EVERY TEAM SHOULD FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES

To learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Coronavirus (COVID-19) recommendations on how to protect yourself or what to do if you are sick follow the link below. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

GUIDELINES TO RETURN TO ACTIVITIES

PRACTICE

1. Players/Teams
   1. Based on NC Governor moving to Phase 2 on Friday night at 5:00, each field practice can consist of the full team and coaching staff. All other rules of social distancing remains in effect as listed in the following items.
   2. No shaking hands, gathering, horse play, etc.

   3. Maintain social distancing (at least 6ft between players) on the field during practice.

   4. No gathering in the dugouts. Players should hang bags 6ft apart on the fence.
   5. No sharing of water bottles and/or jugs. Each player must have their own water.
   6. No sharing of gear. This includes helmets, gloves, bats, sunglasses, and any other gear necessary to practice.
   7. Masks are not mandated, but may be worn by a player if desired.
   8. Provide hand sanitizer for the players. Each player should sanitize their hands upon arrival and again as they leave.
   9. Indoor Practice Facility - Teams may use the indoor practice facility under the following conditions:           

         1. No more than 6 players plus coaches may be in the Indoor Facility at the same time. Each team has a 2-hour block. Use the first hour for the first 6 players and the second hour for the second 6 players. If a team has 13 players, then 7 players may be permitted in one of the hours.                   
         2. While using the Indoor Facility, the garage door must be open to allow fresh air into the facility.      
         3. All player equipment bags must be placed in the waiting area away from the practice area. 
         4. NO PARENTS. ALL NON-PLAYERS AND NON-COACHES MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE OF THE INDOOR FACILITY.

2. Parents
   1. Parents shall address the health of each player and/or family members prior to each practice.  If a player and/or family member has symptoms or a fever, the player is not permitted at practice. Any player and/or family member must be fever free (without fever reducing medications) for at least 72 hours before returning to practice. No exceptions. 
   2. If a player shows symptoms after participating in a practice/game or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, the parent must inform the coaches immediately.
   3. Parents are not permitted around the bench or dugout areas. Parents may sit around the outfield fence so long as they maintain 6ft social distancing. When parking, Parents should make an effort to leave at least one empty space between vehicles.
   4. In the case where multiple team practices are being held back-to-back to accommodate the entire team, players and parents arriving for a later practice are not permitted around the field until the players and parents of the prior practice have left.

TOURNAMENTS

1. In addition to Federal, State, and Local Tournament guidelines, the following shall be followed by each Comets team.
   1. No player is permitted to enter a dugout until:
      1. All players and coaches from previous team have left; and
      2. The dugout has been sanitized by a coach or designated person.
   2. Items 1a, 1b, 1e, 1f, 1g, and 1h above.
   3. When possible, the dugout should be extended, hang bags 6ft apart, and maintain social distancing.
   4. Item 2a above – if a player is not fever free for 72 hours without fever reducing medications, then they are not permitted to play in a tournament. No exceptions.
   5. Item 2b above – If a player shows symptoms after participating in a tournament or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, the parent must inform the coaches immediately.
   6. Parents are not permitted around the bench or dugout areas.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY FOR MINOR PARTICIPANTS (“AGREEMENT”)

PLEASE READ BEFORE SIGNING:

Comets Youth Sports, Inc. (“Organization”) is a North Carolina, Non-Profit travel softball organization designed to promote and enhance the mental, physical, and social well-being of young women within the atmosphere of a team. 

IN CONSIDERATION OF being allowed to participate in any way in the Organization, whether involving team or related events and activities (“Activities”), including practices and tournaments, the undersigned acknowledges, appreciates, and agrees that:

1. The risk of injury and/or illness (ex. communicable diseases such as MRSA, influenza, and COVID-19) to my child/ward from the Activities involved in the Organization is significant, including the potential for permanent paralysis and death, and while particular rules, equipment, and personal discipline may reduce the risk, the risk of serious injury does exist;

2. The risk to have direct or indirect contact with individuals who have been exposed to and/or diagnosed with one or more communicable diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19 or other medical conditions, diseases, or maladies, and/or any mutation or variation thereof does exist and it is impossible to eliminate the risk that I, my child and or children, and my spouse (collectively “Family”), could become infected through contact with or close proximity to an individual with a communicable disease;

3. FOR MY FAMILY, I KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES or others, and assume full responsibility for my child’s participation in the Organization and its related Activities; and

4. I willingly agree to comply with the Organization’s stated and customary terms and conditions for participation. If, however, I observe any unusual, significant hazard during my presence, significant concern in my child’s readiness for participation, and/or in the Organization itself, I will remove my child from participation and bring such hazard and/or concern to the attention of the nearest official immediately; and,

5. I, for my Family and on behalf of my heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, HEREBY RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS COMETS YOUTH SPORTS, INC., its directors, officers, officials, agents and/or employees, coaches and/or volunteers, other participants, sponsoring agencies, sponsors, advertisers, and, if applicable, owners and lessors of the premises used to conduct the event (collectively, the "Releasees"), WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL INJURY, ILLNESS, DISABILITY, DEATH, or loss or damage to person or property incident to my child’s involvement and/or participation in the Organization and its related Activities, WHETHER ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE.

APPLICABLE LAW: This agreement is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the state of North Carolina, without any reference to its choice of law rules.

I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT OR ASSURANCE OF ANY NATURE AND INTEND IT TO BE A COMPLETE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY TO THE GREATEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW AND AGREE THAT IF ANY PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS HELD TO BE INVALID, THE BALANCE, NOTWITHSTANDING, SHALL CONTINUE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT. I ALSO AGREE THAT ANY INVALID PROVISION WILL BE MODIFIED OR PARTIALLY ENFORCED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSE OF THE AGREEMENT.

PARENT’S/GUARDIAN’S SIGNATURE. By signing this Agreement, parent or legal guardian agrees to the above statements and verifies that the player’s date of birth is correct. Parent or legal guardian of each youth player must sign below. FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN OF PARTICIPANT OF MINORITY AGE: This is to certify that I, as parent/legal guardian with legal responsibility for this participant, do consent and agree to his/her release as provided above of all the Releasees, and, for myself, my heirs, assigns and next of kin, I release and agree to indemnify the Releasees from any and all liabilities incident to my minor child's involvement or participation in these programs as provided above, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THEIR NEGLIGENCE.

I, the parent/guardian, assert that I have explained to my child/ward: the risks of the Activities, his/her responsibilities for adhering to the rules and regulations, and that my child/ward understands the agreement.

Name of Child/Ward (Print): _______________________________Age of Child/Ward: ________

Name of Parent/Guardian (Print): _______________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________

Date Signed: ___________________________________

UNDERSTANDING OF RISK

I understand the seriousness of the risks involved in participating in this program, my personal responsibilities for adhering to rules and regulation, and accept them as a participant.

Name of Child/Ward: ___________________________________

Signature of Child/Ward: __________________________________

Date Signed: ___________________________________

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