Covid19 Policies & Protocols

COVID-19: SUPER SAFE SOCCER FUN

Hello HappyFeet Families,

We are so excited to be back out and deliver all the soccer HappyFeet Fun on the fields and in some of our preschools! We miss our little soccer stars and all of the friends we have made along the way.

Over the past several weeks, we as a team have been working overtime delivering our HappyFeet content that has allowed our kiddos to continue their development and keep them smiling and kicking through all of this whether it be through our Free Online classes, Summer League, and schools! All the while we have been working with local and national leadership and listening to the experts to better understand when and how we will be able to get back out their delivering the soccer fun…but doing so in a way that ensures the safety of our coaches, our little soccer stars and their families!

As parents we know the challenge you are going through in attempting to decide how to move forward through all of this! On the one hand you realize how important these younger years are to your children’s development and don’t want them to miss out on the experiences and opportunities that can be so important. While at the same time, the health and safety of your little ones, your family, and those around you is paramount. So what do you do? How do we move forward? Is there a way to accomplish both?

For us here at HappyFeet we have been working diligently to determine when and how to return to delivering the soccer fun in a way that is super safe! And we have implemented these practices with major success in our Summer League and a few summer schools.  

Below you will see an explanation of the current steps we will be taking in delivering our programs during this time. Please note that as things change our approach will, so this information is a living document and will be updated when we introduce new policies or modify or eliminate unnecessary procedures.

Each of the below policies are in addition to our operational policies and procedures, our hope is that in the very near future it will no longer be necessary to provide these additional measures.

For each of the programs we offer you will see three sections:

  1. Billing Policy Adjustments: The impact of the pandemic has had a profound impact financially on all aspects of our community. During this pandemic we are hoping to provide peace of mind to families looking to make the most of every dollar they spend. These adjusted billing policies have been included during this pandemic to help our families feel comfortable knowing the investment they make will go to good use.

  2. Operational Steps We Will Take: The decision our families have to get their children involved in small group settings can be a tough one. This section identifies the additional steps we will be taking to ensure the safest possible sporting experience for our HappyFeeters.

  3. Steps We ask Our Families To Take: We are in this together, and with that we will need your help in ensuring the safety of all involved. This section will identify any additional steps we will ask of you and your little soccer stars to take when participating in the program.

    LEAGUE POLICIES:

    We want to share with you the steps we will be taking below to ensure we provide a safe and healthy sporting experience for your child while also allowing for our kids to have the fun and developmental experience our HappyFeeters have come to know and love. 

    In delivering our program we have reduced the team sizes to ensure each session has no more than 10 individuals on a field, we will stagger start session times to minimize larger numbers during session transitions, will have an on-site disinfectant station available to all, and will have clearly established family viewing areas to allow for social distancing between families. For the younger age groups in HappyFeet, our parent curriculum will also largley depend of that parent being the buffer in social distancing.  

    Our coaches will monitor their body temperatures prior to all sessions and will be delivering the program on-site with the following additional safety precautions.

    If your child has been tested positive for Covid19 or has been in direct contact to a famiy member or someone that has been tested positive, please inform the HF Director. The player is to be quarantined for 14 days.  As a reminder, it is a HIPAA violation to share the names of players/parents who have been in contact, diagnosed or are in self-quarantine because of covid19. 

    Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

    During Our Sessions We Will:

    • Avoid high fives and any unnecessary physical contact

    • Wear a face covering when required/recommended by state and local leadership.

    • Use rings, spots, or orange cones as their “soccer station” to help keep children spread out when possible.

    • Be the only ones to clean up and put away equipment used during the sessions.

    • Provide reminders to children as to the importance of keeping safe distances during the sessions.

    For the families in attendance of these sessions, we request that you observe these guidelines for the health and safety of other families and our coaches:

    • Stay home when you are sick and keep your children home if they are sick.

    • Bring a sanitized and clearly labeled soccer ball for your child to use during the session.

    • Wash or sanitize hands before arriving at the field.

    • Adhere to face covering requirements/recommendations by state and local leadership.

    • Practice social distancing by staying 6 feet away from others that do not live in your household.

    • When observing the session please stay in the assigned family viewing area or within your child's soccer station.

    • Be sure to use the restroom prior to arrival as access to restrooms may not be available for safety reasons.

    Please note:These policies, at a minimum, will be followed for the entirety of the session. But we will be closely monitoring all communication from the necessary authorities for safety updates.  As we learn more, and if needed, we’ll adjust our policies.  

    We appreciate your trust in us, as well as your patience and understanding as we navigate this most challenging of times. 

    Parents should follow and consider HappyFeet Covid19 protocols:

  4. Exit cars 5 minutes before your HappyFeet start time (to allow for prior group to leave field)
  5. Head to your field # to check-in and get HappyFeet shirt from your Coach
  6. All families should practice social distancing guidlines (6ft apart):
    • Parents & Masks: A face covering is not required by Shelby County while outdoors in public spaces uless maintaining a physcal distance of 6ft from persons not from same household. HappyFeet strongly encrouages parents and spectators to wear a face covering as much as possible (especially if entering bathrooms)
    • Players and Masks:  Players are not required to wear masks during play.  HappyFeet strongly encourages for all to arrive to the field in a mask.
    • Family/Spectators: HappyFeet strongly encourages 1-2 family members MAX in attendance
    • Sidelines: Parents/Spectators should be 12ft apart and wear a face-covering when the likelihood of increased vocalization such as shouting, cheering, etc.  Family units may sit together.
    • Sitting:  Please set chairs 12 ft from HF fields, anywhere around.  Avoid placing in front of any HappyFeet field # signs and walk-ways.
    • Parent Participation: For Tiny Toes 2's we ask for parent participation because our curriculum requires it and to serve as social distance buffer.  For Little Toes 3s/Big Toes 4s & 5s parent participation only if necessary.  Coaches and Parents will monitor contact.
    • Children Playing:  Each child will have a soccer station (cone) place more than 6 ft apart.  They will leave their cone to play in our activities and small sided games.  During instructions, water breaks, etc we will ask them to return to their soccer stations.
    • Games: We will play small-sided games in the 3-5 year old age groups, those not playing and waiting their turn will sit with their parents. 
    • In order for the next group to arrive safely, we ask that you return to your cars immediately following your HappyFeet session. 
  7. All individuals (coaches, players, parents, etc) should stay home if they tested positive for or are showing COVID19 symptoms. 
  8. Individuals who have recently had a close contact with a person with COVID19 should also stay home and monitor their health.  
  9. HappyFeet will continue to follow and adhere to CDC GUIDELINESconcerning Youth Sports. 

     
  10. Billing Policy Adjustments:

    • In the waiver section of your registration 



    PRESCHOOL CLASS POLICIES:

    Billing Policy Adjustments:

    • 30-day withdrawal policy voided for any COVID-19 related issues and concerns.

    • Account pauses for sick children staying home as a precautionary measure.

    Operational Steps We Will Take:

    • Above all else we will deliver the classes following the policies and procedures put in place by the partner preschool in which we are running the class.

    • Coaches will reduce the class sizes where necessary to ensure staying below the small group requirement of 10.

    • Coaches will wear masks.

    • Coaches will wash hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving the school and in-between each coached class.

    • Balls and equipment will be washed after each school with alcohol based disinfectant spray and balls and equipment will be limited per session.

    • High fives and our Magic stamps will be replaced with Coach Claps and “Way to Go’s”!

    • Coaches will stay home if they are feeling ill or have a fever and won’t return until 14 consecutive symptom free days.

    • Coaches will check temperature before entering school.

    • Coaches will wash all coaching apparel after use and prior to the next scheduled session.

    Steps We Ask Our Families To Take:

    • Participants will stay home if they are feeling ill or have a fever and won’t return until 14 consecutive symptom free days. Be sure to contact us to pause your account during this time.

    • Parents to communicate the additional steps taken to children and help us to ensure they are participating in the program safely.

    Please know that we are committed to continue to deliver our amazing program to our little soccer stars through this trying time and will make every step necessary to support you, the families that support and rely on us to deliver the soccer fun to our amazing soccer stars. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us by clicking the message link in the lower right hand corner and know we will do everything in our power to get this right!

    Stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to the soccer fun very soon!

    -Team HappyFeet.