Return to Play

DOWLOAD SOME’S RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOLS (Full Version)
DOWLOAD SOME’S RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOLS (Short Version)

Last Updated: April 1, 2022; with guidance from Special Olympics, Inc;  Special Olympics Maine has updated guidance on return to in-person activities to reflect the latest information on COVID-19. This guidance is based on the latest information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health authorities and created in consultation with a team of global medical experts and with input from Special Olympics stakeholders.

The primary goal of this guidance has been and remains zero deaths due to transmission of COVID-19 at events. The secondary goal is to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19. While local and national guidance should always be followed, we are providing guidance above the local, state, and national levels because of the high risk of COVID to our population to protect all in our movement. This guidance is intended to supplement – not replace – any state/provincial, local, territorial/national, or tribal health and safety laws, rules and regulations with which similar organizations must comply.

Guidance on COVID-19 Return to Activities

All Local Programs MUST designate a COVID-19 response point-person to keep current guidance, compliance requirements, coordinate response and monitor for COVID-19. This may be the HOD, Head Coach or a designee.

Additionally, the information in this document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Special Olympics Maine makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this information. Further, you should seek advice from medical professionals and/or public health officials if you have specific questions about symptoms and/or diagnoses related to COVID-19.

Throughout this document “participants” are defined as all athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, family members, caregivers, staff, or others in attendance of an activity. This guidance is intended for all in- person activities (e.g., sports practices, competition, coaches training, Young Athletes, Healthy Athletes, Program-hosted UCS activities, Athlete Leadership, volunteer meetings/trainings, etc.). School-hosted activities, third-party and fundraising events are considered separate from this framework and Local Programs should follow regulations and COVID protocols from their school and local authorities, respectively for those events.

Guiding Principles

  1. The health and safety of all members of the Special Olympics Maine movement is
  2. Beyond a sports organization, Special Olympics Maine is a movement for and by people with intellectual disabilities (ID), and its guidance must be inclusive and directed at the unique needs and abilities of people with
  3. Relevant U.S. CDC guidelines should serve as minimum standards. In addition, consideration should be given to local and community authorities in that if there are more conservative/restrictive guidelines, these should be
  4. Guidance is based on current medical information available at the time of
  5. Guidance takes a phased approach that is dependent on local transmission rates, vaccination rates as well as testing/monitoring/contact tracing/health system

If in-person activities are permitted in your local area, follow below guidance (color matrix) to determine protocols needed, in addition to local regulations.  Where your community transmission and vaccination rates intersect determines your risk category. **

*KEY DEFINITIONS:

  • Fully Vaccinated: Two (2) weeks after receiving all recommended doses, that a participant is eligible for, of a COVID-19 vaccine(s) that has been listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO).
  • Participants: Athletes, Unified partners, Coaches, Officials, Volunteers, HODs, SO Staff, others in attendance of an activity, and families/caregivers if they will not exclusively be in spectator only
  • Community: Generally, the community is the county/district. If data is not available for the county/district, then use the smallest community (e.g., state) for which the data is
  • Rolling 7-day average/100,000: a 7-day moving average, takes the case rates per 100,000 people for the last 7 days, adds them up, and divides it by
  • Local Program: A Special Olympics Maine Delegation/Team (a Delegation or Team consists of a minimum of one athlete or more).
  • Event: An event is defined as, but not limited to, training/practice, competition, or any gathering (coordinated by, hosted by, properly registered SOME volunteers) with SOME participants.

**Resources for Identifying 7-Day Rolling Average Case Rate:

Protocols Low Risk Moderate Risk Significant Risk
 

Pre-event testing

Negative COVID-19 test required within 72 hours prior to arrival at event.

 

Pre-event testing is not required for regularly occurring sports practices.

 Pre-event testing is not required but may be implemented by individual Area Program. Pre-event testing is required in the following conditions for State & Region competitions/events:

At minimum, unvaccinated participants should be tested prior to any indoor competition and/or overnight event:

 

–         In areas of community transmission rates 11 – 50
51 – 79% of participants are vaccinated*.

–         In areas of community transmission rates 51 – 99
80 – 99% of participants are vaccinated*.

 

PCR testing recommended; however rapid-antigen (including at-home) testing can be used when access to PCR testing is limited.

 Pre-event testing is not required but may be implemented by individual Area Program.

Event Size and Venue		 Size and venue per local authority regulations. Size and venue per local authority regulations. Outdoors: Size per local authority regulations

Indoors or Mixed Indoors/Outdoors: < 100 participants
 

Type of sport/activity

 Per local authority regulations. Per local authority regulations.

Stagger start times to reduced crowding at the event.

 Per local authority regulations.

For non-sport (e.g., leadership trainings, meetings, etc.):  Maintain physical distancing and minimize direct contact.
 

Forms

 All participants complete the COVID Code of Conduct & Risk Form.

 

All athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and volunteers must submit Communicable Disease Waiver.

 All participants complete the COVID Code of Conduct & Risk Form.

 

All athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and volunteers must submit Communicable Disease Waiver.

 All participants complete the COVID Code of Conduct & Risk Form.

 

All athletes, Unified partners, coaches, and volunteers must submit Communicable Disease Waiver.
 

Operations

 Local Programs and Event Organizers must have a COVID Point of Contact identified.

 

Event organizers must have a plan for identifying and isolating individuals with COVID symptoms, rapid testing (if necessary), contract tracing for the event, and notifying

health authorities, per local requirements.

 Local Programs and Event organizers must have a COVID Point of Contact identified.

 

Event organizers must have a plan for identifying and isolating individuals with COVID symptoms, rapid testing (if necessary), contract tracing for the event, and notifying health authorities, per local requirements.

 Local Programs and Event organizers must have a COVID Point of Contact identified.

 

Event organizers must have a plan for identifying and isolating individuals with COVID symptoms, rapid testing (if necessary), contract tracing for the event, and notifying health authorities, per local requirements.
 

Onsite Screening

Required of all events: Signage on preventive measures (handwashing distancing and masking) and education on symptoms and reminder to stay home if sick or any symptoms.

 No onsite screening required. Verbal confirmation of no symptoms for all participants and spectators + recommended onsite temperature checks on arrival (each day, if multiple days). Written confirmation (electronically or paper) of no symptoms for all participants + recommended onsite temperature checks.

 

Verbal confirmation for spectators on arrival + recommended temperature check (each day, if event is multiple days).
 

Positive COVID test or previous COVID disease

 Per local authority regulations.

 

Athletes and Unified partners should receive medical clearance prior to participating in sport.

 Per local authority regulations.

 

Athletes and Unified partners must receive medical clearance prior to participating in sport.

 Per local authority regulations.

 

Athletes and Unified partners must receive medical clearance prior to participating in sport.
 

Masking
Not required during rigorous exercise.

 

 Masks recommended for ALL participants. Masks required for ALL participants indoors.

 

Masks recommended outdoors when unable to physically distance.

 Masks required for ALL participants.
 

Transportation

 Masking required for all on any SO transportation, unless all participants are vaccinated. Masking required for all on any SO transportation, unless all participants are vaccinated. Private transportation encouraged as much as possible.

 

Masking required for all on any SO transportation.
 

Travel

All travel requirements for host Region & State as well as for return to home should also be considered in planning.

 If traveling from a moderate risk (yellow) location, you should be vaccinated. If unvaccinated, you are permitted to travel with a negative test in accordance with the requirements of the moderate risk (yellow) location.

 

If air/train travel, recommended that a COVID-19 test be taken prior to departing home location. Individuals with positive results are instructed to stay home.

 If traveling from another moderate risk (yellow) location, a negative COVID-19 test should be required  prior to departing home location. Individuals with positive results are instructed to stay home. (See pre-event testing requirements in line one (1) of protocol grid.)

 

If traveling from an area of low risk (green), taking a COVID-19 test upon return home  is recommended.

 Not permitted outside local area, state, province/territory.
 

Overnight Accommodations

 No limitation on number of vaccinated individuals sharing a room, per local regulations.

 

If one individual is unvaccinated, max of 2 per room, unless living in the same household.

 Up to 4 vaccinated individuals may share a room.

 

If one individual is unvaccinated, max of 2 per room, unless living in the same household.

 Overnight events with accommodations organized by SO not permitted.
 

Sanitization

 Sanitization protocol for all communal shared areas and frequently touched surfaces + shared equipment between uses. Sanitization protocol for all communal shared areas and frequently touched surfaces + shared equipment between uses. Sanitization protocol for all communal shared areas and frequently touched surfaces +   shared equipment between uses.
 

Spectators

Sideline observers (e.g., family, support staff)

 Permitted per local authority regulations. Separation from participants as much as possible. Limited. Must be separated from athletes and not attend participant areas if unvaccinated. Limited. Must be separated from athletes and not attend participant areas.
 

Meals

 No restrictions on meals. Recommend no self-serve buffet meals. Participants should bring own water bottles. Stagger mealtimes and dining groups as much as possible. Participants bring their own meals and water bottles and/or pick-up only.  Stagger mealtimes and dining groups.
 

Ceremonies

 Follow size restrictions, venue options and risk mitigation guidance per above. Follow size restrictions, venue options and risk mitigation guidance per above. Follow size restrictions, venue options and risk mitigation guidance per above. Find alternatives to placing medals around the athletes’ necks to maintain distancing.

 

 

Onsite Screening Protocol for COVID-19

Regular education must be provided to all athletes, staff, volunteers, coaches, families, and caregivers reminding them stay home if they have a fever or any signs and symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea). Individuals must not participate in any activities if they are sick, for their own health and to reduce transmission of any infections to others. Instruct anyone who is ill to contact their own health provider for further evaluation.

However, in addition to this education, before or prior to entering an activity, practice, event, or gathering, for Green level, you must have signage that reminds individuals who are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 to not enter the venue or participate in the event.

For Yellow and Orange level events (Moderate and Significant Risk), Program:

  1. Must set-up a space for screening that maintains physical distance (6ft/2m) during
  2. Must ask the following questions verbally for Yellow and in written form for Orange (so you have documentation)
    • In the last 14 days, have you had contact with someone who has been sick with COVID-19?
      • If yes, they should self-quarantine per local
    • Have you had a fever in the last week (temperature of 4°F/37.8°C or higher)?
    • Do you have a cough and/or difficulty breathing?
    • Do you have any other signs or symptoms of COVID-19 (fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea)?
  3. Recommend conducting onsite measurement of temperature using thermometer, if possible (preferred non- touch thermal scanning thermometer if possible).
    • Fever equals temperature of 4°F/37.8°C or higher.
    • If high, may re-test after 5 minutes to ensure temperature is
  4. Must record all names, results and contact information and keep in case needed for contact tracing or reporting (Template available in supplemental materials).
  5. If yes to any questions regarding symptoms and/or elevated temperature, participants MUST be isolated from the group (at minimum, kept 2m/6ft apart from others and with mask on), be sent home, and instructed to contact their healthcare provider for
    • Participants who are found to have COVID-19 symptoms must wait 7 days after symptoms resolve to return to activity OR must provide written proof of physician clearance to Special Olympics to return
    • Participants who test positive for/have COVID-19 must provide written medical clearance before returning to sport and fitness

Questions?

Contact Special Olympics Maine State Office:  207-879-0489 or info@somaine.org

Properly Register Participants

All SOME participants are required to complete the following prior to participation to be recognized as a properly registered participant:

Additional Materials

Additional materials available in supplemental documentation on the Special Olympics Resources for COVID-19 website:

  1. Frequently Asked Questions and Additional Considerations
  2. Factsheet on Who is at Higher Risk
  3. SOME Screening and Tracking Report Form Template
  4. SOME Virtual Games Participation Waiver (for non-registered athletes)
  5. Links to Sport Specific Recommendations on how to modify activities
  6. Training and education materials for participants and coaches
    1. COVID 19 Participant Code of Conduct & Risk Assessment Form (video)
    2. COVID 19 Education, Prevention & Safety (video)

As developed, additional resources will be added to the Special Olympics Resources website for COVID-19:

https://resources.specialolympics.org/return-to-activities-during-covid-19

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