Interim Guidance for

LIMITED OUTDOOR YOUTH SPORTS

 OPEN FOR

YOUTH SPORTS

•  This guidance specifically addresses
skill-building drills and team-based
practice, as described in the CDC
Guidance on Considerations for Youth
Sports.
•  Develop a plan or checklist for
reopening of outdoor facility consistent
with CDC guidance that includes:
— Communications and signage.
—  Routine and frequent environmental
cleaning and disinfecting,
especially for high-touch
surfaces, in accordance with CDC
recommendations.
•  Each program shall create a plan or
checklist to ensure that:
— N
  o group may exceed 10 individuals
at any time.
— I ndividuals shall maintain 6 feet of
physical distance, wherever and as
often as possible.
— Staff shall wear face coverings.
—T
  here is a staff training plan that
includes COVID-19 prevention.
—S
  taff and youth athletes are screened
regularly for illness or exposure to

COVID-19.
— I f they can be worn safely and
consistently, youth athletes age 9
and older shall wear face coverings.
—S
  taff, youth athletes, and parents/
guardians shall wear face coverings
when participants are arriving and
leaving.
—  Individuals from outside the program
are limited in their interactions with
staff and participants, including
parents/guardians during drop off/
pick up.
—Y
  outh athletes who are sick from
COVID-19 may not attend a practice
or training until they are cleared for
release from isolation according to
CDC guidelines and cleared to return
by a healthcare provider.
—A
  ny staff or youth athlete exposed
to a person with a confirmed or
probable case of COVID-19 may not
attend the program until they have
completed quarantine following CDC
guidelines.
—S
  ocial distancing protocols and
procedures exist for staff, youth
athletes and parents/guardians, with
special consideration for entrances
and exits, queues, bottlenecks, facility
layouts, and safe capacity limits.

 OPEN
FOR EMPLOYEES
•  Train staff on current COVID-19
prevention guidelines, such as hand
hygiene and cleaning protocols, along
with proper PPE use and disposal.
•  Implement a daily screening process
for staff and youth athletes, which
includes CDC or MDH recommended
health questions, and consider
temperature testing.
•  Direct staff and parents/guardians of
youth athletes to follow CDC and state
guidelines regarding home isolation
for suspected or confirmed COVID
infections.
•  Require face coverings when
interacting with other staff and youth
athletes, and parents/guardians,
particularly if social distancing cannot
be assured.
•  Train staff on the proper responses to
those who challenge social distancing,
facial covering, and other protocols.

•  Evaluate all program activities to
identify possible “high-touch” practices
and opportunities to reduce or prevent
COVID-19 transmission.
•  Outdoor facility capacity may be
limited based upon executive order or
other local government guidance.
•  Check with the local health
department for any additional
requirements in the jurisdiction

For more information go to open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness

05.27.2020

 Interim Guidance for

LIMITED OUTDOOR YOUTH SPORTS

 OPEN
FOR SOCIAL
DISTANCING

 OPEN FOR
CLEANLINESS
AND COMFORT

 OPEN FOR
COMMUNICATION

•  Consider establishing a 6-foot marking
system to visually demonstrate the
recommended social distancing.

•  Frequently clean and disinfect
equipment and gear, and all hightouch surfaces per CDC guidelines.

•  Communicate commitment to
COVID-19 prevention by posting
adherence with the CDC’s guidelines.

•  Consider staggered practice and
training times to minimize bottlenecks
at entrances and exits of outdoor
facilities.

•  Make hand sanitizer, disinfecting
wipes, soap and water, or similar
disinfectant readily available to
parents/guardians, staff, and youth
athletes, including at the entrance of
the outdoor facility and at bathroom
facilities.

•  Show everyone care by having signage
that details social distancing protocol
and COVID-19 prevention.

•  Limit parents/guardians attendance.
If it is necessary for them to be at
practice, ensure that proper social
distancing is maintained between
parents/guardians.
•  Keep each group separate from other
groups using physical distance or by
using shared areas during breaks,
no use of indoor locker facilities, and
limit the number of people in shared
bathroom facilities to minimize
exposure.
•  Limit all activities to avoid contact.

•  If food is available at the outdoor
facility, the facility will follow the
guidance developed for food service.

•  Communicate with parents or
guardians, staff, and youth athletes on
the measures taken for their comfort
and on the shared responsibility to
monitor their health and stay home if
not feeling well.

•  Restrict team huddles, high fives, and
handshakes or other close contact
activities.
All Executive Orders still in effect must be
complied with. See most up to date orders
here: governor.maryland.gov/covid-19pandemic-orders-and-guidance.

For more information go to open.maryland.gov/backtobusiness

05.27.2020