Updated: 9/29/2020
Hickory/Fountain Green Recreation Council (HFGRC) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all program/activity participants, coaches, instructors, adult volunteers, parents and spectators. To ensure this safe and healthy environment, HFGRC has developed the following COVID-19 Operational Plan in response to providing community based recreational activities during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Each HFGRC program/activity working in coordination with the Harford County Parks and Recreation (HCP&R) Recreation Specialist and responsible HCP&R Facility Attendant(s) will be tasked with implementation of this plan during use of HCP&R Indoor Facilities. The goal of this plan is to mitigate the potential for transmission of the COVID-19 virus during conduct of HFGRC program/ activities being conducted in HCP&R indoor facilities. Implementation of this plan will require the full cooperation of ALL involved parties. Everyone from the participant, coach, instructor, volunteer, parent and family spectator(s) must understand their role in order to comply with the plan while also being accountable for their words and actions to ensure overall program success. Only through this cooperative effort, can the HFGRC establish and maintain the desired safe and healthy environment for all program/activity participants, coaches, instructors, adult volunteers, parents and spectators.
The HFGRC Operational Plan follows the guidance of the United States Center for Disease Control, the State of Maryland Department of Health, Harford County Health Department and HCP&R Guidance and addresses the following precautions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 Virus:
Individual Accountability
- Wear a mask per State and Local Government direction
- Wash your hands often with soap and water
- Cover your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Avoid contact with sick people
- Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces
- People who are feeling sick should stay home and if necessary consult with a health care provider for direction
- Practice social distancing (minimum distance of 6 feet between persons) whenever possible
- Avoid handshaking, high fives, hugging and other intimate types of greeting or celebratory actions
- Follow facility protocols for entering, exiting and requirements while inside to include cleaning and disinfecting
- Follow drop-off/pickup procedures (no more than 5 minutes prior to scheduled start/end times)
- This plan will be shared with all participants from each program/activity and will be placed on the homepage of the HFGRC website.
- This HFGRC COVID-19 Operational Plan is intended to serve as an overarching plan for HFGRC programs/activities. Each HFGRC program/activity may implement additional instructions specific to the nature and conduct of the program/activity. The responsible HFGRC program/activity director will distribute specific guidance to all program/activity participants.
- Participation in HFGRC programs/activities are subject to the family’s or adult participants comfort level. If you feel uncomfortable about continued participation in an HFGRC program/activity, contact the program/activity director immediately. HFGRC supports your decision regarding participation and refunds will be provided minus any expenses incurred by the program/activity prior to notification.
- Overall group size of the HFGRC program/activity will be based upon 75% of HCP&R indoor facility capacity.
- All HFGRC program/activities must have received an approval permit from the responsible HCP&R Recreation Specialist to use any designated HCP&R Indoor facility for conduct of the program/activity.
- In accordance with Executive Order Number 20-09-28-01 from the Governor of the State of Maryland, masks/face coverings are required to be worn by everyone, including program/activity participants and coaches/instructors/adult volunteers, upon entry, exit and at all times inside any HCP&R Indoor Facility to include going back and forth to bathrooms. While inside any HCP&R indoor facility, the following rules apply to all participants, coaches, instructors, adult volunteers, parents and spectators of HFGRC programs/activities.
- Participants: All participants will be required to wear masks while participating in any HFGRC indoor program/activity with the following exception; If an individual, while participating in a physical activity feels that wearing a face mask/covering poses a bona-fide safety risk, then that individual does not need to wear a mask/face covering while participating. This is an individual (adult participant or parent/legal guardian) decision, where the decision maker assumes the responsibility for and claims the safety risk, not HFGRC or HCP&R.
- Coaches, Instructors, Adult Volunteers: Masks will be required to be worn during any HFGRC program/activity while inside HCP&R Indoor Facilities especially when social distancing is not feasible.
- Parents/Spectators: Anyone who is not participating in the HFGRC program/activity (i.e. parents/siblings ≥ 5 years of age/spectators) will be required to wear a mask while inside HCP&R indoor Facilities.
- Social distancing guidelines will be required between participants, coaches, instructors, adult volunteers, parents and spectators during practices, games, activity sessions whenever and wherever possible to include sitting in bleachers, permanent seating or while standing in designated viewing areas. (Refer to the specific HFGRC program/activity guidance regarding the number of allowable spectators based upon social distancing criteria and designated viewing areas)
- Participants will have a designated area to store their personal belongings/totes/equipment bags with a minimum distance of 6 feet between participant belongings.
- Participants, coaches, instructors, volunteers will promote social distancing guidance when possible by avoiding team huddles and celebratory high fives.
- Each specific HFGRC program/activity (i.e. dance, indoor soccer, adult soccer, wrestling, etc.) will set guidelines for the number of parent(s)/guardian(s)/family members/spectators allowed to safely attend programming within the HCP&R Indoor Facility to support social distancing especially where conduct of program/activity space is limited.
- The program/activity coach, instructor, or designated adult volunteer MUST conduct a brief health screen of ALL participants prior to commencing practice, games or activity sessions to include any participant that enters the area if they are running late (refer to Option 1 or 2 below). NOTE: Health screening is to be performed closest to the facility entry/exit doorway as possible.
- OPTION #1: Conduct temperature screening if “non-contact” temperature monitoring equipment is available. Document results.
- OPTION #2: Ask each participant if they are experiencing any symptoms or are not feeling well. Document results. (Reference Appendix A for health screen questioning guidance)
- ACTION: Any participant with a temperature ≥ 100.4 deg F, having a persistent cough or not feeling well will be asked to immediately leave the HCP&R indoor facility program/activity area. (Reference Appendix B for symptoms of COVID-19)
- Attendance of ALL program/activity participants, coaches, instructors, volunteers, parents and spectators IS REQUIRED to be taken and kept in a designated program/activity logbook for each practice, game or activity session for the duration of the scheduled season. Maintaining this attendance log is the responsibility of the program/activity coach or instructor however the collection of data can be delegated to an adult volunteer (assistant coach/instructor, team parent). Exercise control in regard to handling of the logbook as attendance and health screen information collected is sensitive.
COVID-19 Requirements
- If any HFGRC program/activity representative is made aware of a positive COVID-19 test, the program/activity must notify Rob Sargent (HFGRC President) and Shanna Jay (HCP&R Recreation Specialist) immediately, who will then contact the Harford County Health Department for guidance. (Reference Appendix C)
- If a program/activity participant, coach, instructor, adult volunteer or household family member has displayed any signs of illness in the most recent 10 days, then that person MUST NOT attend the practice, game or activity session. (Reference Appendix C)
- Each participant will be required to bring their own water bottle. ABSOLUTELY NO SHARING OF WATER BOTTLES OR USE OF FACILITY DRINKING FOUNTAINS.
- HFGRC recommends all coaches, instructors, volunteers and participants bring their own hand sanitizer for team and/or individual use.
- ALL common equipment used to conduct the program/activity MUST be cleaned and sanitized after each practice, game or break in program/activity session schedule when possible.
- NO SPITTING will be allowed by program/activity participants at any time unless injured and designated collection devices (i.e. towels, buckets) are being used to collect spital.
- Practices, Games, Activity Sessions will be spread out to allow time for participants and volunteer staff to arrive and exit the premises with an attempt to avoid crowding the parking lot and entry/egress pathways as much as possible. Additionally, practices, games activity sessions MUST be kept strictly to the scheduled time allotted.
- Drop-off and pick-up times are 5 minutes before HFGRC program/activity scheduled start and completion times
- All participants and volunteer staff will be required to exit the facility at completion of their scheduled HFGRC program/activity unless they are directly involved in cleaning and/or sanitization of equipment, touch points. This requirement includes back to back scheduled program/activity scenarios if applicable.
Robbie E Sargent
Rob Sargent
President - HFG Recreation Council
| Appendix A | Health Screen Questioning Guidance |
| Question #1: | Do you have any of the following symptoms: Fever within last 24 hours, cough, shortness of breath or breathing difficulties in the last 14 days? |
| Question #2: | Have you been in close personal contact (i.e. within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) within the last 14 days with anyone testing positive (+) or diagnosed with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection, or with anyone who has a suspected COVID-19 case with test results pending or anyone who has been told by a health care provider that is very likely that they have COVID-19? |
NOTE: Any coach, instructor and/or adult volunteer administering the health screening process MUST maintain confidentially regarding health status information.
Non-contact Temperature Monitoring Equipment
- The use of non-contact temperature monitoring equipment is recommended however, use is optional as it comes at a cost to the individual HFGRC program/activity.
- Allowable Threshold is a temperature reading ≤ 100.4 Deg F.
| Appendix B | Symptoms of COVID-19 Illness |
- Fever or Chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny noise
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
NOTE: The vast majority of people recover from COVID-19 infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing conditions have a greater risk for more serious illness.
| Appendix C | |
| Scenario #1: | Actions to be taken if a/an program/activity participant comes in contact with a positive COVID-19 test case in family NOT exposing program/activity participants |
- Parent or adult participant MUST immediately notify the HFGRC Coach, Instructor or Adult Volunteer.
- Participant must be removed from the program/activity and quarantined for a minimum of 2 weeks to mitigate exposure to others.
- Participant must be tested at an approved COVID-19 testing facility or health care provider office.
- Coach, instructor or adult volunteer will notify the HFGRC program/activity Director of individual being quarantined.
- After receiving 2 consecutive negative (-) test results or upon receipt of a release letter from a medical health care provider, the participant, coach, instructor and/or adult volunteer can return to the program/activity.
| Scenario #2: | Actions to be taken if a/an program/activity participant has displayed any signs of illness in the most recent 10 days or has been diagnosed positive (+), that person MUST NOT participate in program/activity practices, activity sessions and/or games. |
- Parent or adult participant MUST immediately notify the HFGRC Coach, Instructor or Adult Volunteer.
- Participant must be removed from the program/activity and quarantined for a minimum of 14 days to minimize exposure to others.
- Coach, instructor or adult volunteer will notify the HFGRC program/activity Director of individual being quarantined.
- Program/activity Director will notify the HFGRC President and the HCP&R Recreational Specialist of individual being quarantined.
- Participant must be tested at an approved COVID-19 testing facility or health care provider office.
- HFGRC will begin contact tracing to determine potential exposure to other program/activity participants to include opposing teams if game play has commenced. Program/activity participants identified through contact tracing will be required to be tested at an approved COVID-19 testing facility or health care provider office. NOTE: Contact tracing may result in shutting down the entire program/activity team, teams and/or dancing session participants for a minimum of 14 days.
- In-parallel, sanitization of the HCP&R Indoor facility will begin. The HCP&R indoor facility may require complete shutdown of the facility until sanitization is complete to acceptable standards. Facility shutdown may impact shutting down other HFGRC programs/activities until the facility can be restored to a safe environment.
- After receiving 2 consecutive negative (-) test results or upon receipt of a release letter from a medical health care provider, participant(s), coaches, instructors and/or adult volunteers in quarantine can return to the program/activity.