The Northern New England Soccer League has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions in an effort to help guide our member clubs through the league’s COVID-19 protocols.

Q: How is NNESL making decisions regarding COVID-19?
A: NNESL’s priority continues to be the health and safety of the players and staff involved in our league. Each decision, policy, and procedure is based on recommendations and guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and directions from local health authorities and published state guidelines.

Q: What is your current COVID-19 policy?
A: Published documentation from NNESL can be found on our website: www.nnesoccerleague.org/covid-19 Please reference your club’s website for information specific to your club organization. Policies may be slightly different due to variations in guidelines by industry in each state. However, CDC recommendations are consistent being a federal agency.

Q: What is the Return to Play policy of the league if someone is showing symptoms or has a confirmed case of COVID-19?
A: NNESL will follow the recommendations of the CDC and NH Youth Sports Guidelines. Per NH Youth Sports and CDC guidelines, person(s) with any COVID-19 symptoms, those who report close contact with someone suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, or those reporting travel risk factors should not be allowed into the sporting event:

a. Symptomatic persons should be instructed to contact their health care provider to be tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate at home following the instructions below.
b. Asymptomatic persons reporting close contact with someone suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, or who report one of the travel-related risk factors should self-quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure or return from travel.

Person(s) with suspect or confirmed COVID-19 must stay home until symptom based criteria are met for discontinuation of isolation:
a. At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND
b. At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery. Recovery is defined as a resolution of fever off any fever reducing medications plus improvement in other symptoms.

Q: What is considered close contact?
A: Close contact is defined by the CDC as:
1. Being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time and can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case, or
2. Having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g. being coughed on).

Considerations when assessing close contact include the duration of exposure and the clinical symptoms of the person with COVID-19.

Q: Who are considered "household members"?
A: Anyone living, staying or working in the household on a regular basis (e.g. nannies, caregivers, home health workers, contractors, etc.) and anyone with childcare pick-up or drop off privileges.

 

PLAYERS/PARENTS

Q: What is the screening process for players?
A: The NH Youth Sports Guidelines outline a list of screening questions for participants to answer prior to joining training sessions or games. NNESL recommends that each member club distributes the screening questions to all families so they are aware of them, and advise families to stay home if sick. Member clubs should adopt a screening process for players and families upon arrival to training and games.

Screening questions include:

• Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
• Have you had a fever (temp of 100.4F or higher) or felt feverish in the last 72 hours?
• Are you experiencing any respiratory symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, or shortness of breath? • Are you experiencing any new muscle aches or chills?
• Have you experienced any new change in your sense of taste or smell?
• Have you traveled in the past 10 days either:
  • Internationally
  • By cruise ship

NNESL asks that parents/guardians refrain from having their child(ren) attend training sessions if any of the questions prompt a response of "yes". Parents/Guardians must immediately notify their coach as well as their club director of coaching for their respective sport if any of the screening questions result in a response of "yes". Player(s) and family will then be required to follow the "Return to Play" protocols.

Q: Do I need to quarantine after potential exposure if I have been vaccinated?
A: Per the NH Youth Sports Guidance (3/24/21) and Universal Guidance (4/1/21):
"The following people do NOT need to quarantine after close contact to a person with COVID-19 or after international or cruise ship travel:
1. Persons who are 14 days or more beyond completion of COVID-19 vaccination - this means that a person must be at least 14 days beyond receipt of the second dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or at least 14 days beyond receipt of the single-dose Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine.
2. Persons who are within 90 days of a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection that was diagnosed by PCR or antigen testing (if a person had a previous infection that was more than 90 days prior, then they are still subject to quarantine).