance or directive from the Department of Public Health, Department of Labor Standards or a Local Board of Health. The Department of Public Health, Department of Labor Standards and/or a Local Board of Health may issue a civil fine for failure to comply with this requirement of $300 per violation for each incident and for each day the violation(s) occur.

Activity Organizer Guidance

• Activity Organizers must ensure that teams and leagues, as well as individual team members, comply with all applicable travel restrictions and any quarantine or testing requirements.

• To participate or attend, organizers should ensure that participants, volunteers, coaches, and spectators must show no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. Current list of symptoms is available from the CDC.

• If any individual develops symptoms of COVID-19 during the activity, they should promptly inform organizers and must be removed from the activity and instructed to return home.

• Activity Organizers of activities are responsible for following all guidelines and creating a safe environment for participants.

3. HYGEIENE, CLEANING AND DISINFECTING

Facility Operator Guidance

• If any equipment is provided by the Operator, the Operator must clean and disinfect shared equipment at the end of a practice or competition session using a product from the list of disinfectants meeting EPA criteria for use against the novel coronavirus.

• Indoor sports facilities should take steps to ensure adequate ventilation, including, increasing the volume of outdoor air to the maximum possible and reducing the volume of recirculated air being returned while the facility is occupied.

• Indoor facilities must provide access to handwashing facilities on site, including soap and running water, and allow sufficient break time for staff and participants to wash hands frequently; alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol may be used as an alternative.

• All facilities must supply employees with adequate cleaning products (e.g., sanitizer, disinfecting wipes).

• Operators must post visible signage throughout the site to remind employees and visitors of hygiene and safety protocols.

• Allow water fountains to be used as refill stations only, provided that social distancing can be maintained. Customers and workers should bring their own water bottles or purchase from the business

• Restrooms facilities shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidance and best practices linked here: EEA COVID-19 Outdoor Recreation Facility Restroom Cleaning Best Practices

• Keep cleaning logs that include date, time, and scope of cleaning.

• Conduct frequent disinfecting of heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, handrails, bathrooms).

• In event of a positive case, shut down site for a deep cleaning and disinfecting of the workplace in accordance with current guidance.

Activity Organizer Guidance