Important Annoucements

AFC/CVSC/MSC/PSC
Competitive Team Return to Competition FAQ

(UPDATED 03/02/21)

Please note, due to this unusual time and circumstance, the various boards and the professional coaches have thought hard about numerous scenarios and outcomes that may come up. If there are situations or issues that come up that we have not planned for, addressed here or in other communications, we will do everything possible to do the right thing for the player(s) involved. Additionally, the health and safety of players and coaches will always be of topmost importance.

Table of Contents:

• General Information
• Training
• Games
• Additional Questions

General

What is the new guidance from the State on soccer in California?

• New guidance comes into effect from Friday, Feb 26, 2021
• Soccer may be played if county adjusted case rate = 14 per 100k or less
• Local health depts and school districts may adopt stricter rules 
• Social distancing for all at all times off the field
• Participants must sanitize hands before competition, during breaks, and after competition, if there is shared equipment
• Nobody with symptoms may participate in competitions

Is Alameda County currently one of those counties where soccer can be played?

Yes. As of Tuesday 23rd February, Alameda County had 9.5 cases per hundred. The county metrics are updated every Tuesday. The latest guidance from Alameda County on February 26th is that they will be following the State guidance for youth sports https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/

Where can I track the current case rates?

You can track current case rates in real time at this site: covidactnow.org

Will players and coaches need to be tested weekly for COVID-19 in order to participate in soccer?

No, the only sports that require athlete testing are football, rugby, and water polo. We have confirmed with Alameda County that soccer players and coaches do not require weekly testing.

Will players be required to wear face covering when playing soccer?

Yes, we will continue to require our players to wear masks in practices and games. The CA State Order and NorCal Soccer require wearing masks for all players and coaches during training and games (even during high exertion as tolerated) for the immediate future. See the American Academy of Pediatrics Interim Guidance on Return to Sports [1] for specific exceptions where the face covering may become a hazard.

What happens if COVID-19 symptoms are detected at the field?

• Any player, parent or coach who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will be immediately isolated (with a mask) to the holding area until transport is arranged. 
• Everyone, except for essential personnel, must stay at least 20 feet from holding area
• Venue exit will be cleared upon arrival of transportation to allow person to leave while maintaining appropriate distancing
• The Club will notify ACPH per their guidelines
• The Club will Inform Club team/families of any relevant test results (names to be kept anonymous)
• If COVID-19 test proves negative, that person will be allowed to resume training when they are ready

What happens if a member of the club reports testing positive for COVID-19?

They will be required to stop attending any Club session until cleared by a medical professional.

Per their guidelines, Club will notify Alameda County Public Health (ACPH) for assistance to assess potential exposures, and any recommended testing, quarantine, or isolation instructions. We will also follow their lead on communicating with potentially impacted Club members.

ACPH contact info:

• (510) 267-3250 --- if a suspected exposure has occurred
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -- for non-urgent communication about COVID-19 and other communicable diseases

Can players be part of multiple teams or play multiple sports?

Per the recent guidelines from California on youth sports, it is strongly encouraged that children should only be participating in one team sport. For the full guidance please go to the CDPH website. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx.

Training

When will contact be allowed in training?

We will be allowing contact to resume in training sessions from Tuesday March 2nd. Coaches will still do their best to have players socially distance in between activities and when contact during activities is not required. Social distancing will be enforced for all interactions off the soccer field (before training, at breaks and after training).

Will we still be required to complete the Javelin wellness app before each training session?

Yes. We will continue to use the Javelin wellness check for your child’s continued safety. In addition, each player will need to complete an updated “informed consent” form by a parent/guardian by their next training session OR they will not be allowed to train during the contact portions of practice. 

Will our current training schedule remain?

Your current training schedule may change slightly when we begin playing competitive games with NorCal. The reason for this is we have to free up fields on weekends to allow for games.

Will my team have the same number of training sessions as they currently do?

We will strive to keep the number of sessions the same, but this will be dependent on field availability.

Can I watch my child train?

We will be continuing with our current policy and only allowing coaches and players on the field during training sessions.

Games

When will we resume games?

We plan to slowly phase in games for our teams:

• Tuesday, March 2nd - Scrimmages will be set up between teams during training sessions 
• On the weekends of March 6/7 and March 13/14 - We aim to schedule scrimmages between teams with each club or between the four clubs (AFC, CVSC, MSC and PSC). We will do our best to schedule at least one game for each team over these two weekends, but it’s of course dependent on field availability
• Beginning March 20th - We plan to begin games through NorCal against other neighboring clubs

What is NorCal’s plan for Spring league?

• Return to Play Event #1 – March
  • Start: March 20th for our county
  • End: April 4 or 11
• Return to Play Event #2 – April
  • Start: April 10 or 17
  • End: May 16 or 23
• Try-outs for the new season would take place towards the end of May and then NorCal would offer a summer league as the start of the new season in June/July

Will my team have enough players to play games?

Coaches will be reaching out to families on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd March to gage availability for games. If needed, we may look to combine rosters. Our aim is to give everyone that wants to play games the opportunity to do so.

How many games can each team play per day?

Teams will be limited to playing just one game per day.

Who will our NorCal games be against?

The games will be county-based competition, or between adjacent counties, if both counties are cleared

Can players play for more than one team?

No. Players can only be part of one team.

Can our team enter an in-State tournament?

No. No tournaments or events with more than 2 teams.

Can our team enter an out of State tournament?

No. Teams must not compete in out-of-state games or events.

What will safety measures look like on game days?

See attached NorCal FAQ guide for more information on what clubs, teams and coaches will be doing to ensure children are safe during games.

This covers:

• Gameday Requirements & Policies
• Field Set-Up
• Facility Hygiene 
• Team Screening
• Face Coverings
• In-Club Guest Playing
• Tracing Process for Positive Cases
• Reporting Process

Can I watch my child play?

Only immediate family members in the same household will be allowed to attend games. Family members will need to wear masks and will need to socially distance. Teams are expected to provide field monitors for their games that will ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are being followed. This is of course subject to additional rules that each facility puts in place and may limit spectators at some of the fields we use.

Additional questions

I have more questions, who do I contact?

Don’t ever hesitate to contact your child’s coach, however, we understand that sometimes there are questions that are outside of their responsibility or you just want to talk to someone else.  Feel free to contact Rob Busa: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have additional questions.