Bellingham Warriors Lacrosse Families

COVID SAFETY AND RETURN TO PLAY NOTES

We are all excited to get back on the field to start the 2022 Lacrosse Season. While the pandemic is still impacting many people, new guidance on risk and safety has been/will be put into effect that can be directly applied to lacrosse players, coaches, and fans. All BWL guidelines are subject to change based on the every-evolving health and safety guidance.

• Good communicable disease hygiene is always important, please be sure to keep players at home if they have any symptoms that would indicate illness.
• Regarding masks/face covering, BWL will follow the guidance of the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and the Governor’s Office, which suggests:
  • Face coverings are not required outdoors, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Masks are strongly recommended for unvaccinated individuals when outdoors in crowded spaces or when in close contact with people from outside their household for a sustained period of time, as the risk of COVID-19 infection increases with the duration and closeness of contact between individuals.
  • BWL will continue to support athletes and team members who choose to wear a mask or face covering outdoors.

• BWL will follow the guidance of the WIAA and Bellingham School District recommendations for return to play guidelines. Should a player be symptomatic and/or test positive for COVID-19, please adhere to the following:
  • If you test positive for COVID regardless of your vaccination status, you need to isolate at home for five days.
  • Follow isolation guidance and limit contacts with others as much as possible.

• Your athlete can return to practice/play when it has been:
  • 5 days since symptoms started or, if your child had no symptoms, 5 days since there was a positive test result AND
  • 24 hours after fever resolves without use of fever-reducing medications AND
  • Symptoms have improved.
• An antigen test is recommended but not required at day five. If you test and the result is positive, you must continue to isolate until day 10.
• If the test result is negative, you may return to play and should continue to wear a mask around others until day 10.

• For team members who are close contacts:
  • Athletes who are vaccinated (with or without booster) and coaching staff who are vaccinated (and boosted if due): you do not need to quarantine.
  • Athletes or coaches who had a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the last 90 days: you do not need to quarantine.
• Athletes or coaches who are not fully vaccinated: should follow guidelines for masking and quarantine as outlined by the Whatcom County Department of Health for either infection or close contact (https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3369/Exposure-and-Illness).
• Should you test positive or are a close contact, please contact your coach so they can make plans accordingly.

PARENT PORTION OF THE BELLINGHAM WARRIORS LACROSSE CODE OF CONDUCT

Parents/Guardians

1. 1. BWL Parents will set the example for good sportsmanship at all games, practices, and tournaments. You are role models and will be held to the same high standards of sportsmanship that we expect from our players.
   2. Parents must uphold the same BWL rules that apply to players in terms of assault, discrimination, disrespectful or abusive language, drug and alcohol abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct, foul language, and gestures, etc. Parents in violation of the rules may be suspended from attending practices, games and other BWL activities. Additionally, parents in serious violation of these rules may put their player in jeopardy of suspension or expulsion from BWL.
   3. Parents must allow the BWL Coaches to instruct their children during games and practices. BWL Parents must also not interfere by offering additional instruction during those times. From the sidelines, you are expected to enjoy watching your children play Lacrosse, and be their cheerleader, not their coach.
   4. Parents must recognize that BWL Coaches are willing to discuss players and/or coaching philosophies but agree that discussions will only take place at the appropriate time and never during a tryout, practice, or game or in the presence of any players or other Parents/Guardians. While our Coaches are willing to offer constructive feedback to parents about how their children can work to improve and become more successful Lacrosse players, we will not discuss our evaluations of other parents’ children.
   5. Parents agree to follow the “24 Hour Rule”: If you have a SIGNIFICANT complaint resulting from a game or practice situation, contact the Coach the next day (preferably by email) after a good night’s sleep and arrange a suitable time to discuss your complaint in a mutually respectful manner. Please respect that our Coaches are working with many players and that they most likely have “day jobs” and families of their own.
   6. All parents are bound by BWL rules and Code of Conduct and US Lacrosse rules and Code of Conduct.