The Crystal Lake Raiders Youth Football and Cheer League realize the sport is more than just a competition or game. It is an opportunity to empower the kids to face their future with confidence.

Crystal Lake Raiders Athlete & Volunteer Safety Protocol

Pre-Participation Guidelines in all Phases

• All players, coaches, and other volunteers will receive an email outlining the risks of the coronavirus and an outline of practices we are implementing to mitigate the risk.

• We will ask families to take their player’s temperature before each practice/game/activity. Players registering a temperature greater than 99.9 degrees may not participate.
(This may change to having coaches check player temps at practice)

• All coaches will have mandatory temperature checks before each activity begins using Non-Contact Thermometers.

• Players, parents, and staff will also be asked the following three questions upon arrival to each practice/game/activity:
            o Have you recently been sick, had a cough, sore throat, fever, chills, night sweats, shortness of breath, diarrhea, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell?
            o Has anyone in your household recently been sick, had a cough, sore throat, fever, chills, night sweats, shortness of breath, diarrhea, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell?
            o Have you had any exposure to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19?

Practice/Game Day Procedures in all Phases

• No shared water or food. Players must bring their own water bottle that is clearly labeled.

• Hand sanitizer will be readily available for all players and staff.

• Drills will be designed to optimize social distancing. Contact, when allowed, will be primarily with bags rather than player on player.

• Shared equipment will be sanitized with a bleach solution frequently during and after practice.

• Absolutely no spitting on the field at any time.

• Players should wear a mask as much as possible during practice.  Masks are required on the sidelines during games. 

• Players should be encouraged to leave their mouthguards in as much as possible and use hand sanitizer after touching their mouthguard.

• Social distancing should be practiced whenever reasonable during practice and on the sidelines during games.

• Coaches and other volunteers must wear a mask at all times.

• Coaches will not use whistles.

Rules for Game Day Spectators

• Spectators will be strongly encouraged to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. 

• If a spectator has any symptoms of COVID-19 they will be asked to leave.

• Bathrooms will be sanitized per CDC guidelines.  Spectators must wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom. 


Pop Warner Practice Guidelines according to Restore Illinois Phases

Please note that Illinois Department of Public Health Guidelines for Youth Sports do not necessarily align with IHSA guidelines.  The Crystal Lake Raiders as part of the Pop Warner organization will follow the IDPH Guidelines for Youth Sports as well as recommendations from the CDC and the Pop Warner National Organization.

Phase 1 (Illinois Phase 1&2): Virtual Training - Stay at Home Order

• Individual training sessions in own home using own equipment

• Coaching would only occur virtually

• No athletes work or train together unless they are living in same home

• Focus on individual development and skills

Phase 2 (Illinois Phase 3): Socially Distanced Training

• Stay at Home Orders Are Relaxed, but Group Activities are Limited to 10 or Fewer People

• Public indoor facilities are closed, parks and outdoor facilities begin to open, and allow

visitors continuing to follow social distancing guidelines.

Quadrant Style Practices

• Fields will be broken up into quadrants

• 10 player max per Quadrant

• Players cannot leave Quadrant until coaches issue a rotation

• Players will not contact each other in the quadrant and will be instructed to stay 6

feet apart in all drills - drills will be skill-and/or conditioning based

• Spectators will not be encouraged - if spectators are present, they must maintain

social distancing protocols which include wearing face masks, personal hand

sanitizer, but are encouraged to stay in their personal vehicle instead

• Players should arrive 15min before practice and not earlier, they must leave directly

after

• Mixing of groups will be avoided

• Take shower and wash all clothing after each practice

• Sanitize any surfaces – bleachers, chairs, etc. – after each practice

• Bring Water Bottle Clearly Marked with Name.

• Bring Towel Clearly Marked with Name.

• Participants’ gear to be kept in separate areas from other participants

• Wash Hands before Attending; Avoid touching eyes nose mouth.

• Players will be asked to come dressed and spread out their water bottles/hand

sanitizer 6 feet apart

• Coaches will follow social distancing guidelines, which include but are not limited to,

• staying 6 feet apart from players and others, wearing masks when necessary and using verbal cues

• No Huddles

• Clean balls, tackling dummies and all other equipment after each practice

Phase 3 (Illinois Phase 4): Practice

• Mitigating Efforts are Lifted and Training Facilities are Open, Group Sizes are increased to 25 or more

Practices with Contact:

• Limit the number of teams at each practice and number of players per field

• Encourage “open space” between fields

• Spectators will not be encouraged - if spectators are present, they must maintain

social distancing protocols which include wearing face masks, personal hand

sanitizer, but are encouraged to stay in their personal vehicle instead

• Mixing of groups will be discouraged - Please refrain from gathering in the parking

lot or open spaces near the field. Stay with the assigned group/team.

• Athletes must bring their own, well-marked water bottles

• Huddles will be discouraged

• Take shower and wash all clothing after each practice

• Sanitize any surfaces – bleachers, chairs, etc. – after each practice

• Clean balls, tackling dummies and all other equipment after each practice

Phase 4 (Illinois Phase 5): Return to Normal

• Return to Normal Large and Small Group Training Sessions

• Mixing of Teams and Players Can Occur Normally

In The Event of Illness

Advise Sick Individuals of Home Isolation Criteria
Sick coaches, volunteers, umpires/officials, or players should not return until they have met CDC’s criteria to discontinue home isolation. 

Isolate and Transport Those Who are Sick
All coaches, volunteers, officials, players, and families must acknowledge that sick individuals should not attend any Crystal Lake Raiders or other youth sports activity, and that they should notify the Crystal Lake Raiders COVID-19 point of contact, Lacie Driscol, if they or their child become sick with COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case.

The Crystal Lake Raiders will immediately separate coaches, staff, officials, and players with COVID19 symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, shortness of breath) at any Raiders activity. Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility, depending on how severe their symptoms are, and follow CDC guidance for caring for oneself and others who are sick. Individuals who have had close contact with a person who has symptoms should be separated and sent home as well, and follow CDC guidance for community-related exposure (see “Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts” below). If symptoms develop, individuals and families should follow CDC guidance for caring for oneself and others who are sick.

Establish procedures for safely transporting anyone who is sick to their home or to a healthcare facility. If you are calling an ambulance or bringing someone to the hospital, try to call first to alert them that the person may have COVID-19. 

Clean and Disinfect

The Crystal Lake Raiders will close off areas used by a sick person and not use these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting them (for outdoor areas, this includes surfaces or shared objects in the area, if applicable).

We will wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting. If 24 hours is not feasible, we will wait as long as possible. We will ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children. 

Notify Health Officials and Close Contacts

In accordance with state and local privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations, the Crystal Lake Raiders will notify local health officials, coaches, volunteers, umpires/officials, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws and regulations.

The Crystal Lake Raiders will advise those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and self-monitor for symptoms, and to follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

 

Congratulations to all (4) Teams who made the SuperBowl

Feather PAC

Middle Big Ten

Middle Weight PAC Black

Lightweight