Date: March 13, 2020

To: All USYS State Presidents/EDs/CEOs

From: Dr. Pete Zopfi, Chairman and Skip Gilbert, CEO

CC: USYS Board

USYS National Office

Subject: 2020 USYS Travel and Health Guidance

USYS is grateful to all of our State Associations for your leadership in handling this crisis. Your focus on developing criteria to make informed decisions on whether or not to play underscores our commitment to do what’s in the best interest of our USYS Family.

Like you, USYS takes seriously the health and wellness of our members. In an effort to keep our community safe and informed, we have a few suggested guidelines for members. Because of the rapid development of this situation, local and, State and regional variations, and real-time information provided by health experts, please do not consider this your sole resource. Expert guidance from the CDC, World Health Organization, and other health experts should be your primary source of information.

If you wish to stay informed of any US Government health advisories, we invite you to review current CDC Guidelines here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html  

As many of you know, individual State Governments have issued guidance to limit mass gatherings of varying sizes. We advise all members to regularly check in with their State and Local Government websites for the latest advisories and restrictions. We strongly encourage all State Associations to abide by their State and local advisories.

USYS also recommends that every State Association require that registered players who have come in contact with anyone diagnosed with coronavirus, or if they become infected themselves, must alert their club. The club must then notify the State Association. The State Association will then incorporate that information in decisions on future matches for that club and its league.

Best Practices for Health:

There is currently no vaccine to prevent the Coronavirus. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed. Everyday preventive actions should be taken:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces with household cleaners or wipes.
• Follow the CDC's recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including Coronavirus.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms to help prevent the spread of the disease.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

In addition to the steps above, please pay attention to the latest travel advisories and guidance. The CDC has asked people feeling unwell, those who believe they may have coronavirus or those who are awaiting test results to avoid travel until they are cleared by a medical professional.

Please know that we are watching the situation carefully and will continue to proactively share updates as they impact our organization. Our primary commitment and focus is the health and safety of our USYS soccer family.