USATF Southwest Regional Championship
(Open, Master)

USATF GULF ASSOCIATION 2021 MEET & COVID-19 GUIDELINES

Athlete Pre-Registration Required

1. All participating and competing Athletes, Coaches, and Officials must be registered USATF members.
2. All teams must pre-register athletes using Athletics.net or other meet Management system with USATF membership verification capability.
3. No “Walk Up”; non-registered Athlete participation will be allowed.

Social Distancing Requirements

1. All spectators and athletes in attendance MUST practice social distancing (6 feet or more) during the event.
2. ALL meet Administrators, Officials, and Meet management staff are encouraged to wear face coverings at times during the management of the meet when Social Distancing is not possible.

On-Site Athlete Check-in Process

1. Teams may only check-in one (1) age group/division at a time. All other athletes may not be in the check-in area until they are called by the meet administrator.
2. Athletes MUST proceed directly to the staging area after check-in.
3. Athletes check-in and staging process must be completed before teams will begin checking in the next Division/Age Group.
4. Host Teams are required to provide/supply medically recommended hand sanitizer at all check-in, staging, timing, and administrative stations.
5. Athletes and coaches in designated Warm-up areas are asked to practice social distance when possible.

Meet Staging Areas

1. Teams will utilize a separate staging area large enough to allow social distancing of a minimum of 6 feet for all competing athletes.
2. Only competing athletes should be allowed in the “staging area.”
3. The maximum number of athletes permitted into a staging area will be determined by its size and number of athletes competing in each event. (See Starting Line Requirements Below).
4. Meet Administrators will need to escort each group or individual to the starting line from the staging area to avoid athlete incidental contact.

Starting Line, Finish Line Requirements/Limitations

1. Meet management will ensure that only 1 (one) heat of athletes is brought to the finish line at a time.
2. There will be a maximum of 8 athletes at the starting line in lane assigned events. There will be a maximum of 12 athletes at the start of “waterfall” or open lane events.
3. It is recommended that the Finish Line be completely cleared before the next heat of athletes are staged at the Start line.
4. Meet Management, Officials, and Volunteers should have no direct physical interaction with incoming runners unless it is determined to be a medical or confrontational emergency, or the runner appears to be incapacitated.
5. Hydration provided by each team / unattached athlete. Host Meet will designate an area for one person to serve as a Water Administrator per team/ unattached coach.

Athlete Post-Competition

1. Only one age group/Division will be allowed in the competition area at a time.
2. Athletes are asked to immediately leave the competition area after they have completed their event. If athlete escort is necessary, it should be done by meet medical staff, team member, or guardian of the athlete only.

Field Implements

Each athlete participating in a field event must have their own implements. Athletes will not be allowed to share.

No Group Medal or Award Ceremony May be Held in Competition Area

Once results are available, teams will designate one person to pick up medals for the team. For unattached athletes, parent/guardian will pick up the awards.

Parent/Spectators Access Guidelines

1. Teams are requested to minimize the number of parents or spectators for each meet. Meet capacity varies between facilities. Once the facility has reached capacity, the facility will be closed. We are asking everyone to be considerate.
2. Parents, Coaches, or Spectators will not be allowed on the field or in any of the Track & Field competition areas.
3. All attendees cheering from the outer perimeter of the Track or field event area, are always encouraged to Social Distance. This is the safest way for cheering spectators/parents to be allowed at meets.
4. Parents or spectators for any athlete may be asked to leave the competitive area after their athlete has completed his/her event.
5. Teams, Coaches, and Spectators are discouraged from setting up “Team Tent Camps. If tents are set up, there must be a minimum 10-foot distance between each “unassociated” team tent or camp area.

Host Team Event Concession Guidelines

1. Host teams will not be allowed to internally sell, distribute, or provide any perishable or “prepared food” concessions to meet attendees.
2. Athletes, coaches, spectators, and volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water bottles/sports drink.
3. Meet Host should consider using food trucks or licensed 3rd party vendors that will adhere to CDC, State, and local guidelines for food service as an alternate option. Food truck vendors must be fully licensed and permitted by local jurisdictions...i.e., City, County, or State permit.

Sanitation Requirements

1. Host Teams will supply Hand Sanitizer at all operational Stations within the facility including but not limited to Check-In area, Staging Area, Starting Line, Finish Line, hydration area, Medals area, Vendor/Concession area and Restrooms.
2. Restrooms shall be made available only if Facility has dedicated personnel to maintain and disinfect restrooms during intermittent periods not to exceed periods greater than once per hour.

Reporting Requirements

If anyone in attendance of the event experiences symptoms or falls ill after the conclusion of the meet, Coaches, parents, or athlete representatives will notify the meet Director making them aware of a potential positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Those individuals who would have been in contact with the COVID-19 athlete will be notified in the case of a positive test result.