SEASON 2021 COVID-19 BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES

SEASON 2021
                    COVID-19
           BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES
           This presentation contains an overview of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s
             “COVID-19: New Policies and Procedures for Season 20-21”.
The document is a “living document”; please refer to most current version posted on the
                      U.S. Ski & Snowboard COVID-19 webpage:
                           usskiandsnowboard.org/covid-19

POLICIES & PROCEDURES: GOALS

• Provide rules and direction for hosting alpine ski races during the COVID-19
  pandemic
• Help to minimize the risk and spread of COVID-19 infection at U.S. Ski &
  Snowboard races

In order to meet these goals, Season 2021 will require:
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Commitment

SKI AREA MANAGEMENT

 The COVID-19 pandemic may require ski area
 management to implement procedures to protect the
 wellbeing of their employees and guests.
 These procedures may:
 • impact event operations and programs
 • vary from venue to venue, county to county, and state
   to state
 • must be relayed to all event officials, Team Captains,
   and competitors
 • must – without question – be respected and observed

WHY? & HOW?

 • COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from
   person-to-person
 • COVID-19 can lead to severe illness and death

 In order to assist an event’s OC, and in partnership with host resorts, U.S. Ski
 & Snowboard to provide
 • Best practice direction on social distancing
 • Guidelines for clubs/teams to manage
   - Pre-Screen Questionnaires
   - Daily Symptom Checks
 Compliance with local health authority mandates and diligence in hosting
 events gives everyone the best opportunity to avoid event cancellations.
 NOTE: Proper face coverings are the responsibility of the participant.

COVID-19 COORDINATOR:

Requirements & Appointment
• COVID-19 Coordinator is required
• COVID-19 Coordinator is appointed by the Organizing
  Committee
• Requirements for position of COVID-19 Coordinator
  - Medical background (preferred)
  - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Volunteer, Official, Coach/Official
    Membership

COVID-19 COORDINATOR: Duties
Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Works with local health authority on specific rules and regulations
  - mass gathering limits
  - out-of-state quarantine rules (if any)
  - emergency protocols
• Works with venue/resort partner for specific policies and procedures
  (including ski patrol and emergency protocols)
• Acts as central contact point for all COVID-19 questions and concerns;
  will be an invaluable asset for the OC and all participants
• In conjunction with OC, collaborates with local health authority and ski area
  management to determine appropriate field size
• Working with OC, communicates to all participants
  - the risks of COVID-19
  - symptoms of COVID-19
  - transmission routes
  - mitigation strategies
  - any additional local health safety protocols

COVID-19 COORDINATOR: Duties
• Working with the OC, communicates
  - social distancing requirements
  - rules for lift lines, chairlifts
  - rules regarding use of indoor lodge facilities
• Working with the OC, recommends older individuals and/or people of any age
  consider not participating or limiting participation if they have
   - underlying health conditions
   - live with or have consistent contact with individuals with underlying
     health conditions
• Working with the Team Captains, verifies that participant (athletes, coaches,
  officials, and volunteers) complete
  - Pre-Screen Questionnaires before each competition or
     series of competitions
• Working with the Team Captains, verifies that participant (athletes, coaches,
  officials, and volunteers) complete
  - Daily Symptom Checks the morning of each race day
SUGGESTION: Include copies of required forms with Race Announcement.

QUESTIONNAIRE & SYMPTOMS CHECK

As long as the intent of these forms is met, they may be may be adjusted to fit the needs of the OC. Retain completed documents in the OC’s event file.
(Forms are not in MPF; available in COVID-19 Best Practices folder.)

COVID-19 COORDINATOR: Positive Test(s)
If a positive test result is reported or suspected (COVID-19 symptoms):
• Immediately separate and isolate positive individual
• Immediately separate and isolate anyone who has recognized symptoms
• Notify the local healthcare facility
• Make arrangements to isolate and transport individual(s) to facility (if needed)
If an individual has had close contact with a positive/symptomatic individual
• Separate the individual
• Assist with arrangements to send the individual home
• Follow CDC guidance for community-related exposure
If symptoms develop
• Individuals and families should follow CDC care guidance
• Local health officials, staff, participants, families must be notified
• Areas accessed by symptomatic person must be closed
    - clean and disinfect (include surfaces & shared items, even if outdoors)
    - use proper personal protective equipment
• Wait at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting
   - wait as long as possible if 24 hours is not feasible
   - store cleaning and disinfecting supplies in a secure location

COVID-19 COORDINATOR: After the Event

If a participant becomes symptomatic during or within 48 hours after the race, in
collaboration with the relevant club:
• Inform U.S. Ski & Snowboard for monitoring purposes and external
     communications protocols
        Gillian Bower gillian.bower@usskiandsnowboard.org

• If participant tests positive for COVID-19 U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “Return to
  Sport” guidelines must be followed

• Any participant who has close contact with positive COVID-19 case
  - must follow CDC When to Quarantine guidelines
  - Guidelines must be followed prior to participating future event

PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES

All race participants (athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers) must complete:
• Pre-Screen Questionnaire 24-48 hours before the start of the competition or
  series of competitions
   - Team Captains must confirm completion of Questionnaire by athletes/coaches
   - Officials & Volunteers must submit Questionnaire to COVID-19 Coordinator

All race participants (athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers) must complete a
• Daily Symptom Check the morning of each race day
   - Team Captains must confirm all athletes and coaches have completed
     Symptom Check
   - Officials and volunteers must submit Symptom Check to COVID-19
     Coordinator

HEALTH ASSESSMENT ROSTERS

As long as the intent of these forms is met, they may be may be adjusted to fit the needs of the OC. Completed documents must be retained in the OC’s event
file. (Forms are not in MPF; available in COVID-19 Best Practices folder.)

MEETINGS & DOCUMENTS
• Team Captains Meetings will be virtual* - attendance & meeting minutes required
• Required race documents will be delivered electronically - posted on live-timing, etc.
• Attending coaches must register for the race electronically
    - must have a current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coach/Official Membership
    - must provide a current email address
    - must provide a current cell phone number
• Reports by the Referee will be posted electronically - DSQ’s may be announced
  orally, ICR/ACR 617.2.2
• Notification of protests must be made electronically
    - must be in accordance with applicable protest period deadlines
    - may be delivered orally in accordance with current rules
    - oral protests must be followed with paper copy of Protest form - required in case
      of future legal review
• Protest hearings will be in person
    - proper face coverings required
    - social distancing rules must be followed
*Venues with no or insufficient internet or cell service will require an alternative plan
for Team Captains’ Meetings and distribution of race documents but must adhere to
social distancing rules.

MEETINGS & DOCUMENTS:
 Insufficient or no internet or cell service, etc.
• Team Captains’ Meetings may be held morning of event
   - meet out of doors, if possible
   - recommend only one Team Captain per club attend
   - maintain required COVID-19 protocols, e.g. social distancing, face covering, etc.
     (attendance & meeting minutes required)
• Paper copies of required documents will be delivered to team representative
   (if posting on live-timing or event website not possible)
• Information contained in Reports by the Referee will be posted; COVID-19
  protocols will be observed (DSQ’s may be announced orally, ICR/ACR 617.2.2)
• Notification of protests must be made as required
   - must be in accordance with applicable protest period deadlines
   - may be delivered orally in accordance with current rules
   - oral protests must be followed with paper copy of Protest form
     (form required in the case of future legal review)
• Protest hearings will be in person
   - proper face coverings required
   - social distancing rules must be followed

REGISTRATION: Entry, Lift Tickets, Bibs

• Race Entry
  - Online registration & entry payment preferred
• Registration
  - One-way passage required
• Lift Tickets
   - All athletes’ lift tickets will be collected by Team Captain
   - In accordance with SafeSport requirements, Team Captain will
     accept and sign for clubs’ coaches’ tickets
• Bibs
   - All bibs must be cleaned before the competition
   - Athletes will be provided with one bib for the duration of the races at
     the venue
   - Paper bibs are acceptable

VENUE ACCESS

• Using this form allows an OC
  to distribute a “block of tickets”
  while remaining in compliance
  with SafeSport requirements

• This form is in the COVID-19
  Best Practices folder; it is not
  included in the MPF

• Completed forms must be
  retained in the OC’s event file

EVENT PROTOCOLS
Face Coverings
• At direction of Jury, required by all participants (athletes, coaches, officials, and
  volunteers) at all times when not socially distanced (less than six feet)
• Competitors may remove their face covering
   - in the start for training or racing
   - must put mask back on before leaving the finish corral
Non-compliance may result in sanction in accordance with ICR/ACR 223.1.1.
Competitors’ Course Inspection
• Times will be scheduled at intervals by team
• Teams must maintain at least six feet of separation during inspection.
Seeding
• Non-scored races will be seeded by teams
• Second Run Start Order can be reversed for the second run
Start Area
• Must be expanded with six feet of distancing between team zones
Results
• Physical Score Boards are prohibited
• Results – Unofficial and Official - to be posted on live-timing or event website, etc.

EVENT PROTOCOLS
Awards
• In-person awards ceremonies are prohibited
• Recommended: celebrate winners virtually; e.g. action photos on social media.

Positive Test within 48 hours after conclusion of race
• Contact the race’s COVID Coordinator
• Follow U.S. Ski & Snowboard “Return to Sport” guidelines

Participant Access
• Limit participant access to indoor facilities
• Minimize downtime for athletes during the day.

Finish Area
• Expand area below finish with six feet of distancing between team zones
• Encourage use of well-ventilated tents and heat lamps to provide shelter and
  warmth for participants in inclement weather conditions

EVENT PROTOCOLS
• Use vehicles to keep participants warm, if parking lot in close proximity
• Consider programming to keep participants engaged through the day
• Recommended Limits:
  - limit nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers
  - limit activities involving external groups or organizations where
    spacing and social distancing cannot be maintained
  - limit individuals not from local geographic area (e.g., community,
    town, city, or county)
• Spectator Requirements
  - must adhere to local health guidelines
  - limit gatherings where six feet of spacing cannot be maintained
  - limit contact with individuals where six feet of spacing cannot be
    maintained
• No spectators permitted inside the race arena
(NOTE: Allowing non-member to have access to the race arena is in
violation of SafeSport Guidelines.)

ATHLETE EVENT PARTICIPATION

• Out of country racing is discouraged unless the experience is critically
  important for an athlete’s career development
• Athletes must have a FIS world rank better than 350 on the current FIS List to
  be eligible to enter any races outside of North America, unless participating in
  a U.S. Ski & Snowboard regionally or nationally sanctioned trip
• USA athletes who reside in a foreign country, or who are attending school in a
  foreign country, are exempt from this regulation.
• Travel to Far East Cup (FEC) races is highly discouraged
• FEC results will not be considered in U.S. Ski Team selection criteria

         If clarification is required, please contact your Regional Director.

CALENDARING
• Adjustments to Nor-Am calendar will be determined by Nor-Am Subcommittee
• Regional FIS racing starts no earlier than the 2nd weekend in December
• Divisional U.S. Ski & Snowboard racing (except Masters) starts no earlier than
  January 1
• Out-of-division U.S. Ski & Snowboard racing is prohibited for U16 and older
  athletes (except Masters) until after February 1
• Out-of-division U.S. Ski & Snowboard racing is prohibited for U14 and younger
  athletes during the 2021 competition season
• U16 Regional and National Championships, Junior Nationals, and U.S. Alpine
  Championships will be calendared subject to county, state, and federal rules
• U16 and U19 National Performance Series will not be held during the 2021
  competition season
• U16 European trips will not be calendared for the 2021 competition season

           If clarification is required, please contact your Regional Director.

EVENT PLANNING - FIELD SIZES
• Except for Nor-Am, maximum field size for U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned race will be 100
  total athletes at the venue at one time
• Further field size limitations will be set by the COVID-19 Coordinator, working in conjunction
  with local health authority, ski area management, OC, and the Jury
• Domestic USA FIS quota will be 70 athletes
• Out-of-region quotas will be 5 per region and will not be expanded
• After honoring all foreign quotas, the OC may fill the field to 100 total athletes.
• If total foreign quotas exceed 30 athletes, the host region quota will be reduced so the total
  number of athletes does not exceed 100
• Further field size limitations will be set by the COVID-19 Coordinator, working in conjunction
  with local health authority, ski area management, the OC, the Jury, and in compliance with
  FIS quota rules
• Quotas for Regional and National Championships will be reduced by 50% of current
  Championship field size
• Recommended: calendar single-day / single-gender races; (if total number of athletes does
  not exceed maximum field size, races for both genders may be hosted on the same day)
• Recommended: host 2 races per day; e.g. 2 Men’s SL’s or 2 Women’s SL’s
• Prior approval not required; separate Sanction Agreements must be filed in order to obtain
  required separate U.S. Transmittal numbers and liability insurance
              If clarification is required, please contact your Regional Director.

HELPFUL RESOURCES
• U.S. Ski & Snowboard COVID-19 Resources

•   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19
•   World Health Organization Advice for Public
•   International Federation of Skiing (FIS) COVID-19
•   United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee COVID-19 Resources
And one of our most important resources will be our participants and their
willingness to support our goals by being:
• Patient
• Flexible
• Committed

    The information contained in this presentation may be subject to change.
                     Please refer to usskiandsnowboard.org/covid-19