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Sport Clubs issues COVID protocol for return to play

March 29, 2021

By , Associate Director of Athletics & Recreation 
By , Assistant Director of Athletics & Recreation 

FOUNDATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

  1. All club members complete registration with Sport Clubs platform via recreation.ucsc.edu.

  2. All “high impact” club members complete Concussion Education module via UC Santa Cruz Canvas portal.

  3. All “high impact” club members complete a concussion baseline test according to Sports Medicine staff guidance.

  4. All club members and the organization completes registration with the national governing body.

  5. All volunteers/coaches complete existing and new onboarding and UC Learning Center requirements including:

    1. Submit valid CPR/AED/First Aid certifications to Sport Clubs professional staff.

    2. Complete and pass annual background check.

    3. Activate and utilize a UC Santa Cruz email address for all club and University business.

    4. Complete UC Learning Center modules including: COVID safety, CANRA, TItle IX Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, and Cyber Security. Send completion certificates to Sport Clubs professional staff.

    5. Complete onboarding packet.

    6. Meet with Sport Clubs professional staff prior to beginning any in-person activities to review and implement COVID protocol/operation.

COVID REQUIREMENTS

Please be advised that these protocols are evolving in an attempt to meet the most current public health guidance in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and University of California guidance and mandates. Completion of all items in this document does not necessitate that the human and/or financial resources will be available to execute the desired plans, action items, and/or activities.

  1. Communicate and allow all club members the choice to opt-out of play without the risk of losing status, position, or membership with the organization.

  2. All club members (off campus residents) register for the COVID-19 symptom screening and testing reminders as described in the Student COVID-19 page. See the full protocol here.

  3. All club members complete COVID testing via campus no less than twice/week. All participating club members must meet this requirement consistently for at minimum one week prior to any activity beginning (Testing Matrix). Staff/volunteers are strongly encouraged to complete COVID testing on campus once/week.

  4. All coaches/volunteers will be required to complete COVID symptom check questionnaire the same day and prior to visiting campus for Athletics & Recreation activity.

  5. All club members are required to submit valid UC Santa Cruz Student Health Center e-Messenger badge system screenshots to a shared document provided by Sport Clubs and viewable to all volunteers/coaches valid for the same day, prior to coming to Athletics & Recreation facilities. Students not submitting a GREEN badge will be withheld from participation and SHOULD NOT come to campus without further consultation with Student Health Services.

    1. Badges checked by professional staff, same day, prior to activity. Identification and badge is subject to verification by staff prior to beginning any activity on-site.

    2. All participants’ badges should reflect two negative COVID test results within 7 days.

  6. Compliance with campus policy of mask wearing on campus, even during physical activity. All students required to properly wear mask/face coverings at all times except for food/hydration breaks.

  7. All students responsible for personal hydration. Absolutely no sharing of water bottles!

  8. Compliance with California Department of Public Health guidance for Higher Education including:

    1. Wearing a mask while outdoors in public spaces.

    2. Physical distancing at all times.

  9. Any physical activity must maintain a minimum of 6 feet between individuals at all times. 

    1. This includes “huddles” and other usual interpersonal contact. 

  10. Club activity time reserved and scheduled according to availability of Athletics & Recreation staff availability (professional Sport Clubs staff and Sports Medicine staff)

  11. Sanitization: Equipment may not be shared without clear, organized, and approved sanitization protocol in place for each club.

  1. Shared equipment to be disinfected before and after each session

  2. PPE Materials supplied by Athletics & Recreation (hand sanitizer, gloves, etc.), dependent on need for activity.

  3. High Risk individuals are still recommended to take further precautions/postpone involvement of in-person activities.

  1. Any students traveling from outside of a 120-mile radius are required to complete a 14-day sequester prior to attending in-person activities.

  2. Grouping: Establish and organize small cohorts of club members that do not cross-pollinate.

    1. Train in Cohorts: A cohort may be composed of no more than 25 individuals, all members of the same team and includes volunteers/coaches/staff, who consistently work out, participate, and/or supervise activities together. Cohorts must avoid mixing with other groups.

    2. Meetings and training of more than 25 persons should be conducted virtually. In-person meetings may have a maximum of 25 persons. 

    3. Meetings must occur outdoors, and in areas that allow for appropriate physical distancing between staff, students, or other workers.

    4. Determine best-sized pods based on shared household lists.

  3. Approved Activities: All activities must be submitted to Sport Clubs professional staff for review and approval prior to confirmation of any facility reservation.

    1. Equipment: shared equipment within cohort with sanitization protocols in place.

    2. Activities: outdoors, non-contact sport drills, strength training and conditioning

    3. Skill drills

    4. Non-contact passing/plays/etc.

    5. Conditioning 

    6. Simulated game play (only if it can be done w/ appropriate distancing)

    7. Physical distancing: 6ft. radius all activities, during breaks, before/after training; does not apply to individuals of the same household

    8. Location: outdoors in open space

    9. Length of training session: <2 hours

  4. Students, volunteers, and staff should maintain at least six feet of separation from others when not on the field of play or otherwise engaged in play/activity, where feasible.

  5. Contingencies:

    1. If a student does not pass the symptom check, contact Student Health Services immediately for additional guidance.

    2. If a student tests positive for COVID or is exposed to another person tested positive, student(s) must self-isolate except to receive medical care and/or additional COVID tests.

    3. Students testing positive or exposed to people with positive test results must quarantine for a minimum of 10 days after last exposure. 

    4. Students testing positive or exposed to people with positive test results must self monitor for symptoms for a minimum of 14 days.

    5. Students testing positive or exposed to people with positive test results should notify Athletics & Recreation professional staff immediately so that other possible exposures can be addressed.

Please be advised that these protocols are evolving in an attempt to meet the most current public health guidance in accordance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and University of California guidance and mandates. Completion of all items in this document does not necessitate that the human and/or financial resources will be available to execute the desired plans, action items, and/or activities.

Sources:

UC Santa Cruz Student Health Center

California Department of Public Health COVID Guidance for Higher Education

NCAA Sport Science Institute

CDC COVID-19 Information