We are excited to announce our Lacrosse Return to Play! First, we would like to sincerely thank you all for your patience as we navigated through this new territory the past several months. We have been diligently working behind the scenes to develop session play that adheres to CDC, State of ND, ND Department of Health, local public health officials, and US Lacrosse guidelines. Although this current session may not look exactly like the lacrosse we know and love, the adjustments made do allow us to continue to develop our lacrosse skills so when the time comes to fully return to play, we are ready.
The Return to Play Summer Sessions are scheduled to run June 8 – July 31, 2020. The attached Return to Play Guidelines detail the new protocol and guidelines for these sessions. Registrations are now open for Cub Club, Beginners, Intermediates, and Advanced levels for girls and boys in our new Academy style sessions. Please refer to the descriptions in registration to determine your best fit. For any questions regarding levels, please contact Liv Oland at
or Ryan Kava at
for guidance.
We truly want to keep each player, coach, and family as safe as possible during our Return to Play Session, and we developed guidelines and protocols with care for each of you in mind. Please remember the better community stewards we all are in the battle against COVID-19, adhering to the Return to Play guidelines and overall patience as we enter each phase will only help the game continue to progress and players continue to play.
Again, thank you for journeying the ups and downs of this spring with us, and we look forward to seeing you in June!
RRVLA Polars Lacrosse - COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for Return to Play
Last Updated: May 21, 2020
The impact of COVID-19 has been and continues to be new territory for all of us, and we understand that it has caused uncertainty these past several months. While the uncertainty has changed some of the world around us and will continue to bring new challenges as more is learned, what we do know is lacrosse and youth sports are missed by so many. Studies have shown that kids mentally and physically benefit from activity, and we have been taking time to learn how to safely return to play.
Due to recent changes in North Dakota COVID-19 guidelines and the guidelines of the CDC, US Lacrosse, Aspen Project Play, and local park districts, we are excited to move forward with summer sessions of lacrosse in the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo area. Things will be different, for sure, and we have developed plans and protocols to safely return our players to the lacrosse field to further develop skills and be physically active. These guidelines will be strictly followed and enforced to keep safety and social distancing at front of mind.
Please be advised these guidelines are subject to change at any time, possibly even daily or weekly, to adjust to new guidelines as they are released and implemented by CDC, the State of North Dakota, the ND Department of Health and our local public health officials.
Return to Play Guidelines
A Summer Session of RRVLA Lacrosse will be held June 8 – July 31, 2020 at outdoor lacrosse fields with the safety of the players, coaches, and parents a first priority. We will begin with a phased approach as follows:
Phase 1 – Begins June 8, 2020: Starting phase with small group, skill-based training. Only one parent/guardian per player is allowed to stay and watch practice on the sideline and stay at least 6 feet away from other people. No session will be longer than 1 hour in duration.
Phase 2 - TBD: Small scrimmage groups can begin within each session with possible modification of scrimmage rules. Scrimmage is defined as playing against other players in your session. Only one parent/guardian per player is allowed to stay and watch practice on the sideline and stay at least 6 feet away from other people. On assigned scrimmage night, immediate families residing in the same household may attend. The group of immediate, residing families must sit at least 6 feet from other family clusters, players and coaches. No session or scrimmage will be longer than 1 hour in duration.
Phase 3 - TBD: Return to games and larger groups of spectators. To be further defined within current guidelines from governing entities upon entry into Phase 3.
Please be advised these phases are subject to change at any time to adjust to new guidelines as they are released and implemented by the CDC, the State of North Dakota, the ND Department of Health, and our local public health officials.
For Every Session and Every Age Group:
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be available at every session. Players and coaches are required to hand-sanitize prior to stepping on the field and upon leaving.
It is highly recommended each player brings his/her own hand sanitizer and/or disinfectant wipes for cleaning of personal sticks and lacrosse balls.
Players must arrive dressed and leave dressed. No bags will be allowed on the field or sidelines. Each player must be at stay at least 6 feet apart upon arrival.
Players cannot arrive prior to 15 minutes before session start time and must be picked up/leave immediately upon completion to help minimize contact and length of time in one setting.
Attendance of players will be taken at each session.
If a player knows they will be gone, the player and/or parent/guardian must notify the coach prior to the start of that particular practice/session.
Only one parent can stay and watch each session. Parents must stay at least 6 feet from other parents, players and coaches. Parents are encouraged to wear face masks.
Each player must bring his/her own water bottle. Water stations are not available at the field locations.
Bathroom facilities will not be available at the field locations unless the local park districts determine it is safe to do so. Please plan for no bathrooms at this time.
Cub Club and Beginner sticks provided by RRVLA will be thoroughly disinfected between each session. Players will only use one stick/same stick each session.
Intermediate and Advanced players must bring and only use his/her own stick and wear his/her own equipment. No sharing of equipment will be allowed.
RRVLA lacrosse balls will be thoroughly sanitized between each session.
Players are not allowed to touch other players or coaches equipment (for example – sticks, gloves, helmets, etc.)
No spitting allowed. No foods that require spitting are allowed (example – sunflower seeds)
Players should show no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to the start of the summer session and have no known exposure to someone that has been sick in the 14 days prior to the start of the summer session.
Players’ temperatures should be checked by the family prior to arriving at each day’s session and should not register above 100 degrees.
If a player is not feeling well, running a fever, coughing or has cold-like symptoms, please stay home.
If a player shows signs or symptoms of COVID-19 while at a session, the parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to immediately pick up the player and consult with his/her healthcare provider.
If a player is in close contact with a person testing positive for COVID-19, please refer to the current CDC, ND Department of Health, and local public health guidelines before returning to play.
If a player tests positive for COVID-19, RRVLA must be notified immediately. The player must adhere to the current CDC, ND Department of Health, and local public health guidelines before returning to play. The players must remain at home until 10 days have passed since your symptoms began AND you are fever-free < 100.4F) for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications AND respiratory symptoms are improving. People who are healthcare workers or are immunocompromised need to be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications, feeling better, and have two negative COVID-19 tests, 24 hours apart.
If a player is in close contact with person testing positive for COVID-19 or has tested positive, he/she must bring public health or healthcare provider confirmation of a return to play before resuming sessions.
Session Play
The Summer Session will be skills-based and organized in groups of 8-15 players per coach with proper spacing on lacrosse fields. Smaller groups will be formed for skill stations.
Small groups will stay together and not intermix during Phase 1.
Session skills will be based on recommendations from US Lacrosse and US Lacrosse Safe Return to Play guidelines.
Players on the sidelines must stay at least 6 feet from each other.
Water breaks will be staggered within each group to maintain social distancing.
Great shots and moves are to be celebrated, however, they need to be celebrated without high fives, fist bumps, or other body contact.
There will be no scrimmage play unless Phase 2 is reached. Once Phase 2 is reached, scrimmage play is defined as a small group scrimmage within each session.
There will be no games played or scheduled unless Phase 3 is reached.
Coaches are required to wear masks while on the field, including before, during, and after practice.
If a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19 during the session, all CDC and local public health guidelines will be followed. The player or coach will need to adhere to public health officials’ determination of stay at home guidelines and contact tracing. RRVLA will adhere to all contact tracing requests and guidelines, including notifying public health officials of learned positive cases of current players and coaches. Coaches will assist in determining close contacts in this situation.
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
If your child is not feeling well, running a fever, coughing, or has cold-like symptoms, please keep your child home.
Players’ temperatures should be checked by the family prior to arriving at each day’s session.
If you, your child, or someone in your household is considered at-risk as it relates to COVID-19, please exercise the utmost caution in determining the level of participation for your personal situation. If it is best to wait to join a later session, please consider doing so for the safety of your household.
If the player or someone in the player’s household tests positive for COVID-19, the parent/guardian must contact RRVLA immediately.
Please note no bathroom facilities will be available at the field locations unless the local park districts determine it is safe to do so. Please plan for no bathrooms at this time.
Please stay tuned to the RRVLA website, Facebook page, or association emails for any changes, including possible last-minute changes, to any of these guidelines.
Following these guidelines will allow Lacrosse Summer Sessions to continue! We can all contribute by being good stewards in our community in the COVID-19 battle!
With the latest changes in mind and new guidelines in place for North Dakota, we have several updates for you.
Non-Travel Sessions - Boys and Girls
The Boys and Girls non-travel spring sessions have been postponed until June 1. We are working through the new guidelines and preparing a plan to keep the safety and health of everyone involved in mind for these sessions.
Additional emails will be sent to you once we have a location, time, and guideline details.
Travel Teams - Boys and Girls
Due to the leagues canceling the seasons, RRVLA will be refunding the travel team registration fees less a $50 administration fee for the season costs already incurred (association fees, parent meetings, registration processing fees). For registrations paid less than 90 days ago, a refund to your card will be issued. For registrations paid over 90 days ago, we will be issuing and mailing checks. We have begun processing these refunds and will complete them by May 7th. If you do not see a credit on your account or receive a check by May 20th, please contact us at
.
The $60 fundraising fee was part of the travel team requirements, and this, too, will be refunded if paid with registration. If you signed up for volunteer hours in lieu of the $60 fee, these hours are voided.
We know many of you would still like to play lacrosse this summer, and we would, too! So we are working on a possible plan. We are checking into potential Academy/non-travel sessions in Fargo, 7v7 games with other North Dakota lacrosse leagues, and Minnesota team tournament play. With Minnesota extending its stay-at-home executive order, we are trying to learn more about the MN summer tournament outlook. Once we have a plan in place, we will email you the options and it will require a new registration.
Uniform, Hoodies, Shooter Shirt and Helmet Orders
We will be scheduling pick-up time(s) for these items under social distancing guidelines. Unfortunately, these orders were already in process when the season was canceled and there was not an option to cancel.
We will email and post the pick-up times once we have organized the orders per player.
Fan Apparel
For the fan apparel and girls skorts ordered online from the RRVLA website, these items will also be distributed. JJ Evenson will be in direct contact with you to arrange for pick-up or delivery in mid to late May.
We are hopeful we can have a summer season of lacrosse, and we are working diligently to make this happen within the guidelines. We thank you for your patience as we continue to work through the details. Please reach out to us at
with any questions, concerns, and suggestions.
