COVID-19 & Return To Activities Policies

SOAZ COVID-19 RETURN TO ACTIVITIES STATUS BY COUNTY

County Community Transmission Practice Delivery Model Competition Delivery Model
ApacheSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
CochiseSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
CoconinoSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
GilaSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
GrahamSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
GreenleeSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
La PazSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
MaricopaSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
MohaveSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
NavajoSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
PimaSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
PinalSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
Santa CruzSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
YavapaiSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY
YumaSUBSTANTIALPHASE 0VIRTUAL ONLY

 

*Last updated 02/25/2021

Special Olympics Arizona’s top priority is the health and safety of our athletes, partners, coaches, volunteers, parents/guardians, staff, and all members of the SOAZ community. The purpose of this document is to lay out, in detail, the steps we must all take to Return to Activities in the safest way possible given the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. 

We are following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Arizona State Department of Health (AZDHS) as well as input from our constituents in order to establish this approach. We have also surveyed our coaches/volunteers to collect feedback on the safety & prevention protocols included in our Return to Activities strategy. Please be aware that SOAZ may need to update/modify these protocols as conditions continue to change across our state, country, and the globe. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we work through this unprecedented time together. Our athletes need us now more than ever!

As you read through this document, please take time to familiarize yourself with the varying guidelines listed in each phase of the Return to Activities strategy as they establish the framework for safely returning to sports practices. While there are some similarities between phases, each comes with its own specific measures geared towards easing our way back into activities slowly and methodically. This is a marathon, not a sprint! We are counting on our coaches & volunteers to help us in returning to activities safely. THANK YOU for all that you do to support our athletes and the continued success of SOAZ. 

PLEASE NOTE: Special Olympics Arizona’s Return to Activities guidelines and all information included within them are still subject to change. SOAZ staff are continuing to monitor the changing conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue consulting with local and state health officials for further guidance & direction. We will update constituents throughout the process to provide transparency as this plan changes.

Return to Activities Guidelines

Return to Activities Phase Two Addendum 

  • All Class A Volunteers (HODs, coaches, team volunteers & chaperones, GMT, etc.) are required to complete the COVID19 Safety & Prevention Measures Certification Course prior to returning to sports practices or attending any other in-person Special Olympics activities
  • This 90-minute certification course will include the following two parts:
    1. SOAZ COVID19 Safety & Prevention Measures Webinar (45 min)
    2. Online SONA Certification “Coronavirus Outbreak – What You Need To Know”  (45 min)
      • If you do not already have an account on Special Olympics’ Learning Portal, please  for registration instructions. 
  • The certification course will be offered virtually on a periodic basis throughout the season (additional course offerings will be added to the below list as they are scheduled). Pre-registration is required – please  to register for one of the following dates/times:
    • Tuesday, November 10th 1:00pm-2:30pm
    • Friday, November 13th 4:00pm-5:30pm

In order to be eligible to return to sports practices or attend any other in-person Special Olympics activities, ALL participants (Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners, HODs, coaches, team volunteers & chaperones, GMT, etc.) are required to:

  1. Complete the COVID19 Participant Risk Assessment AND
  2. Have a signed COVID19 Code of Conduct on file with SOAZ

 

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