Neenah Soccer Club (NSC) is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our soccer community. We want nothing more than to be out playing on the fields, but this must be done with strict focus on the safety of players, coaches, referees and families, while following state, regional and local recommendations and taking into account local conditions surrounding COVID-19. 

Using resources like U.S. Soccer's "Play On" protocol, along with COVID-19 information published by the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD), U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA), Neenah Soccer Club has developed a return to play plan and incident/exposure protocols that are intended to both keep us safe and allow us to continue playing soccer. 

We will continue to monitor local and regional data and will take necessary steps with guidance from these partner organizations and resources. The information listed below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment; we are not medical professionals. However, these protocols, which we will continue to follow moving forward, have been approved by the WCHD and we believe to be in the best interest of all players, coaches and families. Should you not wish to comply with these protocols, we ask that you do not participate in Neenah Soccer Club activities.

• Social distancing should be maintained before and after practice, and will be enforced when allowable during training. 
• Any player or coach presenting with symptoms of COVID-19 or having been exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual is not allowed to participate in club activities (practices/games). Please see the club's COVID-19 Exposure Protocol for more detailed information about this requirement. 
• Teams will maintain an attendance log for every session.
• Players at the Classic and Academy levels will fill out a Health Check on the TeamSnap website/application prior to attending practices, games, or other Club activities. 
• Players (with parents) at the Recreational level must check in with their coach upon arrival to confirm that they have not been experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, nor have been exposed to it.
• Players will have a designated cone (placed at least 6 feet apart from others) at which they can place their belongings/bag/water bottle during practice.
• Coaches will spray each player's hands, along with any shared soccer ball, prior to and after practice.
• Players will use their own equipment only whenever possible. The sharing of water bottles is not allowed, so please be sure your player brings enough water for practice.
• Only coaches and players will be allowed on the field during practices. Parents are asked to stay away from the fields and practice social distancing. 
• Coaches will wear a mask whenever they are within 6 feet of a player, parent or another coach, and should maintain an appropraite social distance from all participants whenever possible.

• Social distancing should be maintained before, during and after games, whenever possible, for all players, coaches and families. 
• Teams will maintain an attendance log for every session.
• Players at the Classic and Academy levels will fill out a Health Check on the TeamSnap website/application prior to attending practices, games, or other Club activities. 
• Players (with parents) at the Recreational level must check in with their coach upon arrival to confirm that they have not been experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, nor have been exposed to it.
• Players and coaches will wear masks when they are not playing/on the sidelines.
• Players who are on the field or players waiting to be subbed in do not need to be masked. Masks can be removed to drink, but should be put on following that time until the player returns to the game.
• Parents are asked to wear masks on the sidelines as well.
• No player, coach, or spectator should violate social distancing guidelines with a referee at any time.
• Teams will not have benches. Instead, their water bottles and belongings will be spaced out on the sidelines.
• Players should use their own equipment and the sharing of water/water bottles is not permitted.
• There will be no pre- or post-game handshakes; instead, teams can and should engage in a round of applause following the conclusion of the match.
• Spectators will watch the game on the same sideline as their team bench, with the opposing team and spectators on the opposite sideline. Please see Neenah Soccer Club's field maps for additional information.
• Please limit the number of spectators attending the games. WYSA's policy requires two or fewer spectators per player. 
• Both players and spectators should leave the field immediately following the conclusion of the match and proper cool-down.
• Players and spectators may only consume drinks or snacks they have provided for themselves. No before or after game team snacks are allowed.

• Promote the health and safety of all participants
• Enforce face covering and social distancing requirements, as well as state and local health protocols and guidelines during club activities (practices/games)
• Ensure coaches are the only ones handling equipment
• Send home players that you believe are acting or look ill
• Have fun and promote a positive playing environment - both parents and players are looking to NSC coaches for leadership

• Stay home if you are not feeling well or if you have been asked to quarantine for being a close contact of a COVID-positive individual.
• Take your temperature and do a self-check for symptoms before participating in club activities.
• Let your parent/coach know if you are not feeling well.
• Wear your mask when you're on the sidelines at games, and at other times when you cannot be six feet away from others. While they are not required during games and practices, please use your judgement.
• Do not touch or share anyone else’s equipment, water, food or bags. 
• Practice social distancing; Place bags and equipment at least 6 feet apart. 
• Wash and sanitize all equipment before and after every training. 
• Please do not practice group celebrations (like high 5s, hugs, handshakes, fist bumps, etc.). 

• Perform a health check, talk through symptoms with your player, and take his/her temperature before sending them to participate in club activities (practices/games).
• Limit exposure to other individuals where possible, including limiting carpooling, sending only players to the field, and adhering to social distancing recommendations when at or near the soccer fields. 
• Follow the state mandates for face coverings; additionally, we are requesting parents wear masks on the sidelines at games as well. 
• Wash/Sanitize player's equipment (including pinnies) after each training/game.
• Notify the NSC Club Administrator immediately if your child becomes ill for any reason, or if your child has been considered a close contact to a COVID-positive individual. For more information, please see our COVID-19 Exposure Protocol information.

Revised 3/11/2021

 

Neenah Soccer Club’s Exposure Protocols have been developed using information from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD), and have been approved by the WCHD. We are not medical professionals, however, these are the protocols the club will follow moving forward. 

If you have additional questions, please contact your family’s physician or the WCHD COVID-19 Hotline at (920) 232-3026. 

PLAYER OR COACH WITH SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
An individual has experienced any of the following new or worsening symptoms not related to another known condition: cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, congestion, runny nose, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, muscle/body aches, or sore throat.

• Quarantine (1). Neenah Soccer Club recommends player/coach gets tested for COVID-19, and individuals and any household members must quarantine until they have received test results. A PCR test (not rapid test) is required to be negative before player/coach can return to training. 
• Notify Neenah Soccer Club Administrator.
  • If the test is positive:
    • Individual must quarantine until:
      • At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset AND
      • An individual has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.
    • Coach/player must quarantine and self-monitor for symptoms for at least 10 days (without a test) or 7 days (with a negative COVID test on day 6 or 7) from last exposure to the COVID-positive individual. 
    • NSC will notify affected families via email.
  • If the test is negative:
    • If the individual has not had close contact (2) with a COVID-positive individual, he/she may return to club activities once symptoms have resolved.
    • If the individual has had close contact with a COVID-positive individual, he/she must quarantine for 10 days from last known contact (without a test) or 7 days (with a negative PCR COVID test on day 6 or 7).
    • Proof of the negative test is required to be shared with the club.
    • Teammates and coaches do not need to quarantine.
  • If the individual chooses not to test:
    • Individual must quarantine until:
      • Individual has written medical clearance OR
      • Individual has quarantined for 10 days from symptom onset AND has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

PLAYER OR COACH WITH KNOWN OR POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO COVID-19
A player or coach was exposed to and considered a close contact (2) to a COVID-positive individual up to 48 hours prior through 10 days following the individual's symptom onset.

• Notify Neenah Soccer Club Administrator.
• If the coach/player is able to isolate from close contact:
  • Coach/player must quarantine (1) and self-monitor for symptoms for at least 10 days (without a test) or 7 days (with a negative COVID test (either rapid or PCR) on day 6 or 7) from last exposure to the COVID-positive individual. 
  • Coach/player may return to activities following that quarantine, provided he/she does not display any symptoms during that time. Should he/she develop symptoms, please contact a physician or County Health Department for next steps.
  • Other teammates/coaches do not need to quarantine
• Coach/player is NOT able to isolate from close contact (family member living in the same house, not able to remove themselves to a closed-off, unshared area)
  • Coach/Player must remain quarantined for 10 days from COVID-positive individual’s symptom onset
  • AND 24 hours symptom-free PLUS quarantine for an additional 10 days (without a test) or 7 days (with a negative COVID test on day 6 or 7.)
  • Overall, the minimum number of days in a situation where one cannot be isolated from the close contact is 17-20 days.
  • Other teammates and coaches do not need to quarantine.

PLAYER OR COACH WITH POSITIVE TEST

• Notify Neenah Soccer Club Administrator.
• Individual must quarantine until: 
  • At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset AND has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.
  • Teammates and coaches must quarantine for 10 days from last exposure to COVID-positive individual.
  • NSC will notify affected families and other clubs via email.

OPPOSING TEAM’S PLAYER WITH POSITIVE TEST

• For Fall and Spring recreational programs, both teams will not be permitted to participate in Club activities (practices/games) during the quarantine. 
• For Classic and Academy programs, NSC will obtain as much information as we can from the other team (players position, playing time, days since symptom onset, etc.) and the Club will determine which NSC players may have come into close contact with the infected individual (3) and which players need to quarantine (this may be the entire team or a limited number of players depending on the level of detail we receive).
• NSC Coach does not need to quarantine.
• NSC will notify affected families and other clubs via email.

(1) QUARANTINE: The goal of a quarantine is to keep an individual who is sick or has been exposed to COVID-19 away from other healthy people to stop the spread. 

Those players/coaches in quarantine are not permitted to participate in club activities (practices/games). They should stay home (out of school/other activities and away from others) and self-monitor for symptoms. 

(2) CLOSE CONTACT: A person is considered a “close contact” if ANY of the following are true: 

• Were within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive person for more than 15 total minutes in a 24-hour period (cumulative, not consecutive) OR
• Had ANY physical contact(3) with the person OR
• Had direct contact with the respiratory secretions of the person OR
• Lives with or stayed overnight in a household with the person 

(3) Soccer is a close contact sport. Unless it can be definitively proven otherwise (film, opposing player didn’t play, etc.), all players are considered close contacts with another team during games and with teammates during practices. 

Winnebago County Health Department COVID-19 Hotline
(920) 232-3026 
COVID-19 Resource Website

NSC President
Mike Jones
Phone: (920) 209-7899
Email: mjones@neenahsoccerclub.org

NSC Club Administrator
Mandy Fleege
Email: mfleege@neenahsoccerclub.org