Activities must always comply with the directives issued by the Chief Public Health Officer and Canada Soccer. In each phase we have outlined the messaging from the Chief Public Health Officer a blue box.

Return to Play Guidelines

NWT Soccer Approved by NWT Soccer: May 20, 2020

Approved by Canada Soccer: June 2, 2020 NWT Soccer, in consultation with Canada Soccer and following the directives from the Chief Public Health Officer has developed guidelines for our Member Organizations to follow in four (4) phases. Following these guidelines will ensure that our Member Organizations are operating within the directives of the Chief Public Health Officer and in a safe environment. Member Organizations will also need to complete Canada Soccer’s Assessment Tool. This Assessment Tool will help mitigate risk when returning to play. NWT Soccer will provide each Member Organization with the link for the Assessment Tool once sanctions are lifted. Upon completion of the Assessment Tool, it will still be up to the individual Member Organization to decide whether they feel comfortable operating within these guidelines. We ask that you be kind and respectful should an organization wait until a later phase before they resume play. It is also important to be mindful that Municipalities and Communities could have different restrictions and limitations for field bookings, therefore, we advise everyone to work with your local city/community to adhere to any appropriate requirements to ensure you are providing a safe environment for all participants. NWT Soccer does not have insurance coverage for COVID-19 related claims. Players must sign a Declaration of Compliance - COVID-19 before returning to play. As we transition into Phase 1, NWT Soccer will conduct a Zoom meeting on Monday June 8, 2020 with all Member Organizations and Canada Soccer. As transitions happen between Phases 2-4, as directed by the Chief Public Health Officer, NWT Soccer will communicate through email with Member Organizations. NWT Soccer will continue to update this document and our members as new information becomes available. We thank you for your continued support and patience as we navigate through these difficult times together.

Timelines Phase 1 – May 15, 2020

• Modified Outdoor Training Only Phase 2 – June 12, 2020

• Modified Outdoor and Indoor Training Sessions

• Modified Matches

Phase 3 – Date TBD

• Modified Outdoor and Indoor Training Sessions

• Modified Matches Final Measures Lifted – Date TBD

• Outdoor/ Indoor training and matches can resume back to normal.

Phase 1 – May 15, 2020 Chief Public Health Officer Directive:

• Disinfection and Physical Distancing processes in place o No spectators unless physical distancing o Total Gathering 25 or less o Physical distancing on sidelines/while not playing o NMM or face covering when unable to physically distance o Hand Hygiene/hand sanitizer o Enhance disinfections (cones, practice equipment, balls after each

practice/game)

• Engineered Controls o Physical Barriers

• Administrative Controls o Exclude sick o No uniform sharing apart from the ball o No shared beverages

• Children under twelve (12) are not required to physically distance during outdoor sports

Players/Parents/Guardians

• Players should not attend a training session if they: o Exhibit any symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other

symptoms identified by health experts. o Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last fourteen (14)

days. o Are considered vulnerable or at risk.

• If a player develops symptoms of COVID-19, they need to call their health care provider or (for severe symptoms) 9-1-1 for instructions. The player and their household must follow the advice the health care provider gives.

o When a person has been confirmed to have COVID-19, a health care provider will investigate who was in contact with that person. They call or follow up with all the people the person identified as being in contact with that are at risk of getting the virus. They will let them know that they are in contact with a person that was confirmed to be positive and provide instructions on what they need to do. This is called contact tracing.

• Wash hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before stepping onto the field.

• Listen to your coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed you to be in.

• Avoid physical contact with other players. This includes handshakes and fist bumps.

• Bring hand sanitizer.

• Bring their own water bottle with name clearly labelled on it.

• Avoid touching any equipment (i.e. cones, ball etc.) with your hands.

• No heading.

Spectators

• Only one (1) family member/spectator per player allowed to stay and watch a training session.

• Remain on the sidelines and away from players and coach(es) on the field.

• Listen to the coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed you to be in.

• Must physically distant from other spectators on the sidelines.

• Wash hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before attending a session.

• Bring hand sanitizer.

• Encouraged to wear a mask.

• Avoid touching any of the equipment, this includes retrieving a ball. Equipment

• Use cones and other equipment to ensure appropriate spacing is in place to support physical distancing.

• Only coaches should touch equipment with their hands.

• Try to restrict soccer ball use, one per player.

• Equipment must be disinfected after each session.

Facility

• Outdoor: covered or not, covered no walls, open pavilion.

• All gates accessible to the public must remain open to avoid contact with door handles. o Confirm with municipality when booking fields.

• Stagger your sessions to create a buffer between training and avoid overlap of players on the field. Suggested time between sessions is 15-20 minutes.

Coaches

• Maximum number of players per training session is 10.

• Must keep a log of every player that is at each training session.

• Limit the number of team/club staff that are on-field, noting that requirement to have a specific number of coaches to lead the session and all while adhering to the Rule of Two.

• Ensure there is clear communication with the players/parents prior to the sessions so players know exactly where to go when they arrive.

• Position players in designated and well spaced-out stations.

• Do not let players manipulate the practice equipment. Coaches should take care of picking up all equipment.

• Ensure players do not touch the ball with their hands, or head, and Goalkeepers must not share gloves.

• Regular sanitization breaks combined with water breaks.

• Bibs should be washed after each session and not shared between players during a session. We strongly advise against using bibs in Phase 1-3.

• Coaches must wear a mask where they are unable to physically distance from a player.

• All coach education should be conducted online.

Activity Considerations for Coaches

• Activities that do not require opposition within 2M proximity, therefore, allowing players and coaches are able to maintain physical distancing. Examples could be individual ball mastery, passing and receiving on the ground between partners, relays and other competitions/challenges that maintain social distancing.

• Age appropriate considerations may need to be taken when designing activities, for example, Active Start and Fundamentals players may need a sibling or parent to participate with them. This will allow for coaches to have support managing the group of players and social distancing will not be required between siblings or parent/child (since they are from the same family).

• No matches or small sided games. Referee

• Training should only be conducted online. Leagues

• No league operations.

Chief Public Health Officer Directive:

• Disinfection and Physical Distancing processes in place o No spectators unless physical distancing o Outdoor: total gathering 50 or less o Indoor: total gather 25 or less o Physical distancing on sidelines/while not playing o NMM or face covering when unable to physically distance o Hand Hygiene/hand sanitizer o Enhance disinfections (cones, practice equipment, balls after each practice/game)

• Engineered Controls o Physical Barriers

• Administrative Controls o Exclude sick o No uniform sharing apart from the ball o No shared beverages

• Indoor/Futsal: WSCC Risk Assessment needs to be completed by individual organizations (i.e. League, Club)

• Children under twelve (12) are not required to physically distance during outdoor sports

Phase 2 – June 12, 2020 Players/Parents/Guardians

• Players should not attend a training session if they: o Exhibit any symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other

symptoms identified by health experts. o Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last fourteen (14)

days. o Are considered vulnerable or at risk.

• If a player develops symptoms of COVID-19, they need to call their health care provider or (for severe symptoms) 9-1-1 for instructions. The player and their household must follow the advice the health care provider gives.

o When a person has been confirmed to have COVID-19, a health care provider will investigate who was in contact with that person. They call or follow up with all the people the person identified as being in contact with that are at risk of getting the virus. They will let them know that they are in contact with a person that was confirmed to be positive and provide instructions on what they need to do. This is called contact tracing.

• Wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before stepping onto the field.

• Listen to your coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed you to be in.

• Players should bring hand sanitizer.

• Players must bring their own water bottle with their name clearly labelled on it.

• Avoid touching any equipment (i.e. cones, ball etc.) with your hands.

• No heading.

Spectators

• Training Sessions: o Outdoor: Two (2) family member/spectator per player allowed to stay and

watch a session. o Indoor: Must abide by facility guidelines. o Remain on the sidelines and away from players and coach(es) on the field. o Listen to the coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed

you to be in. o Must physically distant from other spectators on the sidelines or bleachers. o Wash hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds

before attending a session. o Bring hand sanitizer. o Encouraged to wear a mask. o Avoid touching any of the equipment, this includes retrieving a ball.

• League Matches: o Outdoor: No Spectators. o Indoor: Must abide by facility guidelines.

Equipment

• Use cones and other equipment to ensure appropriate spacing is in place to support physical distancing.

• Only the coaches touch equipment with their hands.

• Try to restrict soccer ball use, one per player.

• Equipment must be disinfected after each session. Facility

• Outdoor: covered or not, covered no walls, open pavilion.

• Indoor: enclosed with walls (permanent structure).

• All gates and doors accessible to the public must remain open to avoid contact with door handles.

• Close all water fountains and ask that all players bring their own water.

• Schedule your session or match to allow enough time for all players to leave the field prior to your next group coming on. Suggested time between sessions is 15-20 minutes.

Coaches

• Outdoor: maximum number of players per training session is 10.

• Indoor: must abide by facility guidelines.

• Must keep a log of every player that is at each training session.

• Limit the number of team/club staff that are on-field, noting that requirement to have a specific number of coaches to lead the session and all while adhering to the Rule of Two.

• Do not let players manipulate the practice equipment. Coaches should take care of picking up all equipment.

• Ensure players do not touch the ball with their hands, or head, and Goalkeepers must not share gloves.

• Regular sanitization breaks combined with water breaks.

• Bibs should be washed after each session and not shared between players during a session. We strongly advise against using bibs in Phase 1-3.

• Coaches must wear a mask where they are unable to physically distance from a player.

• All coach education should be conducted online. Activity Considerations for Coaches

• Activities that do not require opposition within 2M proximity, therefore, allowing players and coaches are able to maintain physical distancing. Examples could be individual ball mastery, passing and receiving on the ground between partners, relays and other competitions/challenges that maintain social distancing.

• Age Appropriate considerations may need to be taken when designing activities, for example, Active Start and Fundamentals players may need a sibling or parent to participate with them. This will allow for coaches to have support managing the group of players and social distancing will not be required between siblings or parent/child (since they are from the same family).

• Small sided games can be played with children under the age of twelve (12). Referee

• Referees should not attend a training session or match if they: o Exhibit any symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other

symptoms identified by health experts. o Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last fourteen (14)

days. o Are considered vulnerable or at risk (immunosuppressed person, individuals

suffering from serious health problems, notably high blood pressure, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, asthma).

• If a referee develops symptoms of COVID-19, they need to call their health care provider or (for severe symptoms) 9-1-1 for instructions. The referee and their household must follow the advice the health care provider gives.

o When a person has been confirmed to have COVID-19, a health care provider will investigate who was in contact with that person. They call or follow up with all the people the person identified as being in contact with that are at risk of getting the virus. They will let them know that they are in contact with a person that was confirmed to be positive and provide instructions on what they need to do. This is called contact tracing.

• Outdoor: maximum number of referees per training session is 10.

• Indoor: must abide by facility guidelines.

• Only one referee per match.

• Wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before stepping onto the field.

• Referee’s should bring hand sanitizer.

• Referee’s must bring their own water bottle with their name clearly labelled on it.

• Referee’s come dressed to the training session.

• Referee’s should not share any gear (i.e. watches, flags, cards).

• All material (i.e. LOTG) should be distributed electronically.

Leagues

• Outdoor: maximum 9v9

• Indoor: must abide by facility guidelines.

• All players and referees must physically distance on field and side lines, when possible.

• Must keep electronic log of everyone who attended a match.

Chief Public Health Officer Directive:

• Disinfection and Physical Distancing processes in place o No spectators unless physical distancing o Outdoor: total gathering 50 or less o Indoor: total gather 25 or less o Physical distancing on sidelines/while not playing o NMM or face covering when unable to physically distance o Hand Hygiene/hand sanitizer o Enhance disinfections (cones, practice equipment, balls after each practice/game)

• Engineered Controls o Physical Barriers

• Administrative Controls o Exclude sick o No uniform sharing apart from the ball o No shared beverages

• Indoor/Futsal: WSCC Risk Assessment needs to be completed by individual organizations (i.e. League, Club)

• Children under twelve (12) are not required to physically distance during outdoor sports

Phase 3 – TBD Players/Parents/Guardians

• Players should not attend a training session if they: o Exhibit any symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other

symptoms identified by health experts. o Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last fourteen (14)

days. o Are considered vulnerable or at risk.

• If a player develops symptoms of COVID-19, they need to call their health care provider or (for severe symptoms) 9-1-1 for instructions. The player and their household must follow the advice the health care provider gives.

o When a person has been confirmed to have COVID-19, a health care provider will investigate who was in contact with that person. They call or follow up with all the people the person identified as being in contact with that are at risk of getting the virus. They will let them know that they are in contact with a person that was confirmed to be positive and provide instructions on what they need to do. This is called contact tracing.

• Wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before stepping onto the field.

• Listen to your coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed you to be in.

• Players should bring hand sanitizer.

• Players must bring their own water bottle with their name clearly labelled on it.

• Avoid touching any equipment (i.e. cones, ball etc.) with your hands.

• No heading.

Spectators

• Training Sessions: o Outdoor: Two (2) family member/spectator per player allowed to stay and

watch a session. o Indoor: Must abide by facility guidelines. o Remain on the sidelines and away from players and coach(es) on the field. o Listen to the coach(es) and keep to the area of the field the coach has instructed

you to be in. o Must physically distant from other spectators on the sidelines or bleachers. o Wash hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds

before attending a session. o Bring hand sanitizer. o Encouraged to wear a mask. o Avoid touching any of the equipment, this includes retrieving a ball.

• League Matches: o Outdoor: No Spectators. o Indoor: Must abide by facility guidelines.

Equipment

• Use cones and other equipment to ensure appropriate spacing is in place to support physical distancing.

• Only the coaches touch equipment with their hands.

• Try to restrict soccer ball use, one per player.

• Equipment must be disinfected after each session. Facility

• Outdoor: covered or not, covered no walls, open pavilion.

• Indoor: enclosed with walls (permanent structure).

• All gates and doors accessible to the public must remain open to avoid contact with door handles.

• Close all water fountains and ask that all players bring their own water.

• Schedule your session or match to allow enough time for all players to leave the field prior to your next group coming on. Suggested time between sessions is 15-20 minutes.

Coaches

• Outdoor: maximum number of players per training session is 10.

• Indoor: maximum number of players per training session is between 6-8, depending on the size of facility you are using.

o Must abide by facility guidelines.

• Must keep a log of every player that is at each training session.

• Limit the number of team/club staff that are on-field, noting that requirement to have a specific number of coaches to lead the session and all while adhering to the Rule of Two.

• Do not let players manipulate the practice equipment. Coaches should take care of picking up all equipment.

• Ensure players do not touch the ball with their hands, or head, and Goalkeepers must not share gloves.

• Regular sanitization breaks combined with water breaks.

• Bibs should be washed after each session and not shared between players during a session. We strongly advise against using bibs in Phase 1-3.

• Coaches must wear a mask where they are unable to physically distance from a player.

• All coach education should be conducted online. Activity Considerations for Coaches

• Activities that do not require opposition within 2M proximity, therefore, allowing players and coaches are able to maintain physical distancing. Examples could be individual ball mastery, passing and receiving on the ground between partners, relays and other competitions/challenges that maintain social distancing.

• Age Appropriate considerations may need to be taken when designing activities, for example, Active Start and Fundamentals players may need a sibling or parent to participate with them. This will allow for coaches to have support managing the group of players and social distancing will not be required between siblings or parent/child (since they are from the same family).

• Small sided games can be played with children under the age of twelve (12). Referee

• Referees should not attend a training session or match if they: o Exhibit any symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other

symptoms identified by health experts. o Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last fourteen (14)

days. o Are considered vulnerable or at risk (immunosuppressed person, individuals

suffering from serious health problems, notably high blood pressure, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, asthma).

• If a referee develops symptoms of COVID-19, they need to call their health care provider or (for severe symptoms) 9-1-1 for instructions. The referee and their household must follow the advice the health care provider gives.

o When a person has been confirmed to have COVID-19, a health care provider will investigate who was in contact with that person. They call or follow up with all the people the person identified as being in contact with that are at risk of getting the virus. They will let them know that they are in contact with a person that was confirmed to be positive and provide instructions on what they need to do. This is called contact tracing.

• Outdoor: maximum number of referees per training session is 10.

• Indoor: maximum number of referees per training session is between 6-8, depending on the size of facility you are using.

o Must abide by facility guidelines.

• Only one referee per match.

• Wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least twenty (20) seconds before stepping onto the field.

• Referee’s should bring hand sanitizer.

• Referee’s must bring their own water bottle with their name clearly labelled on it.

• Referee’s come dressed to the training session.

• Referee’s should not share any gear (i.e. watches, flags, cards).

• All material (i.e. LOTG) should be distributed electronically.

Leagues

• Outdoor: maximum 9v9

• Indoor: must abide by facility guidelines.

• All players and referees must physically distance on field and side lines, when possible.

• Must keep electronic log of everyone who attended a match.

Chief Public Health Officer Directive:

• All remaining public health measures may be lifted if all requirements are met.

• All mass gatherings and indoor visiting returns to normal.

Final Measures – Date TBD A vaccine for COVID-19 has been approved and produces or if an effective treatment is approved and production capacity reaches the point where a large portion of our population could access it, public health measures may also be lifted.