The #1 goal of the State of Vermont Departments of Health and Education is to get, and keep, children back in school and to ensure they remain healthy along with teachers, staff, and families.

To that end, the mandate which will be effective on September 4 requires all players, coaches, officials, staff, and spectators to wear facial coverings/masks at all times when physical distance of six feet cannot be consistently maintained, including during practices, scrimmages, games, meets, and competitions for sports that involve contact or close proximity.

Anyone with a documented medical or behavioral reason for not wearing a mask should not be required to wear one. We are waiting for response from the Department of Health on exactly what that "documented" proof looks like.

All players, coaches, officials, staff, and spectators should complete a health check before arriving at practice sessions, scrimmages, games, meets or competitions. At a minimum the following questions should be considered:

1. Have you been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19?

2. Do you feel unwell with any symptoms consistent with COVID-19? For example, have they had a cough, temperature, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell?

3. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please do not attend training or games.

VSA continues to promote an "arrive, play, and leave" protocol.  No gathering in groups before or after training or games.

Jamboree or tournament style play (one team playing multiple games vs multiple opponents in a single day/weekend) is currently not permitted in Vermont.  This will be reevaluated on November 1st.

Games in Vermont may only occur between, or involve Vermont based teams or teams from counties eligible for quarantine-free travel to Vermont, based on the most recent map published by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.

• Individual players from bordering states who belong to a Vermont-based team, club organization or league may participate but must follow Vermont state recreational visitation guidelines.

The number of people present (participants, coaches, officials, staff, and spectators) at games should be limited as much as possible with a minimum of 6 feet of social distance between households.  Spectators should not attend practices or scrimmages.

The total number of people present at any game may not exceed the current limits on outdoor event size - currently 150. Teams are encouraged to set a per family limit of spectators based on the size of their roster.  For example, a roster of 22 should encourage no more than 2 spectators per player to keep within the limit of 150 people per game/field.

Teams must keep an attendance record for each practice/training and game in the event that a player, coach, staff member, or referee test positive for COVID-19 and contact tracing become necessary.

Specific Training/Match Guidelines

1. Only coaches handle training equipment such as cones, pinnies, etc.

2. Players bring their own soccer ball, water, and hand sanitizer (coach may want to also keep hand sanitizer in coach bag)

3. Pinnies may not be shared during training and should be washed after each training. Players' uniforms should be washed after each game.

4. Coaches should place cones six feet apart, one for each player on the team,as a place for their soccer bag and water so that social distancing is maintained during water breaks.

5. Attendance records must be kept at all practices and games. Game attendance record should include the number of family members in attendance.

6. Home team should sanitize the game ball between halves

7. Players should practice social distancing as much as possible. No high fives or fist bumps.  

All Vermont Soccer Association sanctioned clubs and events will follow these guidelines  until further notice.