A Message from NXT Safety
                                    NXT Measures for Fall 2020 Events

Conshohocken, PA (Last Updated Sept. 21 2020) As our communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, NXT is excited to host our full slate of events this fall! However, COVID-19 remains a public health threat, and we must continue to enact policies and procedures that protect our events community.   

Below is a summary of the safety measures that we’ll be taking this Fall. Please be sure to read this document thoroughly. Please also be sure to read the pre-event email as some venues may have additional policies in place that would supersede anything in this document. 

We all must work together as a group to create and maintain a safe environment. This includes myself, our tournament staff, coaches, parents, and officials. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding our safety policies, please feel free to reach out!

Thank you,  

Ian McGinnis MS, LAT, ATC
Director, Participant Health & Safety
NXTsports
ian.mcginnis@nxtsports.com
 

Vulnerable Populations

There are certain segments of the population who are at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 including individuals who are 65 years of age or older, those with cancer, chronic kidney disease, lung disease, immunosuppression, obesity, heart disease, sickle cell disease, and diabetes. These individuals should not attend NXT events this Fall.

If You are Sick

If you are sick or have had close contact with an individual with confirmed COVID-19 in the previous 14 days, please stay at home, contact your primary care provider, and follow CDC guidelines on quarantine and isolation.  

Attendees should self-report to NXT if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 1-14 days after having attended out event. If NXT becomes aware on a COVID-19 infection within our events community, we will send out a communication to coaches whose teams have played against the infected individuals’ team and therefore may have been exposed to COVID-19. Within this communication, privacy will be protected, and no identifying information will be used. Once informed, it is the coaches’ responsibility to communicate this to the members of their team / club and should instruct them to self-monitor for symptoms and follow CDC guidance for community exposure to COVID-19

Symptom Screening

Coaches should screen their athletes for COVID-19 symptoms prior to participating in any games. If they find an athlete to be experiencing symptoms, they should be sent to the on-site medical staff. Coaches can use this form as a template for screening their athletes, or use the screening form provided in the US Lacrosse Return to Play Recommendations. Alternatively, there are several electronic options for COVID-19 symptom screening including Health Check if your organization uses TeamSnap.

Parents, officials, coaches, and staff will be responsible for screening themselves for COVID-19 related symptoms prior to attending or participating in any NXT events. Please use the following graphic as a guide for self-screening:

Water Availability

• Water will not be made available at each field.
  • Athletes, spectators, and coaches will be responsible for bringing their own water bottles and should not share with others.

Social Distancing Measures (5)

• We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE only one parent / spectator per player attend our events.
  • At some venues this Fall, due to state and county restrictions, this will not just be a recommendation but will be enforced by police and private security. If you are at a venue where it will be enforced, you will receive additional specific information in advance of the event.
• All players, coaches, staff, and spectators should practice social distancing of six feet when feasible including, but not limited to:
  • On the sidelines
  • In common areas
  • When entering and leaving the facility.
• All athletes, coaches, and spectators should maintain a distance of four feet from the sideline when not actively participating in a game.
• No tents / team tents / tailgating will be permitted except for personal shade tents or umbrellas.
• Players and coaches must refrain from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, or any group celebrations.
• In the event of a lightning delay, athletes, spectators, and coaches will be asked to seek shelter in their cars and not in any buildings at the venue.
  • This is to avoid overcrowding in the venue and allow for the maintenance of safe distancing.

Competition Structure Changes

• Until further notice, scheduling will be done in such a way to 1) minimize the number of individuals at a venue at any given tie and 2) minimize the amount of time spent at the venue by any given team. This may look slightly different from event to event depending on the number of teams in a division and regional variance in COVID-19 restrictions, but the basic framework and goals are below:

• For events in which teams play three games, two of those games will be played back to back, followed by a game off, and then the final game.
• For events in which teams play two games, those games will be played back to back when possible with a brief rest period in between.
  • In some instances, these games maybe be played with a game off in between.
• Face-offs / draws will remain in place for high school boys, but will change for all other divisions
  • In order to perform a traditional face-off / draw for all other divisions, both teams and at least one official need to opt into performing the face-off / draw. Otherwise, alternating possessions will be had.

Our full rules for face-offs and draws can be found here.

Cloth Face Coverings 

• All tournament staff will have face coverings.  
• All attendees including staff, players, coaches, spectators, and officials must have a cloth face covering with them. 
  •  ​​​​All attendees will be responsible for bringing their own cloth face covering. A guide for making your own cloth face covering at home can be found here. 

• Players and officials are not required to wear cloth face coverings when actively participating in a game. 

Everyday Preventative Actions (5,6)

• All attendees should practice every day preventative actions - including, but not limited to: 
  • Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
    • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available 
  • Abstain from touching their face (mouth, eyes, or nose)
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and throw tissue in the trash or use the inside of your elbow
  • Avoid touching frequently touched surfaces (railings, doorknobs, countertops etc...)
• NXT will work with all host venues to provide hand washing and hand sanitizer stations.
  • In addition to what may be available on site, you should bring your own hand sanitizer.  
• NXT will have hand sanitizer available at tournament headquarters and will attempt to have hand sanitizer available at each field.
   

Additional Resources
Please view these resources for more information on COVID-19 from reputable sources. 

• CDC - How does COVID-19 spread?

• CDC - How can you protect yourself and others?

• CDC - What do I do if I am sick?

• CDC - What does quarantine and isolation mean?

• CDC - How to wear a cloth face covering

• State and Territorial Health Department Directory