The New Prague Girls Fastpitch Association is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all our board members, coaches, volunteers, and athletes. To ensure we have as safe and healthy environment, we have developed the following COVID-19 Preparedness Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Board members, coaches and volunteers are all responsible for implementing this plan. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in our workplaces and communities, and that requires full cooperation among our board members, coaches, volunteers, and athletes. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health within our softball environment.
Board members, coaches and volunteers are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. NPGFA coaches and volunteers have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this policy.
Our coaches are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our training running. Board involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. We have involved our board members in this process by maintaining constant communication and inviting their input for the policies and procedures we have adopted in accordance to CDC and MDH regulations. We encourage open communication with all our members in an effort to ensure a safe and healthy environment. Our COVID-19 Preparedness Plan follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, federal OSHA standards related to COVID-19 and Executive Order 20-48, and addresses:
Coaches have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms.
NPGFA has implemented leave policies that promote coaches staying at home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household.
Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at our practices at all times. Coaches are instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water prior to practice, and to sanitize at the end of their shift, prior to any food consumption and after using the toilet. All volunteers and athletes will be required to sanitize their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the fields. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) are at each field location so they can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water, as long as hands are not visibly soiled.
Board members, coaches, volunteers, and athletes are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in provided trash receptacles and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available to all workers, customers and visitors.
Social distancing of six feet will be implemented and maintained between board members, coaches, volunteers, and athletes through the following engineering and administrative controls:
Regular disinfectant practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of equipment: including bats, balls, rakes, catching equipment, pitching machines, etc. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas.
If a coach or participant in any training activity learns that he/she has tested positive for COVID-19, the participant or, if a child, the participant’s parent, should notify their coach or Board President as soon as possible.
Board President Will Contact the Participant/Parent:
Obtain detailed information by asking the participant/parent the following questions:
During the conversation, NPGFA Board President will also inform the participant/parent that:
Per current CDC guidelines, they must not participate in any activities at the gym until the following have occurred:
For participant who experienced symptoms and tested positive:
OR
Immediately close off areas identified where the parent/participant identified as having been present.
See sections below for guidance on disinfection.
Communicate with Infected Participant’s Coach:
Contact the Applicable State Department of Health
Communication to Other New Prague Girls Fastpitch Association Coaches:
Send out a communication on behalf of the team to notify other non-affected employees.
Disinfection:
Appropriate and effective cleaning and disinfectant supplies have been purchased and are available for use in accordance with product labels, safety data sheets and manufacturer specifications and are being used with required personal protective equipment for the product.
Recommended products that are effective against codid-19 such as (Lysol disinfectant spray, Clorox bleach, hand sanitizer, Cavi-cide, Uno, Bac-san, Clorox disinfectant wipes, etc.). These will be used in accordance to the recommended cleaning protocol from the CDC.
This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan was communicated to all coaches and necessary training was provided. Additional communication and training will be ongoing and provided to all coaches who did not receive the initial training. Instructions will be communicated to visitors and NPGFA members about: how drop-off and pick-up will be conducted to ensure social distancing between the coaches and athletes; required hygiene practices. Athletes and members will also be advised not to enter the fields if they are experiencing symptoms or have contracted COVID-19. NPGFA board members are to monitor how effective the program has been implemented. Board members and coaches are to work through this new program together and update the training as necessary. This COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been certified by New Prague Girls Fastpitch Association and posted on the NPGFA website. It will be updated as necessary.
Certified by:
Jim Kaufman
NPGFA President