Updated: March 22 2021
Skudin Surf and Lacrosse Operating Plan
The COVID-19 Global Pandemic has caused disastrous public health and economic effects throughout the United States and the world. New York State is prioritizing businesses “with greater economic impact and inherently low risk of infection for workers and customers”. Skudin Surf meets these qualifications better than any other business because of the dozens of employees it has and the inherently low risk of an organization operating primarily in the ocean.
- Surfing involves social distancing as a safety necessity.
- Surfing burns calories and helps to prevent chronic illness.
- Surfing boosts mental health, psychological and spiritual well-being at a time when millions have been forced into isolation.
- Surfing is accessible to all. Even those with severe disabilities have the ability to maximize their own potential in the ocean.
- Skudin Surf employs dozens of people and is a valuable economic asset to New York.
Surfing is an effective treatment for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and many other forms of mental health and we would be failing our community by not reopening. New York State has released guidelines for businesses to reopen emphasizing three priority areas: customer and employee protection, changes to the physical workspace, and implementing procedures to meet the changing public health obligation. This operating plan is based on: NY Forward and Interim Guidance Protocols, homeland security and emergency management principles as well as advice from public health experts and is designed specifically for Skudin Surf. The guidance information was obtained from the CDC, New York State, private studies and industry best practices developed by leaders in the private sector. Skudin Surf is not only meeting new guidelines, it is creating a new industry standard that other organizations in the process of reopening can follow. Skudin Surf’s number one priority is the protection of all staff and surfers and the following plan was created with this in mind.
COVID-19 Operating Procedures
For the safety of all staff and surfers and to meet our new public health obligation, Skudin Surf has implemented the following changes to our procedures and workspace:
- All CDC, NYSDOH, Nassau County, and Long Beach guidelines will be adhered to.
- Staff and surfers will have their temperature checked and receive a questionnaire screening at the beginning of each day.
- All rental equipment will be fully decontaminated after each use.
- Social distancing guidelines will be adhered to at all times outside of core activity.
- Face coverings will be worn when going to the bathroom or indoor area.
- All high contact surfaces will be decontaminated using EPA certified cleaning products and a cleaning log will be kept on site.
- Special individual lessons with increased precautions will be offered to more vulnerable individuals.
- Daily reevaluation of all procedures and protocols.
- Social distance will always be maintained while in the water for surfing safety and while on land for COVID-19 safety unless the safety of the activity requires a shorter distance. As specified in NYS’s Camp Guidelines for Aquatic Activities: Skudin Surf will ensure that face coverings are not worn in the water.
- Signage to promote physical distancing.
- Children will be kept in smaller squads, distinguished by color coded wristbands, that do not share equipment with other squads.
- Children and instructors will stay in their designated squads.
- Surfers will be encouraged to bring their own rash guards and may purchase one if they do not have one.
- Surplus face coverings and cleaning supplies will be kept on site.
- Activities on the beach will be distanced and separated by squad.
- Onsite EMT and surf instructors trained in CPR and First Aid will be present.
- Water, hand sanitizer, face coverings, and other normally essential products will be kept on site for emergencies.
- All staff will undergo specialized COVID-19 training.
- Emergency action plan will be kept on site to account for staff or a surfer experiencing symptoms on site or being diagnosed off site. If anyone exhibits symptoms on site they will be directed to an isolation location until they can be picked up and then directed to a health care provider. In the event of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, contact tracing will be performed and all members of the squad and anyone in contact with the diagnosed person will be told to monitor for symptoms and not permitted back for 10 days or until testing negative.
Lacrosse
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- Total competition capacity for two teams on the field will be capped at 50 total people per field.
- All practices will take place outside.
- Face masks will be required for coaching staff and officials and will be permitted for players.
- Hands used to remove a mouth guard should be sanitized before touching anything or anyone.
- It is recommended that the team is split up during practices to independently utilize both halves of the field so that at no time is the entire team engaged with one another. Team’s will determine an appropriate way to limit the number of players physically engaged with one another at any given time while at a practice.
- Cohorts within the team should be developed and tracked on paper by coaches so that quarantine procedures can be conducted strategically instead of by shutting off an entire team unless necessary.
- Scrimmages will not be conducted with greater than 9 on 9 so that the number of exposures will be limited in the event that one player tests positive.
- Game modifications will be made for face-offs so that instead of a traditional faceoff, athletes will rush from either end of the field and the first to reach the ball will have control of play.
- By taking these measures and reducing the amount of full contact, lacrosse can function as a moderate risk activity instead of a high-risk activity.
- No more than two spectators per player will be permitted
- Six feet of distance will always be maintained between individuals and/or family/household units.
- Anytime 6 feet cannot be maintained, unless during competition, appropriate face coverings will be worn.
- Each team will have an extra supply of gloves, masks in the event that coaches or players are no longer able to use their own.
- Spectators will be required to wear masks at all times unless they are seated and six feet apart outdoors.
- Face coverings capable of covering nose and mouth are required at all times for coaches, officials and individuals not in play, without exception.
Bussing
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- Seating chart as part of the attendance record on the bus will be maintained for any trips over 10 minutes.
- Face covering must be worn at all times while on the bus.
- Appropriate social distancing, unless they are members of the same household.
- Windows should remain down at all times.
- No eating or drinking.
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Screening
- Mandated for employees, but optional for players and spectators.
- Have you knowingly been in close or proximate contact with anyone in the past 10 days who has tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
- Have you had any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 10 days?
- Have you traveled to a non-contiguous state in the past 10 days?
- All officials, players, and spectators must have contact information available in the event that contact tracing or notification of a positive case is required.
Tracking and Tracing Protocol
- Refer to contact tracing protocols established by Perrotta Consulting.
- Emergency Action Plan will be kept on site along with the operating plan.
Individual and Evolving Approach
Players will be asked to stay home if they do not feel well. Will also have all of our COVID-19 policies and procedures communicated to them prior to entering play. Anyone not respecting COVID-19 policies will be immediately asked to leave.
Staff: will be trained in COVID-19 operating procedures. All staff will be asked to stay home if they do not feel well and there will be zero tolerance for breaking COVID-19 protocols.
