Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Strategies

US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) recommends the following risk mitigation strategies to promote health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These recommendations are not intended to replace local and state government orders or safety policies at your local facility.  

CDC guidance has considerations for youth sports. These principles can be applied to all ages:

• Considerations for Youth Sports (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/youth-sports.html)
• Strategies provided by the National Collegiate Athletics Association: Core Principles of
  Resocialization of Collegiate Sport ( http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/resocialization-collegiate-sport-developing-standards-practice-and-competition)

USBOXLA Organizations Should

• Designate a person within your organization to monitor state and local government websites for updates or changes to COVID-19 guidelines. Find your local health department here – https://www.naccho.org/membership/lhd-directory
• Develop a plan for reporting a positive COVID case and for exposure to an infected individual
• Know your facility’s health and safety measures and ensure your players and staff follow them. Some of these procedures will include:
  • cleaning/disinfecting practices and schedules
  • online payment options
  • reduced contact entrance and exit routes
  • scheduled exit and arrival timing
  • closed locker rooms
  • social distancing measures
  • spectator policy
  • use of face coverings/masks in facility
  • screening required before entry
• Consider keeping an attendance log for contact tracing
• Determine the number of players and coaches that can be on the floor at one time and keep these groups for future sessions

Player/Staff Screening

• Stay home if you are sick or have been exposed to an infected individual.
• Consider setting up a screening table at the facility entrance to:
  • check body temperature. If anyone has a temperature above 100.4 Fahrenheit, they should not be allowed to participate.
  • If anyone answers “yes” to any of the questions below , they should not be allowed to participate

1. Have you or anyone in your household had a sore throat, cough, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, loss of smell, loss of taste, fever at or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 21 days?
2. Have you or anyone in your household been tested for COVID-19?
3. To the best of your knowledge have you been in close proximity to any individual who tested positive for COVID-19?

Personal Hygiene

• Wash hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Do not touch your face.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your elbow, dispose of the tissue and wash/ sanitize hands immediately.
• Do not share water bottles, towels or other equipment. Mark them clearly so you know which one is yours.
• Clean/disinfect equipment after each use.

Social Distancing

• Maintain social distancing measures (6 ft. apart) whenever possible.
• Consider dressing at home to avoid locker rooms.
• Limit group discussions so players are not in close proximity for extended periods of time.
• Do not use benches unless social distancing can be maintained.
• Coaches, parents and spectators should follow social distancing measures.
• Discourage unnecessary physical contact, such as high fives, handshakes, fist bumps, or hugs.
• Consider alternative programming to provide more space on the floor such as:
  • Utilizing stations at practices maximizing floor space
  • consider playing 3v3 or 4v4 with smaller team rosters

Personal Protective Equipment

• Wear a face covering/mask when entering/exiting the facility and within the facility when not on the floor.
• Coaches, parents and spectators should all wear a face covering/mask while indoors.
• Wearing a face covering/mask during a practice or game is a personal choice. However, participants must wear a face covering/mask when required by local and state government order and/or your facility.

Sports participation promotes a healthy lifestyle through physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being.