Dear soccer friends and families,

We are all very excited about returning to soccer this spring but we must do so under the regular COVID-19 protocols. The safety of our players and the community is our main priority. New Britain Soccer (NBS) will follow the Connecticut Junior Association (CJSA) guidelines and adhere to its requirements.

These guidelines will apply in all the locations (Willow Brook, Stanley, Chesley) in which our events (practices and games) will take place.

Our coaches, trainers, players and families must adhere to the following procedures for training events and matches. They will be in effect for the entire spring season 2021:

1.    Any coach, player, parent, referee or spectator who is sick, has a persistent cough, is running a temperature or is displaying any symptoms suggesting that the individual may be ill, (from any contagious malady, including cold, flu, or suspected coronavirus) will be prohibited from attending training or games.

2.    Coaches and players (assisted by parents/guardians) must self-assess their condition and attest when arriving at the location that they are not experiencing these symptoms. A list of symptoms and a self-assessment tool for players and coaches to assess their symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/coronavirus-self-checker.html

3.    Any adult attendee who displays any of these symptoms will be required to leave. A minor who is displaying any of these symptoms should be safely isolated until an adult responsible for the minor can remove the minor.

4.    If a player or coach is sent home with symptoms, they can return when they have no fever, symptoms have improved, and they receive two negative test results in a row, at least 24 hours apart.

5.    Players must not share equipment, water bottles, food, pinnies, uniform pieces, and while coaches should have spare hand sanitizer as needed, players should still bring their own.

6.    All spectators and coaches must wear masks at all times, including approaching and departing the field. This rule will be strictly enforced and anyone not in compliance will be asked to put on a mask or leave the field.

7.    When players are not actively participating in a game or training activity, they must wear masks.

8.    Teams and spectators must wait until the prior game has cleared out before approaching the field to cut down on cross- traffic. Teams should set up staging areas away from the field while they warm up and wait for the prior game to end.

9.    Coaches shall ensure that all players and coaches avoid “high fives,” handshakes, or other types of physical touching. 

10. Spectators must keep social distance between households and from the assistant referees on the sideline.

11. The following guidelines are new to the spring season:

a.    Quarantine Requirements: Regardless of whether a shortened quarantine period allows individuals to engage in daily activities prior to completing a full 14-day post contact period of separation, athletes, coaches, officials, and other participants should not be allowed to engage in athletic activities until at least 14 days after their quarantine period begins.  This is a CJSA rule that applies to the entire state and it means that even if someone can provide a negative test (or even more than one), if they have been told to quarantine (for example, by the schools), it must be for a full 14 days - no exceptions.

Again, regardless of the event, parents will be asked to wear masks at all times and keep 6 feet away from other spectators.  Games will require all spectators to also remain 6 feet away from the sidelines as not to be within close proximity of players and the assistant referee.

These rules apply to ALL CJSA teams and their families and are in place to ensure that we are providing the safest soccer environment possible.  Please, help us follow the regulation, since any disregard of these policies will result in the suspension of the event, training or match play, or even the loss of New Britain’s affiliation to CJSA.

Please stay safe and enjoy the spring season!

José Carlos del Ama

New Britain Soccer