Latest Updates from EPYSA

COVID-19 Update

In preparation of the Spring 2021 soccer season, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer wanted to give a brief update on the latest COVID-19 information as it relates to youth soccer. Please review our COVID-19 Response and 2021 Spring Season documents and the updates below.

• All coaches, spectators, referees, players should wear masks at all times. The only time when players or referees do not have to wear masks during participation is if they meet an exception in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings. Section 3 of the Order provides an exception that allows an individual to remove their mask if wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition, or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition or a disability. Proof of meeting the exception is not required. For fully vaccinated individual's, masks should be worn in public places which includes soccer activities.
   
• Reduction of quarantine duration for a "close contact" - For an individual who is considered a "close contact" with a COVID Positive case, quarantine should ideally be for 14 days from the last time they had contact with you; however, for individuals who do not develop symptoms, quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing or after Day 7 if a specimen collected on or after Day 5 tests negative on a diagnostic test (i.e., PCR, antigen). Symptoms should be monitored for a full 14 days.
• Elimination out-of-state travel restrictions.  The state is no longer requiring that people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state, as well as Pennsylvania residents who are returning home from out of state, to test negative for the virus within 72 hours prior to arrival or quarantine.

• Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15% of maximum occupancy, and 20% of maximum occupancy for outdoor events, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 15% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

We will provide updates as information becomes available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Thank you for your continued support, and good luck with your spring competitions. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to cause uncertainty. All of us at Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer share your concerns, as we struggle to create a balance of family, school, and work. We remain dedicated to providing our members access to reliable resources that may be helpful in achieving some balance. Although we may not be able to provide direct support, we strive to give you information that could be helpful. The resources below are those we believe will be helpful for families, coaches, and businesses going forward. 

COVID-19 Update

In preparation of the Spring 2021 soccer season, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer wanted to give a brief update on the latest COVID-19 information as it relates to youth soccer. Please review our COVID-19 Response and 2021 Spring Season documents and the updates below.

• All coaches, spectators, referees, players should wear masks at all times. The only time when players or referees do not have to wear masks during participation is if they meet an exception in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Order Requiring Universal Face Coverings. Section 3 of the Order provides an exception that allows an individual to remove their mask if wearing a face covering would either cause a medical condition, or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues that impede breathing, a mental health condition or a disability. Proof of meeting the exception is not required. For fully vaccinated individual's, masks should be worn in public places which includes soccer activities.
   
• Reduction of quarantine duration for a "close contact" - For an individual who is considered a "close contact" with a COVID Positive case, quarantine should ideally be for 14 days from the last time they had contact with you; however, for individuals who do not develop symptoms, quarantine can end after Day 10 without testing or after Day 7 if a specimen collected on or after Day 5 tests negative on a diagnostic test (i.e., PCR, antigen). Symptoms should be monitored for a full 14 days.
• Elimination out-of-state travel restrictions.  The state is no longer requiring that people who are traveling to Pennsylvania from another state, as well as Pennsylvania residents who are returning home from out of state, to test negative for the virus within 72 hours prior to arrival or quarantine.

• Revised maximum occupancy limits for indoor events to allow for 15% of maximum occupancy, and 20% of maximum occupancy for outdoor events, regardless of venue size. Core public health measures such as face covering (mask-wearing), social distancing, and hand hygiene still must be enforced. The 15% of maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees and workers are able to comply with the 6-foot physical distancing requirement.

We will provide updates as information becomes available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Thank you for your continued support, and good luck with your spring competitions. 

The COVID-19 Pandemic continues to cause uncertainty. All of us at Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer share your concerns, as we struggle to create a balance of family, school, and work. We remain dedicated to providing our members access to reliable resources that may be helpful in achieving some balance. Although we may not be able to provide direct support, we strive to give you information that could be helpful. The resources below are those we believe will be helpful for families, coaches, and businesses going forward. 

 

Nether United Soccer Club/1776 United Safety Action Plan
*These guidelines may change as guidance changes

Social distancing
Players must remain socially distant (6 feet) while the team is at practice anytime the players are not engaged on the field, such as water breaks or while the coach is issuing instruction.AND before/after/between games. This includes parking lots and sidelines at game. Cones will be placed at practice and all players should place their bags/equipment at a cone. The team must remain socially distant when huddling to talk with coaches and at all other times. There are no exceptions to this.


Masks
Coaches will wear masks at all times when in the presence of players or other coaches. Players will wear masks when not in the field (when walking to and form the field and when on the bench). Players may wear a mask when in the field if they would like. These should be actual face masks as opposed to neck gaiters and bandanas. The fabric of neck gaiters and bandanas likely may not do as much as a well made cloth mask or paper surgical mask.

Equipment
Players should not share equipment. If equipment is shared, it will be cleaned between uses.

Hygiene
All players should have their own bottle of hand sanitizer and clean their hands regularly. There should not be any hand shakes, fist bumps, or elbow bumps. Players should not share food or drinks.

Illness
No player should come to practice or a game if they have a fever, cough, cold symptoms or generally do not feel well.
Health screening on team snap should be filled out for every practice and game.

Spectators
All spectators must remain socially distant while watching the game. If players need to remain at a tournament between games, they must remain socially distant from other teams and players. Parents and players should not congregate with other team families. Spectators will wear masks unless they are clearly socially distanced. For tournaments where there is a lag in between games, the team recommends that you leave the park and return at the agreed upon time prior to the following game.


When should you notify the club?
Illness
If a player is being tested for COVID due to symptoms or has any symptoms, parents need to communicate this to the coaches immediately in case other precautionary measures need to be taken for the team or the club.

Testing for COVID for other reasons and player is asymptomatic
Some of our players (asymptomatic) are being tested for COVID prior to visiting an older family member or prior to travel. If testing comes back positive, please communicate this to the coaches immediately in case other precautionary measures need to be taken for the team or the club.

Player with exposure to someone with COVID
No player should come to practice or a game if they have had a direct exposure to someone with COVID in prior two weeks. Players with an exposure should quarantine for 2 weeks. Parents need to communicate this to the coaches immediately.

Household contact with exposure to someone with COVID
In this situation the player did not directly have a COVID exposure, and can continue to play. However, given the direct exposure of someone in the household, the club should be notified immediately so that continued practices to reduce the risks to others can be enforced. The household member with the exposure should continue to quarantine from all family members for 14 days from time of exposure per national guidelines.

Board of Directors
Nether United
1776 United