Protocols & Policies for Competition

The below protocol and policy ideas have been gathered from the NJCAA as well as other regions within the NJCAA.

Regular Season Competition

  • Teams’ travel roster and bench size should be reduced to rostered players, coaches, and staff only to minimize exposure.
  • Visiting teams are required to check temperatures before departing from their home location. (NJCAA Recommendation) Prior to travel for athletic competition, coaches, athletes and other team personnel will be screened for illness.
    • The traveling athletic team's ATC or school representative will screen traveling athletes and staff before boarding transportation. Screening should take place inside a building to ensure temperature accuracy.
      • If ATC is not available, coaching staff, or school representative will be responsible for screening.
    • Athletes with symptoms related to illness will not be allowed to board transportation or travel to away competition.
    • Screening and temperature check results will be recorded on the approved document and submitted to the host school's ATC or AD upon arrival to host competition site.
      • If not available, then head coach of the home team.
      • Traveling teams who fail to provide documentation of athlete screening will not be allowed to compete.
  • Limit contact between teams when possible, including the elimination of the pre-game and post-game handshake. (NJCAA Recommendation)
  • Limit student-athlete fan engagement before and after competition. (NJCAA Recommendation) Block off a minimum of three rows immediately behind the visiting team bench or allow approximately 15 feet between the visiting team bench and fans in all gyms. Fans are not allowed on the playing areas or locker room area at any time.
  • Require attending fans for indoor sports to wear masks
  • Spectators must clear the competition facility immediately at the conclusion of each contest.
  • Encourage social distancing for fans during the event. (NJCAA Recommendation) Mark off every other row in the stands and encourage fans to comply with the 6 ft. social distancing CDC policy, unless they are from the same household.
  • Encourage fans, staff, and other event attendees to wear face masks.(NJCAA Recommendation)
  • Traveling teams and their fans will be asked to abide by the policies in place by Cisco College including what facilities are available and guidelines of use per specific facility. Cisco College will notify visiting teams in advance of any pertinent guidelines per facility.
  • Athletes should dress/receive treatment at home campus in order to minimize locker room and athletic training room use if at all possible. If a visiting locker room facility is not available, the home team must notify the visiting team at least 24 hours advance of game time
  • Each team should bring water bottles/cups for their team. Water coolers will be provided. Home team will show visiting team where to access water. Each team will be responsible for filling their own water bottles.
  • Any pre-game meetings should be limited to one member per team or one coach with no contact between officials and team.
  • Teams should dismiss from the playing area as soon as possible at the conclusion of each game and have no interaction with fans inside the facility.
  • All individuals at scorer’s table should wear proper face coverings.
  • Hand sanitizer shall be present during any sponsored athletic activities
  • Game officials should adhere to the following:
    • Do not report to institution if exhibiting signs and symptoms
    • Thermal scan temperature and health screen upon arrival to venue by the home athletic trainer or staff.
    • Wear face mask (as able)
    • Maintain social distancing and avoid contact with players / coaches / staff on and off the court/field (as able)

Sports Specific Protocols

  • Volleyball
    • Teams are asked to arrive no more than 1 hour before the match start timeThe visiting coach shall meet with the host Game Administrator, Game Management or Coach to review any procedures for the day including restrooms, benches, athletic training and post-game interaction
    • When the visiting team enters the playing facility they will go directly to the gym or to their assigned designated area. There is no roaming the facility or visiting with people outside of their team while in the facility
    • Home team will provide balls for the match. Volleyballs will be wiped and disinfected during the match.
    • Warm-ups consist of the following:

    -60 minutes before match time home team gets the court for 20 minutes

    -Team can use both sides

    -40 minutes before match time visiting team gets the court for 20 minutes

    -Team can use both sides

    -19 minutes before match time standard individual warm-up time of 5-5-4-4

    -Teams not on the court must be in the gym without ball handling or they can go to their designated area. Whatever they choose, it has to be done by the entire team.

    • Line judges and all staff workers are required to wear face mask
    • Teams do not switch sides of the court between sets and shall remain on the same bench
    • Towels to wipe the floor will come from the bench of that team’s side. Towels will no longer be shared by teams to wipe the floor.
    • The home team will supply 1 towel for each bench, for the purpose of wiping sweat from the floor,
    • Each team will provide their own water bottles for all matches
    • Teams will not shake hands before or after the match. Before the match each team will go to the 10’ line (on the referees whistle) and acknowledge each team in a manner of good sportsmanship.
    • Hand sanitizer shall be present during any sponsored athletic activities
    • Teams should dismiss from the playing area as soon as possible at the conclusion of each game
    • We will provide a taping table behind the bench or in visitor locker room for visiting team treatment
  • Women's Soccer
    • It is recommended that teams not arrive more than 1.5 hours prior to the game time.
    • Teams will provide their own balls for warm ups
    • Any meeting with officials will be limited to (1) one official and (1) one coach or (1) representative from each team; all parties must practice physical distancing.
    • Goalies do not share gloves
    • Hand sanitizer will be available at the stadium
  • Women's Basketball
    • Visiting teams are to unload on the North side of the gym (the fitness center side of the building)
    • Cleaned and sanitized game ball not used for warm-up (1-2 back up balls)
    • Half-time cleaning of the game ball by score table crew.
    • No access to the basketball court until 1 hour prior to game time.
    • Specified game ball for GAME DAY ONLY from home team to be presented to the score table one hour before the game.
    • Temperature check administered before leaving home school
    • Supply training tables and needs of visiting teams in their dressing room to keep them from using the home training room.
    • Teams and fans should exit the gym as soon as the game has ended.
  • Softball
    • Home team will retrieve all balls hit out of the field of play. All balls will be wiped and sanitized before re-used in the game.
    • Whenever possible, equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared. If equipment must be shared, proper sanitation should be administered between users
    • No spitting or use of seeds.
    • Hand sanitizer will be available in each dugout.
  • Baseball
    • Home team will furnish baseballs and will retrieve all baseballs hit outside the field of play. All foul balls will need to be wiped and cleaned before going back into the game.
    • Whenever possible, equipment and personal items should have proper separation and should not be shared. If equipment must be shared, proper sanitation should be administered between users
    • Limit spitting or use of seeds.
    • Hand sanitizer will be available in each dugout and bullpen area
    • Each team provides own rosin bag