COVID-19 PROTOCOL UPDATES
As our state continues to take steps to reopen safely, Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) has developed a Return to Activities plan. The most important priority reflected throughout this plan is the health and safety of all of our participants: athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, family members, caregivers and staff.
The state of Pennsylvania announced that mitigation orders except masking will be lifted on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 AM. Details of the article can be found here.
As of June 1, SOPA will no longer review weekly COVID-19 Levels of Community Transmission and limit Local Program participation based on Levels (Low, Moderate, Substantial). Local Programs will be able to do in-person activities and cross county lines as long as they follow SOPA’s current mitigation and infection control precautions.
Below under Resources for Everyone, please find the updated SOPA Return to Activities plan with the appendix (together, they provide guidance on training/competition, meetings/social gatherings, fundraising activities and Young Athletes).
In conjunction with this guidance, as of June 1, Local Programs are able to return to training in all sports. Sport specific Return to Activities resources can be found on the SOPA Commit to Fit webpage.
SOPA anticipates releasing Fall Return to Activities information to Local Programs in July. At this point in time, we’re still waiting on pertinent details from Special Olympics International (SOI). We anticipate updates to the current guidance as well as additional guidelines on hosting larger events.
We are thrilled to be resuming activities and trust that you will carefully review the updated guidance found on this page. If you have specific questions after your review, please contact your Field Director.
Following is our updated Return to Activities plan and resources to help you better understand what to expect.
RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE:
RESOURCES FOR Managers, AssT. Managers, Sport & Competition, Training, FUNDRAISING, and COVID-19 Coordinators:
RESOURCES FOR COACHES:
RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT:
Q: Who must complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: Every participant (athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, family members, caregivers or others in attendance of an activity) is required to complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER prior to the start of an in-person activity.
Q: How do people without a computer complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: The COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER must be electronically signed and submitted via Google Forms.
If a participant does not have access to submit electronically or ability to send a photo of the completed form to the site COVID-19 Coordinator, participant must schedule a call with the site COVID-19 Coordinator at least 24 hours prior to the first in-person activity to verbally provide their answers to the site COVID-19 Coordinator.
Site COVID-19 Coordinator will enter form electronically based on information provided by participant.
Participant must bring a completed paper form to the first in-person activity and provide to the site COVID-19 Coordinator upon arrival at first practice.
Q: What happens if a participant refuses to sign the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: This participant would not be able to participate in any in-person activities. Prior to returning to any in-person SOPA activities in Phases B through E, all participants are required to complete and return a COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER.