SANITARY SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION:

• Rules will be posted at the entrance of the field(s) and participants will be reminded throughout the season
• 2 metre distancing measures are in place while players enter and exit the turf, as well as when they are on the sidelines.
• Sanitary rules are posted on the league website and will remain there throughout the season
• The league keeps track of the participants from each game for tracing purposes.
• All league equipment is disinfected prior to the start of each night of games per location
• One ‘Sanitation + Safety Supervisor’ will be present at each location to greet players at the entrance of the field, ensure players disinfect their hands/gloves upon entering the turf, and to question players to ensure they are no showing any signs of symptoms related to COVID-19, nor have they traveled or been in touch with anyone who tested positive in the last 14 days.

*Be sure to have read and fully understand the safety/sanitation guidelines in place by both FPF and the facility in which you are attending.

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT THE FACILITY:

• if you feel symptomatic, have tested positive for, or have been in direct contact with a person who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days, please stay home.
• limit the amount of equipment and accessories you bring with you to the field
• spectators will be discouraged during the entire season, depending on the rules put in place by the facility. No non-player or league staff will be allowed on the field at any time. We recommend that players do not bring friends, family or significant others to the field as spectators.

*Stade de Soccer de Montreal has already confirmed that they will not allow any spectators to enter the facility.

PRIOR TO ACCESSING THE TURF:

• A disinfection station is made available at the entrance of the field(s). All players/staff must sanitize their hands/gloves prior to accessing the turf.
• One member per team is responsible for ensuring the e-signing of waiver forms prior to any player’s first game of the season.
• Players will be asked if they are feeling symptomatic, if they have recently traveled, or if they have been exposed to someone who’s tested positive for COVID in the last 14 days prior to the game, That said, we would expect any participant who would answer yes to any of these questions to please stay home.
• The use of locker rooms will be strongly discouraged by the league (should the facility choose to make them available), players are encouraged to show up ready and dressed to play.

*Stade de Soccer de Montreal has already confirmed that they will not grant access to any changing rooms.

• Players will only be permitted to access the field once the previous game’s participants have vacated the field. Game start times will be staggered in order to avoid overlapping.
• Captains will be encouraged to submit their game rosters electronically to the scorekeeper via a software made available.

DURING THE GAME:

Always avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Cough or sneeze into your elbow

• Pre-game meetings will be avoided, the home team will have the choice to either receive or defer the choice to the opposing team.
• Game balls will need to be disinfected prior to the start of each half. Teams will not be permitted to share the same ball.
• Referees and opposing players will be asked to refrain from picking up the opposing team’s football
• Players will be asked to refrain from touching the beanbags during the game; only referees will have access.
• Offensive huddles will be permitted but are not encouraged. Teams are urged to run a “no-huddle” offense.
• Sharing of water bottles between players is strictly prohibited.
• Spitting or nose blowing on the turf of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• Handshakes, or any other celebratory contact should be avoided.
• Team bench areas will be strictly enforced and players cannot approach referees and scorekeepers within 2 metres.
• The use of any mouthpiece where a player has to reach into his/her mouth to install and remove it, will not be allowed for the time being. Only mouth-guards that double as lip guards, also containing a strap will be permitted,
• Players are encouraged to wear gloves while they play.
• Any unnecessary physicality between opposing players in any way will be met with strict penalty or ejection.
• Following the de-flagging of an opponent, the defender is expected to either leave the flag on the ground or to “toss” it back to the opposing player.
• Referee/Player conferences are to be kept to a minimum adhering to distancing requirements
• Team celebrations following big plays are strongly discouraged.

FOLLOWING THE GAME:

• Postgame handshakes will be restricted in an attempt to limit unnecessary contact between players
• Players are asked to leave the field immediately after their game and immediately leave the facility (when indoors) to avoid any violations of maximum capacity.
• Players are asked to remove their gloves before leaving the turf at the conclusion of the game, and to disinfect their hands thoroughly. Players are urged to wash their gloves after each game.
• Postgame showers at the facility should be avoided (some facilities will not allow access)
• Players are reminded to wash their uniforms, gloves, flag belts and any other exposed clothes or equipment following the game.