NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

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NORTH

STAR

ATHLETIC

ASSOCIATION

COVID-19

RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES

FALL 2020

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CDC Definition of a close contact: A close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

Close contacts must be quarantined for 14 days from their last exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19. Symptomatic close contacts should be referred to a health care provider for testing.

Close contacts will be determined by state and local health departments. E. Screening Process – See Attachment A

COVID-19 Screenings will be taken anytime the team gathers as a group: prior to team travel, practice, games, study hall, weight training, team meetings, etc. F. Multiple team members exhibit symptoms

Athletics will operate with approval of each NSAA institution’s leadership, and each institution will operate in accordance with local and state officials. Ultimately, each institution’s president and athletic director will consult with campus and community health professionals to determine student-athlete participation for practices and competitions.

The decision to postpone competitions will rest with the presidents and athletic directors, of the two teams involved, in consultation with the North Star

commissioner. G. Submitting results

1. The athletic trainer or institutional representatives will be asked to verify with the NAIA that screening protocol was followed. The NAIA tool will not collect individual screen results. Each institution will do one entry per day per team. This should take 1-2 minutes.

2. A NSAA screen form (Attachment A – Appendix 1) will be filed and used for NSAA results.

V. TESTING

The NAIA is not requiring that student-athletes, coaches and staff take a COVID-19 test. All test results will be submitted to the local/state health department. All positive tests will be filed with the NSAA Commissioners office within 24 hours.

A. Positive Tests

1. All student athletes and coaches who receive a positive test for COVID-19 will be removed from practice and competition immediately.

2. If an individual tested positive in the last 90-days, they would not need to retake the COVID-19 test.

B. Removal from and return to competition or practice. 1. See Appendix A

C. Multiple team members test positive 1. See Appendix A

2. NAIA/NSAA Guidelines in regard to thresh hold for competition

3. Institutional administration in concert with local and/or state health department guidance and recommendation will make ultimate decision

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A. Competition and Start Dates

1. Competition includes any scrimmage, exhibition or contest that involves competition not involved with your institution.

2. September 5, 2020 will be the competition start date for all sports with the exception of football.

3. September 12, 2020 will be the competition start date for football. Note: No exceptions will be made for any start dates.

B. Minimum/maximum competitions

1. Cross Country – 3 minimum; 8 maximum 2. Football – 6 minimum, 11 maximum

3. Men’s/Women’s Soccer – 8 minimum; 14 maximum 4. Women’s Volleyball – 13 minimum; 28 dates maximum

Note: The maximum number may be increased by one (1) if that competition is versus an Association of Independent Institutions.

C. NSAA Competition related

1. Adjustments have been made to fall schedules.

2. A game that is postponed due to COVID-19 can be played in the fall or spring, in the order they were postponed

3. Fall sport contingency plans will need BOAD approval VII. PRACTICE

A. Practice Start Date

1. All sports practice start date will be Saturday, August 15. Institutions may have students return to campus earlier but may not have official practice. The official NAIA practice definition is listed on the NAIA website > COVID-19 updates > scheduling and competition.

B. Screening Protocol for Practice – additional guidance in Attachment A

1. Starting on August 15 student athletes and those in close contact with student athletes are to be screened daily prior to practice or team activity. This screen may be performed by an athletic department or college staff member.

2. Team practice at another institution’s facility are subject to that institution as guidelines. Those guidelines should be a part of the visiting team guide and should be sent out 48 hours prior to the set practice/game time.

VIII. GAME MANAGEMENT/STAFFING/SID INFORMATION A. Screening Staff

1. All game day personnel must be screened upon entering the facility. Staffing should be limited to essential personnel. No non-screened individual may be permitted near the play court/field.

2. Coaches, athletes and officials will follow state and local guidelines for face coverings during competition.

B. PPE requirements

PPE will be required while screening. (see Attachment A for guidance) C. Score tables/Press Box/Statistics

Masks are required for score table/press box/statistics

1. Seating at the score table and in the press-box should be limited. Priority seating should be granted to individuals required by playing rules.

2. It has been recommended to have game programs available online the day before so spectators can print a copy to bring with them. This is at the

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discretion of each institution. Signage around the facility with direct link to online programs is also encouraged.

D. Bench Protocol

1. Game management is responsible for sanitizing benches between usage. For back to back games-adequate time must be provided for proper sanitization. 2. Seat assignment on benches is encouraged. Benches/chairs may have

numbers on them.

3. At the discretion of each institution, it is recommended to leave space behind the benches to physical distance from spectators.

E. Miscellaneous Game Management Protocol

1. The host team will have paper or plastic cups for drinking water – teams will designate individuals that may pour from the water cooler. When possible, visiting teams are encouraged to bring their own individual water bottles. Hand sanitizers should be near the water coolers.

2. Travel teams must provide own towels, soap and hygiene products. F. Pre/Post Game Interactions

1. Protocol that involves interaction between opponents or officials shall be limited. This includes the interaction during the announcement of the starting lineups, pre and post-game handshakes, captain’s meeting and coin toss. G. Communication Policy

NSAA and institutional policy should be listed on the website, and in the visiting team travel guide and posted at the game site.

H. Non-conference games

Game day protocols apply to non-conference opponents at games/scrimmages and exhibitions by NSAA members.

I. Media Information

Media personnel will follow host institutions policies. IX. SPECTATORS

1. Spectators at indoor athletic events are required to wear cloth face

coverings. Outdoor competition will be determined by each institution and their local/state health department.

2. The NSAA members will follow their campus, local and state public health standards.

3. These standards will be published clearly and well in advance – including on athlete website, local radio, campus announcements, with signage at the event, and during game announcements.

4. In addition, institutions should consider making live stream available for all sports. Efforts should be made to have play by play announcing.

5. Spectators will not interact with game participants (following screening of participant) until after the event and outside the competition facility, where social distancing is possible and face coverings are worn.

X. CONCESSIONS

A. Concession regulations will be determined by each institution 1. Local and state public health standards will be required.

2. If no public health standards – concessions are discouraged but left up to the discretion of member schools.

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3. If an institution provides concessions, masks and sanitation gloves are required for all workers and bottles beverages and pre-packaged goods are encourages.

XI. FACILITIES

A. CDC standards will be required for all equipment and facilities.

B. Institutions may provide an area for visiting participants who screen positive upon arrival to the facility, but it is not required. It will be designated in the game day procedures of each individual campus. It will be the responsibility of the travel party to assign someone to supervise. This may not be an undergraduate student (i.e. teammate, student coach, student manager)

XII. HOST TEAM

A. Game day screening – See Attachment A XIII. TRAVEL

A. Travel Party Protocol

1. Teams may travel only healthy, eligible and essential travel party members. A travel party list should be sent to the host institution at least 24 hours before the game.

2. Team must screen prior to departure even if outside the six-hour competition window. Refer to Appendix A

3. A traveling team is encouraged to wear face coverings on the bus and in any other group setting, but not on the playing field/court and while eating.

4. Everyone in the travel party is encouraged to occupy the same seat throughout the trip. Vehicle seating should be arranged giving consideration to hotel room list and campus housing.

5. When financially possible, reducing hotel room occupancy is recommended. 6. Pre ordering meals and eating on the bus is encouraged when possible.

7. Institutions should consider how to return positive screen individual(s) to campus.

XIV. OFFICIALS

A. Game officials - expectations and regulations.

1. Officials will be expected to screen themselves or by lead official before they depart for assignment. Officials may use the form in Appendix 1

2. Officials should notify their assigner ASAP, if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.

3. Officials will be required to screen when they arrive at the host site.

4. Institutions must notify the NSAA Commissioner’s Office immediately following a positive screen.

5. Cloth face coverings (masks) will be required of officials excluding while officiating

6. Towels, water bottles and face coverings will be the responsibility of the officials.

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XV. ATHLETIC TRAINING

A. Athletic Training Room & Services – see Attachment A

1. Each institution must develop protocol for athletic training room and services including taping, icing and modalities.

2. Every athlete seeking AT services must wear a mask.

3. Considerations should be made for pre-event and post-event care for visiting teams regarding the usage of the home teams’ athletic training facility.

• Determine times for availability/use of AT facility

4. When possible, the home institution can designate an area for use by the visiting team for any preparation necessary before or following the event. 5. If available, supplies and equipment available could include taping tables,

treatment tables, moist heat pack and injury ice.

6. We recommend that any other modality treatment be administered prior to departing campus or eliminated for that day from your care plan.

7. Should a NSAA team not be traveling with an athletic trainer, the visiting team will need to contact the host institution 48 hours via email prior the event.

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ATHLETIC TRAINING “Return to Play Guideline”

ATTACHMENT A NSAA Protocols Guiding Principles for Safe Return to Play

• Health and Safety. The health and safety of North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) student-athletes, coaches and staff is paramount and those considerations should guide the Association as our member institutions begin to reopen campus and prepare to host intercollegiate practices and competitions.

• Fairness and Safety. The NSAA is committed to the fair and safe conduct of all athletic events.

• Local Decision-Making. Athletics will operate with approval of each NSAA institution’s leadership, and each institution will be operating in accordance with local and state public officials regarding a return to campus, a return to practice and a return to competition. In the end, each campus’ along with local and state health department guidelines, will determine who can participate in, assist with, and attend student-athlete practices and competitions.

• NAIA Guidance. A recently released NAIA document, “NAIA COVID-19 Guidelines” should be a guiding document for all member institutions in return to athletics. (https://www.naia.org/athletic- trainers/2019-20/files/COVID-19_NAIA_Guidelines-5.20.2020.pdf)This information is NOT a mandate from the NAIA, but rather outlines a process to develop institutional policies based on best practices and current evidence as organizations address safe return to athletics.

• USCAH Resources. The U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH), a strategic partner of the NAIA, has recently developed a six-part “Return to Sport Health and Safety Framework”, which provides suggestions for campuses as they open for the return of student-athletes, athletic department staff and visitors/fans. A NSAA school may use USCAH resources (https://www.uscah.com/blog/) as it addresses “return to campus, return to competition” issues.

• Transparency. It is important for NSAA universities to be transparent with Campus “Return to Competition” Action Plans and Policies, and these plans should be provided to other NSAA schools to share best practices and to provide notice to visitors regarding campus protocols.

• Communication. It can be anticipated (even with COVID-19 testing improvements) that an athlete, coach, etc. will subsequently test positive for COVID-19 sometime during the season of competition. Communication protocols must be followed in all instances to inform persons recently in contact with the positive case(s).

Return to Campus and General Sport Guidelines

• Adherence to local, state (Department of Health) and federal (CDC) guidelines

• Student-athletes entering Iowa/Nebraska/North Dakota/South Dakota/Wisconsin from other states

Iowa DoH: https://idph.iowa.gov/emerging-health-issues/novel-coronavirus Nebraska DoH: http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx

North Dakota DoH: https://www.health.nd.gov/diseases-conditions/coronavirus South Dakota DoH: https://doh.sd.gov/news/coronavirus.aspx

Wisconsin DoH: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

• Student-athletes with COVID-19 risk factors

• Social Distancing Guidelines

• Adherence to NAIA COVID-19 Guidelines

• https://www.naia.org/athletic-trainers/2019-20/files/COVID-19_NAIA_Guidelines-5.20.2020.pdf • COVID-19 History and Screening for Athletes Return to Campus

• COVID-19 history documentation as portion of incoming Pre-Participation Exam

• Upon arrival to campus, student-athletes should go through a COVID-19 testing and/or screening process

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• Each institution is free to set up its own screening procedures, but they must meet the minimum standards as required by the NAIA. The following referenced form is provided as a guideline.

• Sample Screening Tool (Appendix 1)

• COVID-19 Education

• Education for staff (full-time/part-time), student-athletes, officials, and conference coordinator of officials should have general information regarding COVID-19 and policies/procedures specific to the institution, administered to student-athletes before or upon return to campus.

• Should include a general overview of COVID-19 including infection prevention and control

measures (hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, physical distancing, cleaning and disinfection), signs and symptoms, testing, transmission, and credible resources.

• As well as campus-specific policies and practices regarding infection prevention and control, campus health and safety resources, use of PPE including masks/face coverings, and actions if sick.

• Additionally, it has been approved by the NAIA that anyone who is being utilized as a screener must complete a NAIA approved educational course. This allows for University or professional staff/contractors to screen on game day.

• Institution’s should address sanitation of locker rooms, weight rooms, meeting rooms, competition/practice venues and medical facilities (follow CDC guidelines)

• Address prevention strategies including general hygiene, hand hygiene and reporting illnesses in accordance with institutional policies

• Action Plan for Positive COVID-19 Cases/Exposures on Campus

• Contact Tracing

Contract tracing may be the responsibility of the individual institution, county, or state. This process should adhere to the following standards:

Exposure: any individual within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes of confirmed or probable COVID-19 clients ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health- recommendations.html)

• Testing is recommended for all exposures that exhibit symptoms and should follow CDC and local and state guidelines.

• If testing is not available, symptomatic exposures should self-isolate for 14-days and be managed as a probable COVID-19 case (follow CDC guidelines)

• If testing is not available, asymptomatic exposures should self-quarantine and be monitored for 10 days after their last exposure, with linkage to clinical care for those who develop symptoms (follow CDC guidelines)

• Designate an area or room to isolate visiting student-athletes who test positive or are suspected positives of COVID-19 through the screening process

• Quarantine student-athletes who have had exposure with a person who has tested positive or are a suspected positive of COVID-19 according to the CDC guidelines, state and local health officials

• Communication with non-conference opponents regarding COVID-19 Health and Safety Policies. These conference’s approach to reducing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 should be considered before competition with NSAA opponents. Conferences should include: Heart of America, Great Plains Athletic Conference, Sooner Athletic Conference, American Midwest Conference, Red Rivers Conference, and Association of Independent Institutions.

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• NAIA Guidelines and Recommendations (https://files.constantcontact.com/1a7b9ff7001/0f60d74c- c2cd-4c10-8a9c-6a6de15ee8c5.pdf)

• COVID-19 Daily Screening

• Create and reference Appendix 2 - COVID-19 Symptom Screen (Non-medical personnel). In the event that medical personnel are unavailable for screening, this questionnaire should be utilized. If there are any "yes" answers, the SA would be excluded from team activities and referred to a medical professional for further evaluation.

• COVID-19 Testing

• It is recommended that all student-athletes and coaches receive a negative COVID- 19 test prior to the first competition. If a student or coach tests positive during initial testing, he or she must follow CDC, state, local guideline and receive notification from medical professional and/or state/local health department allowing them to return.

NSAA Competition Guidelines

• Adherence to local, state and federal guidelines regarding travel

• Host institutions are responsible to communicate campus protocols

• Creation of a COVID-19 NSAA COVID-19 Task Force

• Verify each school has a COVID-19 Task Force and written protocols

• Mandatory COVID-19 Game Day Screening

• For competition, all game-day participants (student-athletes, coaches, support staff, officials, etc.) are required to be screened within six hours of the beginning of the contest.

• Prescreening questions will be available via a centralized website. This website will not open until the six-hour window prior to competition has been met. This is still in process.

• Results of the questions will be emailed to the host athletic training staff. Upon arrival at the competition site, temperatures will be taken and recorded of the entire travel party. All screening must be verified by an athletic trainer or designated healthcare professional. If an institution does not have an athletic trainer or healthcare professional on site, it will be the responsibility of the host institution to conduct all prescreening requirements for the visiting team(s)

• Each institution must implement the screening requirements described below, though an institution and/or conference is free to include additional components or questions it may deem necessary. Screening must include:

• NAIA Non-Healthcare Provider Assessment - Appendix 2

• Monitoring of the temperature of each participant, specifically monitoring for a fever ≥ 100.4°

• Observation or self-reported feelings of illness

• Medical history questioning related to common 19 indicators and exposure to the COVID-19 virus

• Referee Pre-Competition Screening Process

• Will require coordinated effort between conference office, coordinator of officials and host medical staffs

• All officials will be required to fill out Appendix 1 prior to their season and turned into the Commissioner

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• If the officials have any symptoms, they must notify the coordinator of officials a minimum of 6 hours in advance of the game.

• This will provide ample time for the coordinator of officials to replace the official

• Positive COVID-19 Testing and Reporting for NSAA Competition

• Conference Reporting

• Each institution will report positive COVID-19 cases (student-athletes/coaches/athletic staff) within 24 hours of confirmed case to the NSAA Commissioner

• The Conference will create an official online app that will be viewable by the NSAA Task Force, AD’s, and Head AT’s.

• Information will include start date of symptoms, date of diagnosis, sport, competition dates, and opponents

• Written Return to Play Guidelines following student-athlete with COVID-19 positive

• In the event of a positive COVID-19 test, the individual will be excluded from all team activities until such a time that they:

• Garner a release from medical personnel for return to play;

• Are asymptomatic for a period of 10 days

• Locker Rooms

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Appendix 1

NSAA SPORTS MEDICINE

NSAA COVID-19 SCREENING

Name: Cell:

Gender: ◻Male ◻Female Sport(s):

Date of Birth: Age: (MM/DD/YYYY)

Please complete this form to assess your potential exposure / possession of COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Are you currently free from illness? ▢Yes ▢No

During your time away, did you experience, or are you currently experiencing any of the following:

SYMPTOM YES NO LENGTH OF SYMPTOM EXPLANATION

Fever

Body Chills

Extreme Level of Fatigue

Cough

Pain / Difficulty Breathing

Shortness of Breath

Sore Throat

Body / Muscle Aches

Loss of Taste

Loss of Smell

Changes to Vision / Eye Discharge

QUESTION YES NO

2-14 days prior to experiencing these symptoms, did you experience a suspected exposure to COVID-19?

Have you had any direct contact with anyone who lives in or has visited a place where COVID-19 is spreading and/or is an area reporting an increased number of COVID-19 cases (i.e. "hot spots")?

Have you had any direct contact with someone that has a suspected or lab confirmed case of COVID-19?

During your time away, did you self-quarantine due to suspected symptoms or exposure of COVID-19?

During your time away, have you been living in, or have visited an area reporting an increased number of COVID-19 cases (i.e. "hot spots")? Have you previously been or are you currently diagnosed with COVID-19?

▢ YES ▢NO DATE OF DIAGNOSIS: / /

Do you have medical documentation to support your diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19?

▢ YES ▢NO PHYSICIAN NAME: PHYSICIAN LOCATION: _

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COVID-19 QUESTIONNAIRE: Non-Healthcare Provider Assessment

If the patient appears unstable (in clear respiratory distress or has severe chest pain) - Activate

Emergency Medical Services, as per institutions Emergency Action Plan

Determine that the student-athlete within the last 2 weeks has developed any of the following

symptoms that are new, or different from their known chronic problems, or worsening from their usual

state of health.

Exposure ***Yes /No***

Have you been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus within the last 14 days?

(Close contact is < 6 feet for ≥15 minutes)

SYMPTOMS

Temperature of 100.4 F or greater REPEATED SHAKING OR CHILLS COUGH (new or different than normal)

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

(not associated with preexisting condition i.e. asthma) NEW LOSS OF SMELL and/or TASTE DIARRHEA / UPSET STOMACH/NAUSEA

MUSCLE OR BODY ACHES SORE THROAT

HEADACHE

CONGESTION/RUNNY NOSE

(not associated with preexisting condition i.e. allergies)

***Any YES answer will be referred to the Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Staff for further evaluation. Determination of participation status will be made upon further evaluation.

Approved Screener Signature: ___________________________________________Date/Time: ______________________ Patient Name:

Institution Name: Today’s date:

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COVID-19 QUESTIONNAIRE: Health Care Provider Assessment

If the patient appears unstable (in clear respiratory distress or has severe chest pain) – Activate

Emergency Medical Services, as per institutions Emergency Action Plan

Determine that the student-athlete within the last 2 weeks has developed any of the following

symptoms that are new, or different from their known chronic problems, or worsening from their usual

state of health.

Exposure Yes /Patient has Score

Have you been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Coronavirus within the last 14 days?

(Close contact is < 6 feet for ≥15 minutes) 3

SYMPTOMS

Temperature of 100.4 F or greater 3

REPEATED SHAKING OR CHILLS 3

NEW LOSS OF SMELL and/or TASTE 3

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

(not associated with preexisting condition i.e. asthma) 3

COUGH (new or different than normal) 2

MUSCLE OR BODY ACHES 2

DIARRHEA / UPSET STOMACH / NAUSEA 1

SORE THROAT 1

HEADACHE 1

CONGESTION

(not associated with preexisting condition i.e. allergies) 1

TOTAL SCORE

High Risk: Symptoms Score of 3 or MORE

Action: The Student-Athlete is to immediately be removed from practice and/or competition and refer student-athlete for additional care. Institutional protocols for “flagged screening” should occur.

Medium Risk: Symptoms Score of 2

Action: The symptoms described by the student-athlete warrant further investigation by the healthcare team. Expand screening to obtain further information. Based on responses, either allow participation or refer student-athlete for additional care.

Low Risk: Symptom Score of 1 or less

Action: Continue with standard precautions and monitor regularly for changes in symptoms. Allow student-athlete to continue participation under supervision. Refer if abnormal symptoms develop.

*** IF A STUDENT-ATHLETE IS REFERRED FOR ADDITIONAL CARE, A RELEASE FOR RETURN TO ACTIVITY FROM A LICENSED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER MUST BE PROVIDED PRIOR TO RETURN TO PRACTICE OR COMPETITION ***

HCP Signature: _________________________________________________Date/Time: ________________ Patient Name:

Institution Name: Today’s date:

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NORTH STAR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

NORTH

STAR

ATHLETIC

ASSOCIATION

COVID-19

RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES

FALL 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVID-19 QUESTIONNAIRE: Non-Healthcare Provider Assessment

If the patient appears unstable (in clear respiratory distress or has severe chest pain) - Activate

Emergency Medical Services, as per institutions Emergency Action Plan

Determine that the student-athlete within the last 2 weeks has developed any of the following

symptoms that are new, or different from their known chronic problems, or worsening from their usual

state of health.

COVID-19 QUESTIONNAIRE: Health Care Provider Assessment

If the patient appears unstable (in clear respiratory distress or has severe chest pain) – Activate

Emergency Medical Services, as per institutions Emergency Action Plan

Determine that the student-athlete within the last 2 weeks has developed any of the following

symptoms that are new, or different from their known chronic problems, or worsening from their usual

state of health.