Requirements for Sports

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A person holds a tennis ball on their tennis ra Sports in Dane County are required to follow Public Health Orders.

All sports are subject to the following requirements:

Read Additional Safety Considerations
Read Frequently Asked Questions

Additional Safety Considerations

In addition to the above requirements, the recommendations below can help make your sporting event safer.

Spectators:

Limit spectators to the greatest extent possible. Spectators count toward gathering limits.
Ensure spectators are maintaining six (6) feet physical distancing at all times between people from different households.
Include signage or markings to assist with spectator spacing.
Utilize separate entrances and exits for players and spectators if possible or use multiple entrances and exits to limit unnecessary crowding

Players when not playing (dugouts, benches, locker rooms, sidelines, etc.)

Create markings for players to place their equipment at least six (6) ft. apart.
Designate space on benches, sidelines, etc… to assist with six (6) ft. physical requirements while players are not actively participating in sport.
If possible, avoid using dugouts, locker rooms or other enclosed spaces.
Avoid handshakes, high-fives, or other unnecessary contact.

Travel:

Limit competitions to teams from your own community.
Avoid lengthy travel to competitions.
Avoid carpooling or other modes of group travel to the greatest extent possible.

Equipment:

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on field, court, or play surface at least daily or between use.
Clean and disinfect shared equipment.
Encourage players to bring their own equipment if possible, such as gloves, balls, and helmets.
Bring your own water to minimize use and touching of drinking fountains. Label your water battle with your name.
Don’t share towels, clothing, or any items used to wipe your face or hands.

Environment:

If possible play sports outdoors
If playing inside, ensure ventilation systems or fans operate properly. Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and doors. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling or triggering asthma symptoms) to players or others using the facility.
Wait in car or away from the playing area until just before the warm-up period or the beginning of the game.
Avoid congregating in the parking lot or near the field before or after games.
If it is not possible to avoid congregating, practice physical distancing by ensuring there is at least 6 feet between participants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to hold sport events such as practices, games, and competitions?

Yes, in compliance with public health orders.

What are the gathering limits?

Sporting activities that cannot maintain six (6) feet physical distancing at all times, including while actively playing the sport, can have no more than 25 people indoors or 100 people outdoors at any given time (excluding employees).
Sporting activities where food or drink is offered or provided are limited to no more than 25 people indoors or 100 people outdoors at any given time (excluding employees).
Sporting activities that can maintain six (6) feet physical distancing at all times, including while actively playing the sport, and food or drink is not offered or provided, can have no more than 50 people indoors or 150 people outdoors at any given time (excluding employees).

What are the physical distancing requirements for sports?

Physical distancing of six (6) feet is required at all times when individuals are not actively participating in the sport. This includes benches, sidelines, spectator areas, and locker rooms.
Physical distancing requirements are applicable to all sporting events including competitions, games, practices, and drills.

When is a face covering required for sports?

Indoors at all times (unless individual or activity meets exemption or exception criteria outlined in the order).
Outdoors while participating in any sport that cannot ensure six (6) feet physical distancing at all times (unless individual or activity meets exemption or exception criteria outlined in the order).
Outdoors for any event with more than 50 people present (unless individual or activity meets exemption or exception criteria outlined in the order).

What type of face covering is required?

Face covering means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely.
A face covering must be secured to the head with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands that go behind the head and must fit snuggly but comfortably against the side of the face.
Cloth face coverings must be made with two or more layers of breathable fabric that is tightly woven (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source).
A face covering does not include bandanas, single layer neck gaiters, face shields, goggles, scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, shirt or sweater collars pulled up over the mouth and nose, or masks with slits, exhalation valves, or punctures.

Can I host multiple gatherings in distinct spaces in my facility?

Yes, as long as the gatherings comply with the following (in addition to requirements outlined in the order):

There is no crossover or interaction between the gatherings.
Each gathering is held in a separate distinct space.
Gatherings are advertised separately. Anything advertised together is considered a single event.
You cannot use multiple distinct spaces to increase the gathering limits for a single event.
Best practice is to stagger the start and stop times to avoid crowding at entrances or to use separate entrances and exits for each event.

What is considered a distinct space?

Examples of distinct spaces include but are not limited to, a separate room in your facility, a half of a basketball court, a half of an ice rink, different sections of a pool, and separate baseball diamonds or soccer fields.
Activities occurring will dictate how big a distinct space needs to be. For example, playing a game of basketball requires more space than practicing shooting a basketball.
Best practice would be to have a physical barrier between events.
Have as much space between events as possible.

What documentation and plans are required for sport activities?

Under the Order, all organizations are required to have the plans outlined below. Plans do not need to be submitted or approved by Public Health. These plans are to assist with the implementation of required COVID-19 mitigation strategies. The template plans we provide for businesses can be adapted for sports to meet the Order requirements. The plans must include the following:

Hygiene policy that includes:
- Ensuring individuals who have a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to participate.
- Establishing hand-washing expectations and ensuring supplies are available to individuals.
- Describing proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
Cleaning policy and procedure that includes:
- Guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces multiple times a day.
- Guidelines for cleaning common areas and equipment between use.
- Protocols for cleaning and disinfecting in the event of a positive COVID-19 case on site.
Protective measure policy and procedure that includes:
- Ensuring individuals are at least six (6) feet from others as required by the order.
COVID-19 Sports Action Plan
Document organizing entity receipt, acknowledgement, or training on the policies above. Organizing entity must ensure that all individuals participating in sports are aware of the policies and procedures described above.

What should we do if a staff member or participant becomes sick?

Read guidelines on our ‘What to Do if you are Sick or Possibly Exposed’ webpage.

What are some additional considerations for when a player or coach tests positive?

An individual testing positive for COVID-19 should not return to practice or play until meeting the criteria established by Public Health Madison & Dane County.
An individual testing positive who played, practiced, or competed during their infectious period (see below) should notify the coach or appointed COVID-19 contact of their positive test.
Identify players, coaches, or other participants who were a close contact of the positive individual. This includes close contacts on opposing teams or while in transit to sporting activities. Public Health will work with you on this.
Maintain a roster of players and other participants at practices, games, and competitions. This will help with contact tracing efforts.
Develop and maintain clear communications with players, opponents, and parents/guardians (if applicable) to quickly communicate in the event a COVID-19 positive individual participated in a sporting activity during their infectious period.

What is the definition of a close contact?

An individual is considered a close contact if any of the following is true:

Were within 6 feet of a positive person for more than 15 minutes total in a day
Had physical contact with the person
Had direct contact with the respiratory secretions of the people (i.e., from coughing, sneezing, contact with dirty tissue, shared drinking glass, food, or other personal items)
Lives with or stayed overnight for at least one night in a household with the person

This definition applies even if any or all parties were wearing face coverings or if physical barriers were used. These measures reduce the risk of spread but do not eliminate it.

When is someone infectious?

Someone who tested positive is considered to be infectious from two days before symptom onset until they meet all of the following criteria: 24 hours fever free without fever-reducing medication, other symptoms are improving (but may still be present), and at least 10 days after symptom onset. If the individual who tested positive does not have symptoms, they are considered to be infectious from two days before the test date until ten days after the test was collected. Individuals who test positive should isolate while they are infectious and not participate in sports-related activities. Teams should not require a negative test for these individuals to return.