COVID-19 Protocol
(Updated 10/13/20)
Rules for Players, Parents and Rye Ranger Families
2020 continues to be a year none of us expected, but the Rye Rangers are committed to providing our players and families a safe, healthy and rewarding hockey experience. Now that we have completed the first month of the season, we have revised our COVID-19 protocols to reflect what we have learned. The rules and procedures below have been established to help maintain as safe an environment as possible during Rye Rangers hockey sessions and to comply with the rules imposed by the Department of Health and the rinks where we practice and play. Remember, we are guests at the rinks where we play, in particular Rye Country Day School, and our strict adherence to these Rules will ensure that we continue to have the opportunity to use these facilities.
Coaches will continue to enforce these protocols, but please do not wait for coaches or others to call out non-compliance. Every member of the Rye Rangers community is empowered to help us enforce these rules. If you see a player or coach not following our policies, please say something to them immediately. Each player's and family's compliance with these rules will go a long way to ensuring that we can continue to play hockey.
These rules apply no matter the rules of the rink where the Rye Rangers are playing. We understand that, in some cases, these rules are stricter than those of the host rink, but these rules continue to apply to all Rye Rangers activities regardless of the rules of the host rink.
THE RYE RANGERS HOCKEY CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SUSPEND ANY PLAYER FOR VIOLATIONS OF THESE RULES, INCLUDING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2020-2021 SEASON.
THE RYE RANGERS HOCKEY CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR MODIFY THESE RULES AT ANY TIME. 2
Rules for Players, Parents and Rye Ranger Families
Health Monitoring & Overall Procedures
On a daily basis, parents will monitor their players and other family members for COVID-19 symptoms. Parents/caregivers will be required to submit a COVID-19 questionnaire, including temperature check, prior to each practice and game.
Anyone who is sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including body temperature of 100.0 degrees F or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, headache, fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle or body aches and/or sore throat must not come to the rink. Please refer to CDC guidelines for COVID-19 symptoms.
If any player or coach is waiting for test results from a COVID-19 test or has plans to take a COVID-19 test during the next two days (other than a regularly scheduled school or other regularly scheduled COVID-19 tests) that player or coach should not participate in any Rye Rangers sessions until results of the test are obtained and are negative.
Upon request of the Rye Rangers Hockey Club, parents and players will provide truthful and complete information with respect to their and others’ compliance with these rules and, if requested, will agree to contact tracing and testing.
Basic health procedures, including frequent hand washing for 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer regularly and proper respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette should be followed.
Social distancing of at least six feet should be observed whenever feasible.
If a player or sibling of a player is sent home from school for a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms they should not attend practice.
All members of the Rye Rangers community are expected to follow the latest travel advisories issued by New York State and the CDC.
Players and their family members who have traveled from abroad or from one of the designated states with significant community spread as defined by New York State must quarantine for 14 days before returning to Rye Rangers’ activities.
The requirements for domestic travel do not apply to individuals passing through designated states for a limited duration (i.e., less than 24 hours) during the course of travel. Examples of brief passage include but are not limited to: stopping at rest stops for vehicles, buses, and/or trains; or layovers for air travel, bus travel, or train travel.
If a member of the household other than the Rye Ranger player has travelled internationally or to a restricted state, that individual must quarantine and isolate from the Rye Ranger player per New York State and CDC. If strict quarantine and isolation are maintained, the player may return to play.
If a player or coach has had close contact (as defined by the Westchester Department of Health) with someone with COVID-19:
o Parent/guardian or coach will immediately notify Steve Ketchabaw, the Rye Rangers COVID-19 Coordinator.
o Player/coach with close contact to COVID-19 will not be allowed on ice and must follow Westchester County DOH quarantine requirements (currently 14 days).
o Rye Rangers will consult with local health authorities for an appropriate action plan, but, at a minimum, will require a negative COVID-19 test taken on day 12, 13 or 14 after exposure before allowing the player/coach to return to Rye Rangers activities.
o Rye Rangers will notify all impacted players/coaches on the affected team(s) of any such action.
o Family members of individuals quarantined because of close contact with someone with COVID-19 may return to play after a 10 day quarantine and a negative COVID test taken on day 7, 8, 9 or 10 after their family member’s exposure.
o If a coach or player, or any member of their household, tests positive for COVID-19:
o Parent/guardian or coach shall immediately notify Steve Ketchabaw, the Rye Rangers COVID-19 Coordinator.
o Player/coach will not be allowed on ice and must follow Westchester County DOH quarantine requirements (currently 14 days).
o Rye Rangers will consult with local health authorities for an appropriate action plan, but, at a minimum, will require a negative COVID-19 PCR test and a note from a doctor before allowing the player/coach to return to Rye Rangers activities.
o Rye Rangers will notify all impacted players/coaches on the affected team(s) of any such action.
The Rye Rangers will not play in games against players from a high risk state.
Arrival Procedures
Other than as discussed below, players must come fully dressed in equipment (including skates if they have the proper skate guards).
If permitted by the facility, players may arrive earlier and teams may meet earlier and remain masked and socially distanced outside the rink facility (e.g. in the parking lot a good distance from the building entrance for a team warm-up). If this is the case, the players may dress outside, masked and socially distanced.
Enter rink facilities only at designated entrance points, in single file and socially distanced no more than 15 minutes prior to the start.
Bags should not be brought into rinks, unless authorized by a coach (which will only be done if a rink provides sufficient non-locker room space where bags can be stored in a socially distanced setting). Players can carry skates, gloves, and helmet into the rink.
A coach will be at each entrance and each player’s attendance and temperature will be recorded prior to entering the rink. Players must stay no less than 6 feet apart while waiting in line for a temperature check. Players with body temperatures of 100.0 F or higher will not be allowed to enter the rink.
Goalies may enter rinks 20 minutes prior to an ice session and dress in the rink, but must remain masked and socially distant.
In-Rink Procedures
Locker rooms will not be used by the Rye Rangers at any time even if permitted by the host facility.
After attendance and temperature check, players should remain masked, socially distant and proceed to their designated area (while remaining socially distant) and wait to enter the ice.
A face mask must be worn at all times prior to entering the ice surface. For storage of a player’s mask, Rye Rangers suggests that players arrive at practice with a plastic bag with their name on it, that can either be attached to a player’s water bottle (by rubber bands or otherwise) or stored on the player while playing.
No food should be brought into rinks.
Departure Procedures
Upon exiting the ice, players should put on their mask and remain socially distanced.
Players will depart fully dressed other than gloves, skates (if no skate guards) and helmets – this applies even if players think they can get undressed “quickly” – only gloves, skates and helmets are removed– and then exit the rink.
Players should depart immediately after their session and not congregate in or near the rink facility.
It is recommended that players/parents should disinfect helmets, sticks, skates after each session
It is recommended that players/parents should wash all jerseys, pants (shells), socks, and gloves after each session.
On-Ice Procedures
Observe social distancing guidelines at all times, including on the bench or waiting in line.
Players should bring and label their own water bottles – there will be no sharing of water bottles.
Coaches will be required to wear a face covering at all times while in the rink facility, including while on the ice or bench.
No sharing of equipment.
No spitting.
Coaches will reinforce to players the need for physical distancing and adherence to these rules, including when standing in line or part of a smaller station.
Spectator Attendance – Practice
For practice (other than 8U/10U discussed below), no parents/guardians will be permitted to enter rinks or stand in line for temperature checks even if permitted by the host facility.
For 10U and 8U, if necessary and permitted by the facility, one parent will be permitted to enter the rink to assist their player in preparing for practice. For 10U, that parent should exit immediately after getting their player who required assistance ready. For 8U players only, a maximum of 1 immediate family member/caregiver will be allowed entry for their player’s session, as long as it is allowed by the facility. In this circumstance, the immediate family member/caregiver must wear a face covering at all times (with zero exceptions) and adhere to 6-feet distancing guidelines. Any immediate family member/caregiver may be asked to leave the premises for any reason.
Spectator Attendance – Games
If permitted by the host facility, one parent/guardian, may enter the rinks to watch games.
The spectator parent/guardian must be masked and observe social distancing.
COACHES WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO REQUIRE THAT A PLAYER LEAVE A PRACTICE OR GAME IF THEY ARE SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF ILLNESS DURING A SESSION OR FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THESE RULES.
