COVID-19 Policies & Protocols
SAFETY OVERVIEW
Falls Church Soccer Association safety guidelines were formed following guidance from the CDC, state officials, and the Fairfax County Health Department to ensure players, families, staff, volunteers, and our community remain safe. In addition to these entities, FCSA has researched what regional medical officials and youth sports leaders have been implementing to ensure we are considering all aspects of safety in youth sports programming.
Our main priority is for players to be safe and remain healthy.
VACCINATED & PHYSICAL DISTANCING POLICY
NOT VACCINATED:
- All individuals must maintain Falls Church Soccer Association protocols in wearing masks when not actively participating in FCSA activity and maintaining physical distancing.
- We recognize that many FCSA participants are not yet eligible for the vaccine and we appreciate their continued adherence to safety guidelines.
General:
Participants will not share water bottles or any equipment except the ball
No physical interactions (high fives, handshakes, etc.) are permitted
Staff & Coach:
Coaches will wear masks if not vaccinated
Coaches will answer a verbal screening questionnaire before programming begins
Participants:
Participants will strive to maintain a social distance of six feet when not participating in a soccer activity on the field.
All participants who are not vaccinated will wear a mask when walking in and out of any athletics field complex for practice or games. Participants will wear a mask when on the sidelines as a substitute of an official game (during practice times six feet of social distance should be followed).
Participants are encouraged to wear a mask while playing, but it is not required
Participants who are unwilling to adhere to the safety guidelines will be asked to remain at home.
VACCINATED:
FCSA Players, Parents, Volunteers & Community:
- Vaccinated individuals are permitted to participate in FCSA activities without a mask and are not required to maintain physical distance. This includes when walking in and out of facilities, and when on the sidelines as a substitute.
- Players do not need to provide proof of vaccination.
FCSA Employees, Coaches & Support Staff:
- Once proof of vaccination is submitted and approved the FCSA employee, coach, or supporting staff member can participate in FCSA activities without a mask and are not required to maintain physical distance.
- Proof of Vaccination can be submitted to the FCSA VIRUS Committee via this form.
GENERAL SPECTATOR POLICY:
- Spectators are allowed inside of permitted FCSA facility areas.
- If vaccinated, spectators are recommended (not required) to wear masks and maintain physical distancing.
- If not vaccinated, spectators are required to wear masks and maintain physical distance.
- FCSA indoor programs are permitted.
- Various indoor facilities or events may have specific policies that must be followed.
- If vaccinated, participants and spectators are recommended (not required) to wear masks and maintain physical distancing.
- If not vaccinated, participants and spectators are required to wear masks and maintain physical distance.
- Domestic travel (outside the DMV + overnight stays) is permitted for FCSA activities.
- International travel is not permitted for FCSA activities.
- Please reference CDC guidance for travel best practices for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
MEDICAL/HEALTH DEPARTMENT GUIDANCE:
Falls Church Soccer Association has reviewed closely what a number of top medical physicians, professionals and health departments to create safety policies and procedures. Below are the standards we are setting in place.
14 Day vs 10 Day Quarantine: Originally, the CDC, VDH, and other entities recommended a 14 day quarantine period for individuals exposed to COVID-19. Some organizations have since moved to a 10 day quarantine period while others have kept 14 days. Currently FCSA has a 14 day quarantine period.
FCSA reached out to the Virginia Department of Health for clarification on best practice in regards to the quarantine period.
Notes from Virginia Department of Health: If you had COVID-19 symptoms and were directed to care for yourself at home, you can leave your “sick room” and home after these 3 things have happened:
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and
- At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication, and
- Other symptoms have improved. (Note that loss of taste or smell might persist for weeks or months and this should not delay the end of isolation)
If you tested positive for COVID-19 and never had any symptoms and were directed to care for yourself at home, you can leave your “sick room” and home if:
- At least 10 days have passed since the date of your first positive COVID-19 diagnostic test, and
- You continue to have no symptoms since the test.
Persons with COVID-19 who have severe to critical illness or who are severely immunocompromised might need to stay home longer than 10 days. These persons can consider using a test-based strategy to discontinue isolation, in consultation with an infectious disease expert.
From the Virginia Department of Health: “We are recommending individuals to refer to the CDC webpage for “When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.” As we are still months away from the vaccine being widely available to the general public, we still recommend masking and distancing as usual per CDC recommendations. The new guidance released for fully vaccinated individuals does allow some small changes.
Additionally, individuals who have been vaccinated (and are two weeks past their final shot) do not need to quarantine if they come in contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals should monitor their health for symptoms. If any symptoms arise, then that vaccinated individual experiencing symptoms should report risk via the FCSA Exposure Response form and begin taking necessary medical guidance next steps.
COVID-19 EXPOSURE
If your child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has received a positive test result, he or she should stay home. If someone in your family is experiencing symptoms or received a positive test result within the past 14 days, your child should stay home.
Please complete the form below to report any COVID-19 exposure or risk of exposure so that Falls Church Soccer Association can help evaluate risk to others and keep our community healthy and safe.
The Exposure Form and contact tracing procedures help FCSA keep participants healthy and we appreciate families submitting the form in the interest of everyone’s health and safety.
Individuals who have been vaccinated (and are two weeks past their final shot) do not need to quarantine if they come in contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals should monitor their health for symptoms. If any symptoms arise, then that vaccinated individual experiencing symptoms should report risk via the FCSA Exposure Response form and begin taking necessary medical guidance next steps.