VYI Volleyball COVID-19 Protocol
Vienna Youth Inc (VYI) Volleyball is committed to the well-being of its participants. Below is the COVID-19 Protocol for the Spring 2022 season following all relevant national, state and local policies and guidelines. It pertains to all players, coaches, referees, league officials, parents and spectators.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
· STAY HOME IF SICK - Anyone who has a fever or is feeling ill should not attend an VYI Volleyball event. Players, coaches, and parents must stay home if they are feeling ill and/or have a fever 100.4 or above. See below for the sick participant protocol.
· MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED PER FCPS RULES
· HAND WASHING - Hand washing and hand sanitizer use is recommended prior to arrival and upon finishing play.
SICK PARTICIPANT
· PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY - If a player, coach or other VYI Volleyball participant (1) has known exposure to a person who has been tested positive for COVID-19 or a known exposure to a person who has been otherwise diagnosed with COVID-19, or (2) has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test), they must do the following:
o Notify the VYI Volleyball Director immediately by emailing
o Cease attending VYI Volleyball events
o Follow the "Return to Play" protocol below
· VYI VOLLEYBALL RESPONSIBILITY - Per Fairfax County policies, VYI Volleyball must file a report with the Fairfax County Health Department if a participant has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test). This initiates Health Department contact tracing.
· TEAM NOTIFICATION - If a participant has been diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test) and has notified the VYI Volleyball as directed, VYIVolleyball will notify the entire team of the exposure while protecting the confidentiality of the individual's identity.
· TEAM SHUTDOWN - If the participant diagnosed with COVID-19 (by a health professional or through a positive test) attended an in-person team event in the week prior to the diagnosis, VYI Volleyball will shut down the team and cancel all scheduled team events for 2-3 calendar days pending contact tracing/vaccine verification. Vaccinated players can return to play immediately.
· RETURN TO PLAY - Those unvaccinated identified as having known exposure or have tested positive may return to play after 5 days OR after ALL the following criteria has been met (whichever is longer):
o Fever-free for at least 72 hours following symptoms
o AND other respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) improving
o AND a negative test result
· EXPOSURE DEFINITION - Per the CDC, "exposure" is currently defined as close contact (<6 feet) for 15 minutes or more. Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
PROTOCOL VIOLATION
· Anyone who violates the letter or spirit of this protocol may be disqualified from the season and barred from further participation in VYI Volleyball fall 2022 events.
· If the actions of an individual knowing placed other participants at risk, the matter is escalated to the VYI President for further disciplinary consideration which may include a life-time ban from all VYI sports.
SPECIAL GAME RULES
The following rule modifications are in place for the falll 2021 season.
· Teams remain on the same side throughout a match and do not change sides between games
· At the beginning of the match, the team listed in the schedule as the "home" team chooses the side and the team listed as the "visitor" team chooses to either serve or receive first. With each subsequent game in the match, the teams remain on the same side but alternate which team serves first.
· Referees use electronic whistles only
VYI volleyball will follow guidance from the Virginia High School League (VHSL), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the County of Fairfax Office of Community and Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), and the Fairfax County Department of Public Health, and the Town of Vienna, VA when deciding to cancel practices, games, or the season. If FCPS closed its gyms to VYI volleyball, VYI will cancel practices, games, or the season accordingly.
For practices and games played at the Vienna Community Center before each practice and game players, coaches, parents, and referees must complete and submit to the parent assigned to assist with safety concerns the “Vienna Parks and Recreation COVID-RELEASE FORM.” The form must be downloaded and completed before each practice and game prior to entering the Vienna Community Center. Upon completion of the practice and game, the COVID parent will give these forms to a Vienna Community Center staff member (this form is also available at the front desk at the VCC)
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/sites/neighborhood-community-services/files/Assets/Documents/NCS%20Connects/COVID-19%20Release%20Form.pdf
At the Vienna Community Center, Parks & Recreation staff will sanitize chairs between games. Game schedule needs to be provided to the Town as early in the season as possible.
REFERENCES - National, State and Local
US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
· Considerations for Youth Sports Administrators: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html
· Youth Sports Considerations (VIDEO): https://youtu.be/LMBzjaVRChY
Virginia Commonwealth
· Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order 72 and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine (December 2020): https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-72-and-Order-of-Public-Health-Emergency-Nine-Common-Sense-Surge-Restrictions-Certain-Temporary-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf
· Virginia Return to Play (Phase 3): https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/Forward-Virginia-Phase-Three-Guidelines.pdf
· Virginia High School League Return to Participation Guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fBSqrvR7oHavRy42l2XI8yoa-Vg7HwDF/view
Fairfax County
· Fairfax County Community Sports Organization COVID-19 Health and Safety Utilization Agreement (Jan 2021): https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/7258/98681.pdf
· Youth Athletics, COVID, and Mental Health: What Fairfax County Parents and Coaches Should Know (Jan 2021): https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.leagueathletics.com/Text/Documents/7258/98680.pdf
State that players, coaches, and parents must stay home if they are feeling ill and/or have a fever 100.4 or above.
State that players, coaches, and parents must stay home if they are feeling ill and/or have a fever 100.4 or above.
