Neptune Soccer Association COVID-19 Return to Play Guidelines and Recommendations
Neptune Soccer Association strongly believes in the benefits of young people participating in
soccer, while also recognizing the need to keep players, coaches, referees, and their families
safe during Phase 1 start-up in regards to youth sports. Listed below are guidelines Neptune
Soccer Association will implement and it will be updated as needed.
Guiding Principles:
On June 22, 2020, the resumption of soccer activities shall be allowed as part of the current
guidance by the New Jersey Governor’s governors and Dept of Health. This guidance may
change should it be necessary, and safeguards like those listed below are still needed and
expected to be followed .
All participants (players/coaches/parents) should practice safe and practical sanitation and
distancing practices wherever reasonable.
Reduce spreading of the virus by limiting the touching of surfaces and close contact.
Training Environment in a Pandemic
It may be possible to hold in-person training & game play that meets safety and health
guidelines. However, this should not be undertaken lightly as all aspects of the soccer
environment must be assessed and modified to identify and reduce the risk of spreading the
virus. Below we have listed some of these issues, but each venue must be reviewed to identify
areas of concern for each facility. All guidance below is expected to be implemented
immediately.
Arrival and Departure- Training Sessions
Training start and end times should be staggered. This becomes an even greater concern if
multiple teams will be in the same area. A buffer of at least 15 minutes should be allotted between
sessions.
● Parents/guardians should check the temperature of players at home before
attending practice.Players should not attend practice with temperatures of 100.4
degrees or greater, persistent cough, or any indications of not being well or
healthy.
● Carpooling should be avoided.
● Parents are encouraged to stay in cars, social distancing should always be
observed by non-participants but especially in the fields.
● Players should leave the car ready to play (wearing shoes/cleats, shin guards, etc.) to
avoid having unnecessary personal belongings on the field
● The Coach should make the following inquiries at the beginning of the practice
of all players (as a group is acceptable):
○ Is anyone running a temperature? (NO - proper answer)
○ Does anyone have a persistent cough? (NO - proper answer)
○ Does everyone feel well & healthy? (YES - proper answer)
Player participation should be based on the answers to these questions.
● Each player should have a unique designated area to put their water bottle
and any additional equipment (i.e. backpack) at a reasonable distance from
one another.
● Players should maintain social distancing during coaching conversation and
should be encouraged to leave the training area promptly after sessions.
Training Considerations
● Duration of training should be modified based on player health &
conditioning.
● Lines should be avoided when
possible
● Participants should refrain from gathering in a huddle or small group, as is common
when giving instruction. Players should spread out and listen to instruction.
● All physical contact between players must be closely monitored. Use of high
fives and other previously encouraged behaviors are to be avoided at this time.
● Training areas should be left clean and neat when a team leaves
the area.
Game Considerations
● Only one player per team should be sent as a Captain for the coin toss prior to the
game. No handshakes are to occur at any time before, during, or after game play.
● Game Officials should consider the use of disposable gloves when checking
player and coach registration cards.
● The use of face masks by game officials is recommended when they are not on the
field.
● The use of face masks by coaches is recommended when they are not on the
sidelines.
● Team bench areas shall always be kept clean with any additional gear stowed
during gameplay. Benches must be left clean & neat after the game with no
exceptions.
● All players, coaches & game officials must each have their own, labeled, hydration
bottle. Sharing of bottles is NOT permitted at any time.
● Players on the bench during game play should be distanced from one another as
much as possible. Non players or coaches should not be in the bench area at any
time.
● Parents/guardians should check the temperature of players at home before
attending a game. Players should not attend games with temperature of 100.4
degrees or greater, persistent cough, or other indications of not being well and
healthy.
● The Coach should make the following inquiries before the game of all players (as a
group is acceptable):
○ Is anyone running a temperature? (NO - proper answer)
○ Does anyone have a persistent cough? (NO - proper answer)
○ Does everyone feel well & healthy? (YES - proper answer)
● Player participation should be based on the answers to these
questions.
● Players should maintain social distancing during coaching conversation and should
be encouraged to leave the field area promptly after games. Post-game talks shall
be done away from the bench areas and be brief.
● Spectators shall always practice social distancing. Use of a mask is strongly
suggested.
General Considerations
● Do not allow participants to treat spreading the virus as a joke- parents need to be a
part of enforcing this. Relaxation of guidelines is not an indication that there is no need
for concern.
● An RSVP and attendance system should be used both for planning and to record
possible interactions in the event of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
● Anyone displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19 should not attend and
should notify their coach.
● Clear communication to and between all participants and their families about
expectations and guidelines is essential to successfully implement your return to play
plan.
● Any instance of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis of a participant or anyone in
attendance of a session, must be immediately reported to Neptune Soccer
Association.
● Signs will be posted at Sunshine Fields for participants and spectators to adhere
to social distancing requirements.
● Bathrooms- One person/player allowed in at a time (unless a child is escorted by a
parent) and locked behind them.
Injuries
● The potential reaction to a player getting injured is more complicated during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate safety of the player must remain the top
priority, but care should be taken when addressing small injuries (e.g. handing out
band-aids). Proper sanitation & safety practices should always be practiced.
Sanitary Conditions
● Coaches should have sanitizing wipes
available
● It is suggested that coaches wear face masks when not directly involved with
coaching. Keep in mind that many coaches are in contact with multiple groups.
● All balls used should be sanitized before
each use.
● Only coaches should handle equipment (cones, goals, etc.) and these should be
sanitized after use.
● It is recommended that players not share pinnies or any other equipment that
is not sanitized between uses.
● Facilities should make sure that all areas of practice and gameplay are cleaned
thoroughly and regularly. Trash and waste should be removed regularly and use of
masks and gloves by all employees is strongly recommended.
Neptune Soccer Association is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of all people. The
purpose of this document is to provide athletes, parents, coaches, and soccer organizations with
information they can use to assist them with developing their return to training programs in the
context of COVID-19. In addition, there will be other logistical challenges of returning to training
following COVID19. These are public fields. It will be hard to keep track of the public’s use of this
facility.
The information in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and
information, are provided for general informational purposes only. The knowledge and
circumstances around COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, US Youth Soccer and
New Jersey Youth Soccer make no representation and assume no responsibility for the
completeness of this information. Further, you should seek advice from medical professionals
and/or public health officials if you have specific questions about your return to training and
competition. Given the changing pandemic environment, these guidelines may change at any
time. These guidelines address early phases on return to play. Additional guidelines will follow as
the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.
Rob Podlaski
President
Neptune Soccer Association