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COVID-19: Basketball

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1. How will the league be adjusted this year?

• Players will be assigned to one “pod” for the entirety of the season. Pods will be limited to 15-20 players and up to 4 coaches. This will reduce a player’s number of contacts and opportunity for exposure.
• Pod size will be based on gym capacity.
• Only players, coaches and staff will be permitted in the facilities. No spectators, including parents, will be allowed in. 
• Eliminating cross team vs. team / pod vs. pod games. Players will only be permitted to scrimmage within their own pod.
• Scheduling start/end times to allow sufficient breaks in between pods to reduce exposure and allow for proper disinfection/sanitation.    
• Staff will facilitate health screenings and regularly disinfect/sanitize surfaces. 

2. What COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed?

• A full Health and Safety Plan will be published in advance of final registrations and will detail policies around records and contact tracing, COVID-19 exposure response, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, hand-washing and sanitizing, physical distancing and mask requirements, among other required policies. 
• Many of these policies are currently being practiced for programs at the Issaquah Community Center, Farmers Market and Julius Boehm Pool.

3. How do I sign my child up to play?

• Signups are available at www.issaquahwa.gov/register at no charge to reserve your child’s spot on a team. You will sign your child up according to their gender/grade. 
• Priority for registration will be given to players that have signed up before Dec. 4.

4. What age group is this league being offered for?

Leagues will initially be offered for Kindergarten – 5th Grade boys and girls. We will continue to evaluate programs for middle and high school players and hope to serve these age groups this winter.

5. When will my child’s pod practice?

• Kindergarten – 5^th Grade leagues will practice on Saturdays at the Issaquah Community Center or at other local gyms. 
• For the 2021 season, Kindergarten – 5^th grade pods/team activities will be held on Saturdays. No midweek practices will be available.
• Pods will be able to practice and scrimmage within their pod/team, but no inter-team games will be played.
• Practices will be between 75-90 minutes depending on age level, pod/team size, and gym availability.
• Up-to-date season outlines can be found at www.issaquahwa.gov/youthbasketball

6. When will I know my child’s practice schedule?

Schedules will be finalized following the Dec. 4 signup deadline. Please allow 1-2 weeks for staff to form teams and communicate schedules. Please note that practice schedules are subject to change throughout the season due to gym availability and other conflicts.

7. Will there be officiated games this year?

Since basketball is characterized as a high-risk sport in the “Sporting Activity” guide released by the Governor’s office on Oct. 6, only intra-team scrimmages are allowed within each pod. There will not be referees this year, but coaches will facilitate scrimmages and enforce rules. Pods will not play against other pods.

8. How will team formations look this year?

• Unlike previous years, there will not be a dedicated team formation day this year. Participants will register under their gender/grade. Parks & Community Services staff will assign pods of 15-20 players based on their gender, grade, school and reciprocated buddy requests. 
• In the event of a school having enough players to create multiple teams, all efforts will be made to create balanced teams. Your coach will reach out and let you know what team your child has been assigned to.

9. Can I submit a buddy request?

• Yes, this year we will allow ONE buddy request during signups and will do our absolute best to put buddy requests together on the same team. Buddy requests must be reciprocated. 

10. Who coaches the teams?

Our coaches are parent volunteers, if you are looking to coach or would like more information, please sign up here. If we do not have enough parent volunteers, staff may be assigned to help coach pods.

11. Is there payment needed eventually?

• Yes. Although payment will not be taken at the signup, a league fee will be collected before a player is added to a pod/team.
• To help expedite the registration process, please ensure a default credit card is on file for when payment is due around the Dec. 4 deadline. You will receive a reminder email one week prior to the transaction.

12. When is the signup deadline?

• The deadline is Friday, Dec. 4. Registrations taken after are considered late registrations.
• Following the signup deadline, you will have the opportunity to withdraw or to register and submit payment.  

13. It’s past the registration deadline – can I still register my child?

• Late registrations are taken on a case by case basis. Provided there is room in the league, your child will be registered and assigned a team. There is no guarantee your child can be assigned a specific team during the late registration process. 
• Please note late registrations may take up to a week to process. 
• Late Registrations will be charged an additional $25 fee. 

14. Can I get a refund due to COVID concerns?

• Players can be removed from the signup list anytime before Dec. 4. 
• Once registration has occurred after Dec. 4, refunds will not be available in most cases.
• League play could be delayed, suspended, or cancelled due to COVID-19.  If that occurs, refunds will be given and prorated if necessary. 

15. My child cannot make the scheduled practice times – what next?

Refunds are not typically given based on scheduling; however, league coordinators can approve refunds in some circumstances where there are special considerations and other options have been exhausted. 

16. What should my child wear to practice and games?

Issaquah Parks & Community Services will provide your child with a jersey/t- shirt to wear at practices/games. Please send your child in comfortable athletic shoes and clothing, a mask or face covering, and make sure to bring an already filled water bottle.

17. Does my child need a basketball?

Yes. This year, we are requiring every player to bring their own basketball to practice. It is more important than ever to lessen touches between players.

18. What size basketball does my child use?

• Boys K & Girls K – 1^st  (25” / Mini sized) 
  • Available at the Issaquah Community Center for $10.00
• Boys 1^st – 5^th & Girls 2^nd – 5^th (27.5” / Official Junior Size) 
  • Available at the Issaquah Community Center for $10.00

19. What guidelines are in place for youth basketball?

• State officials released updated guidance for “Sporting Activity” on Oct. 6 which outlines policies for returning to play.
• Youth Basketball will be offered provided King County is a “Moderate Level COVID County” which is characterized by 25-75 cases/100K/14 days AND <5% positivity. 
• Basketball is deemed a “High Risk Sport.” Under a Moderate Level COVID-19 activity, basketball can practice as well as have intra-team scrimmages. No inter-team games or tournaments will be allowed.

20. What happens if COVID-19 cases do not come down to Moderate Level or increase back to High Level during the season?

League play could be delayed, suspended or cancelled if King County starts or transitions to a “High Level COVID County” as defined in Gov. Inslee’s Sporting Activity Guidance. Basketball is characterized as a high-risk sport. As such, the proposed league would be offered only when King County/City of Issaquah is a “Moderate Level COVID County.”

21. What happens if there is a positive or suspected case of COVID-19 in the youth basketball program?

• If a participant, staff member, parent or other person within our program is suspected or confirmed with COVID-19, the following steps will take place:
  • If person is on site, they will immediately be sent home or isolated until sent home. If isolated while on site, person should wear a mask.
  • We will communicate with Staff, Participant Families and King County Health Department.
  • Per WA DOH, if a participant or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, all members of the infected person’s pod are close contacts and should self-quarantine for 14 days.
  • Per WA DOH, the ill staff member or participant may return to basketball when: 
    • At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery – defined as no fever without the use of medications and improvement in respiratory signs like cough and shortness of breath, and
    • At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.