You are viewing a condensed mobile version of this NASPA webpage.
Switch to full version.
(2021-05-21 - Replaced with version including Cyan) |
(→Cleaning equipment: 2021-10-26 - removed dead disinfectant link) |
||
(16 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''COVID-19''' is a disease caused by a coronavirus first discovered | '''COVID-19''' is a disease caused by a coronavirus first discovered | ||
− | in 2019. | + | in 2019. The ensuing pandemic resulted in the cancellation |
− | + | of competitive Scrabble activities worldwide, and NASPA's implementation | |
− | of competitive | + | of color-coded guidelines that imposed a moratorium on in-person play. |
− | ''' | + | '''NASPA's Board is not comprised of doctors or medical care providers. DO NOT predicate your medical decisions or actions regarding your personal health on anything provided herein.''' |
Click [[Membership#Impact_of_COVID-19_Moratorium_on_NASPA_Membership |here]] to see how the moratorium affects your NASPA membership. | Click [[Membership#Impact_of_COVID-19_Moratorium_on_NASPA_Membership |here]] to see how the moratorium affects your NASPA membership. | ||
− | '''On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive | + | This moratorium was lifted in two phases. First, as of 2021-06-01, the addition of the new |
+ | [[#Cyan_Play|<span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Safety Level]] | ||
+ | allowed groups of fully vaccinated players to gather to play normally. | ||
+ | Second, as of 2021-09-01, the color-coded guidance was phased out | ||
+ | in favour of a general requirement that events conform to all levels of official guidance. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Resumption of Normal Operations == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Effective '''2021-09-01''', '''NASPA is returning to normal operations''', subject to any restrictions imposed or recommended in governmental guidance, laws or regulations. | ||
+ | |||
+ | * For Americans, this means complying with authorities such as town, city, county, tribal, territorial, state or federal government agencies (including the [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html CDC]). | ||
+ | * For Canadians, this means you should likewise consult municipal, Indigenous, provincial and federal government guidance (including [https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/awareness-resources/vaccinated-against-covid-19-public-health-measures/vaccinated-against-covid-19-public-health-measures.pdf PHAC]), and only compete where this is recommended by all levels of authority. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | For example, if your town permits gatherings of the sort needed to play, but your state or province does not, you cannot play. Or if your county says unvaccinated people can meet indoors, but the CDC/PHAC (respectively) recommends social distancing indoors, you cannot play in such a group. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Members who are travelling from one jurisdiction to another must also comply with all government guidance concerning travel. | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''Directors may impose stricter rules''' about the need for vaccination, the use of masks and face coverings, hand washing, etc. Those restrictions must be made available to players both before registration and at the playing site. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Directors planning an event may find this [https://covidvisitrisk.com/riskscore-english.html tool] useful in assessing the risks in holding the event and determining what mitigation measures might be warranted. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <hr> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The remainder of this page is retained for the sake of historical interest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == History == | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''On 2020-03-18, we [http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1384631&f=6038&s=14937&m=286005&t=42bfeecf990f5ae04e8a9ea793c9a29e79393ee2e6b4b72ecef1a231ef1a0fa9 advised] all directors to cancel or postpone all sanctioned club and tournament activity, and to not resume until the appropriate public health authorities have recommended doing so.''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive Scrabble activities according to a four-color Scrabble safety level scheme.''' | ||
'''On 2021-06-01 we added the [[#Cyan_Play|<span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Safety Level]] — conditions under which small groups of fully vaccinated players can meet for sanctioned tournament or club play.''' | '''On 2021-06-01 we added the [[#Cyan_Play|<span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Safety Level]] — conditions under which small groups of fully vaccinated players can meet for sanctioned tournament or club play.''' | ||
+ | |||
+ | '''On 2021-06-21, we removed the cap on the number of participants under the Cyan Safety Level.''' | ||
Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that | Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that | ||
events have not been cancelled at the last minute. | events have not been cancelled at the last minute. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
== Risk Assessment == | == Risk Assessment == | ||
Line 80: | Line 111: | ||
We will discuss appropriate countermeasures in more detail below | We will discuss appropriate countermeasures in more detail below | ||
− | in the context of color-coded | + | in the context of color-coded Scrabble safety levels. |
== General Principles == | == General Principles == | ||
From 2020 on, we will always be living in an era with a heightened awareness of | From 2020 on, we will always be living in an era with a heightened awareness of | ||
− | the risks of pandemic disease. No matter what the current | + | the risks of pandemic disease. No matter what the current NASPA safety level, be mindful |
of your health and safety and those around you. | of your health and safety and those around you. | ||
Line 103: | Line 134: | ||
to unnecessary risk of contagion. | to unnecessary risk of contagion. | ||
− | == | + | == NASPA Safety Levels == |
There are different systems in place across the continent for describing | There are different systems in place across the continent for describing | ||
what the current pandemic safety level is, and for recommending correspondingly | what the current pandemic safety level is, and for recommending correspondingly | ||
− | appropriate measures. Here is one for our competitive | + | appropriate measures. Here is one for our competitive community, |
using a | using a | ||
<span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">red</span> - | <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">red</span> - | ||
Line 116: | Line 147: | ||
scheme from most dangerous to most safe. | scheme from most dangerous to most safe. | ||
− | The | + | The NASPA safety level applies to specific groups of people gathered for a specific NASPA-sanctioned event (club meeting or tournament). |
It is keyed to the government safety levels of each of the participants and venue, | It is keyed to the government safety levels of each of the participants and venue, | ||
but is more restrictive. | but is more restrictive. | ||
Line 122: | Line 153: | ||
; <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> | ; <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> | ||
− | : Governments restrict or recommend against all gatherings of fewer than 100 people. No one may meet to play | + | : Governments restrict or recommend against all gatherings of fewer than 100 people. No one may meet to play Scrabble in person. |
; <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> | ; <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> | ||
− | : Governments allow all business to reopen but require or recommend some social distancing measures. Participants may meet in person and play | + | : Governments allow all business to reopen but require or recommend some social distancing measures. Participants may meet in person and play Scrabble online on individual devices, but may not share equipment or paper, or approach within six feet (2 m) of each other. |
; <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> | ; <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> | ||
− | : Governments lift all pandemic-related restrictions and recommendations, but there have been confirmed or probable cases within 14 days. Participants may meet and play | + | : Governments lift all pandemic-related restrictions and recommendations, but there have been confirmed or probable cases within 14 days. Participants may meet and play Scrabble under <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> rules as described below. |
; <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> | ; <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> | ||
− | : Governments permit gatherings of unrelated households, and all participants have completed a course of vaccination (such as two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) and waited the recommended duration (such as two weeks for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) for it to take full effect. Participants may meet and play | + | : Governments permit gatherings of unrelated households, and all participants have completed a course of vaccination (such as two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) and waited the recommended duration (such as two weeks for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines) for it to take full effect. Participants may meet and play Scrabble under <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> rules as described below. |
; <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> | ; <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> | ||
− | : There are no government pandemic-related restrictions or recommendations, or confirmed or probable cases within 14 days. Participants may meet and play | + | : There are no government pandemic-related restrictions or recommendations, or confirmed or probable cases within 14 days. Participants may meet and play Scrabble with no restrictions. |
− | Our color-coded guidance is designed to mitigate risk, but cannot eliminate it. Please think carefully about your personal risk profile when making choices about competing in | + | Our color-coded guidance is designed to mitigate risk, but cannot eliminate it. Please think carefully about your personal risk profile when making choices about competing in Scrabble events. |
Failure to comply with color-coded measures will be deemed physical abuse under the [[Code of Conduct]]. | Failure to comply with color-coded measures will be deemed physical abuse under the [[Code of Conduct]]. | ||
Line 139: | Line 170: | ||
=== <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">''Red''</span> Play === | === <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">''Red''</span> Play === | ||
− | Clubs and tournaments should not meet in person when the | + | Clubs and tournaments should not meet in person when the NASPA safety level is <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> . |
− | Clubs may play online using [[Software | + | Clubs may play online using [[Software | online apps]] and meeting tools such as Zoom or Discord. If they do so formally, the [[Code of Conduct]] is in effect. |
NASPA will not rate online tournaments or recognize records achieved at online events. | NASPA will not rate online tournaments or recognize records achieved at online events. | ||
Line 164: | Line 195: | ||
=== <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">''Green''</span> Play === | === <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">''Green''</span> Play === | ||
− | Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive | + | Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive Scrabble using regular |
playing equipment, subject to the following conditions: | playing equipment, subject to the following conditions: | ||
Line 181: | Line 212: | ||
** Division sizes should be kept as small as possible. | ** Division sizes should be kept as small as possible. | ||
* Equipment | * Equipment | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
** All participants should bring a board, rack, timer, storage bag containing unused tile sets and tile bags, and a second bag in which to place used equipment. | ** All participants should bring a board, rack, timer, storage bag containing unused tile sets and tile bags, and a second bag in which to place used equipment. | ||
** The owner of the board, rack, and timer must be clearly identified. | ** The owner of the board, rack, and timer must be clearly identified. | ||
Line 191: | Line 219: | ||
** The director may require participants to bring their own word adjudication device. | ** The director may require participants to bring their own word adjudication device. | ||
+ | == <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Play == | ||
− | + | Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive Scrabble using regular playing equipment, subject to the following conditions: | |
− | |||
− | Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive | ||
* For all participants (players, directors, and anyone else attending a gathering) | * For all participants (players, directors, and anyone else attending a gathering) | ||
Line 202: | Line 229: | ||
** All participants must conform with all governmental guidance concerning meetings and travel. | ** All participants must conform with all governmental guidance concerning meetings and travel. | ||
* For directors | * For directors | ||
− | ** | + | ** Between June 1 and June 20, the total number of participants, including staff, could not exceed 12. On or after June 21, there is no cap on the number of participants. (If governmental guidance restricts the size of gatherings, this rule should not be understood as permitting such a limit to be exceeded.) |
** The location should be accessible to only the participants as much as possible - for example, a private room in a restaurant but not the main dining room. | ** The location should be accessible to only the participants as much as possible - for example, a private room in a restaurant but not the main dining room. | ||
** Directors should be careful to conform to any local public health guidance, and refrain from holding events where distancing or other guidance would not permit them to be held. | ** Directors should be careful to conform to any local public health guidance, and refrain from holding events where distancing or other guidance would not permit them to be held. | ||
** Directors may impose stricter rules about the use of masks and face coverings, hand washing, etc. A copy of the <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Play rules, along with any STRICTER LOCAL modifications, must be made available to players both before registration and at the playing site. | ** Directors may impose stricter rules about the use of masks and face coverings, hand washing, etc. A copy of the <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> Play rules, along with any STRICTER LOCAL modifications, must be made available to players both before registration and at the playing site. | ||
** The director must keep a list of participants, together with their current contact information, and ask them to certify in writing on arrival that they meet all the necessary criteria for play under these rules. A sample screening form can be downloaded [[Sample COVID-19 Screening Form |here]]. | ** The director must keep a list of participants, together with their current contact information, and ask them to certify in writing on arrival that they meet all the necessary criteria for play under these rules. A sample screening form can be downloaded [[Sample COVID-19 Screening Form |here]]. | ||
+ | |||
=== <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">''Blue''</span> Play === | === <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">''Blue''</span> Play === | ||
Line 217: | Line 245: | ||
* Players who have been in <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> or <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> rules areas within 14 days of the event must not participate. If after the event begins, the director discovers that a player has been in a <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> or <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> rules area, that player must withdraw from the event immediately. Any equipment used by that player must be removed from play or disinfected if not possible to remove. The director must announce the reason for the player's withdrawal and ensure that the player's opponents are informed. | * Players who have been in <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> or <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> rules areas within 14 days of the event must not participate. If after the event begins, the director discovers that a player has been in a <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> or <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> rules area, that player must withdraw from the event immediately. Any equipment used by that player must be removed from play or disinfected if not possible to remove. The director must announce the reason for the player's withdrawal and ensure that the player's opponents are informed. | ||
− | == | + | == NASPA Safety Level FAQ == |
; What does all government guidance mean? | ; What does all government guidance mean? | ||
− | : ''All governmental guidance means guidance issued by federal, state/provincial, and county/municipal authorities in both the locality in which a participant resides and the locality in which the gathering takes place. Guidance includes but may not be limited to laws, by-laws, regulations, recommendations and guidelines. Where guidance includes restrictions on nonessential activities, Scrabble events should be considered nonessential. An event must conform to the most restrictive guidance issued by any government authority. For example, if the state imposes no restrictions on gatherings but the federal government limits indoor gatherings to 25 people, the event limit is 25 people.'' | + | : ''All governmental guidance means guidance issued by federal, state/provincial, tribal, territorial and county/municipal authorities in both the locality in which a participant resides and the locality in which the gathering takes place. Guidance includes but may not be limited to laws, by-laws, regulations, recommendations and guidelines. Where guidance includes restrictions on nonessential activities, Scrabble events should be considered nonessential. An event must conform to the most restrictive guidance issued by any government authority. For example, if the state imposes no restrictions on gatherings but the federal government limits indoor gatherings to 25 people, the event limit is 25 people.'' |
− | ; How can I tell what the | + | ; How can I tell what the NASPA safety level is for a specific event? |
− | : ''If you are not sure how to apply the rules, you may email us at info@scrabbleplayers.org and we will research the matter for you. That is, if you tell us what your municipal, state and federal recommendations are, we will tell you what | + | : ''If you are not sure how to apply the rules, you may email us at info@scrabbleplayers.org and we will research the matter for you. That is, if you tell us what your municipal, state and federal recommendations are, we will tell you what NASPA safety level they imply.'' |
; I had COVID-19 already. Do I need to be vaccinated to participate in a <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> event? | ; I had COVID-19 already. Do I need to be vaccinated to participate in a <span style="background-color:#00FFFF">Cyan</span> event? | ||
: Yes. All participants must have completed a course of vaccination and waited the recommended duration for it to take effect. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected after recovering from COVID-19. | : Yes. All participants must have completed a course of vaccination and waited the recommended duration for it to take effect. Experts do not yet know how long you are protected after recovering from COVID-19. | ||
; My club has 10 members, not all of whom are vaccinated. Government authorities in my area restrict groups larger than 50 from meeting, but permit small groups of vaccinated to meet in private. Can my club meet? | ; My club has 10 members, not all of whom are vaccinated. Government authorities in my area restrict groups larger than 50 from meeting, but permit small groups of vaccinated to meet in private. Can my club meet? | ||
− | : ''Your area is in the <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> | + | : ''Your area is in the <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> NASPA safety level because the government is recommending some social distancing measures. Your club can meet under <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> rules, and may be eligible to play under <span style="background-color:#00ffff">Cyan</span> rules if everyone present has been vaccinated.'' |
; What color rules are in effect near borders or at regional tournaments? | ; What color rules are in effect near borders or at regional tournaments? | ||
− | : ''There may be ambiguity about which color is in effect in a given situation, especially if play is to take place in a location close to a public health jurisdictional boundary, or if players are travelling to an event from multiple areas. In such cases, the most serious, restrictive rules apply. For example, if a tournament director in Yukon wants to take advantage of their territory's | + | : ''There may be ambiguity about which color is in effect in a given situation, especially if play is to take place in a location close to a public health jurisdictional boundary, or if players are travelling to an event from multiple areas. In such cases, the most serious, restrictive rules apply. For example, if a tournament director in Yukon wants to take advantage of their territory's NASPA <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> status, they may do so as long as no one travels to their tournament from or through any area where <span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> or <span style="background-color:#FFC0C0">Red</span> rules would be in effect.'' |
; How do travel bubbles work? | ; How do travel bubbles work? | ||
: ''A travel bubble is a governmental agreement to allow the same rules to hold within a group of jurisdictions. If all participants are within the same travel bubble, then the most restrictive rules in any jurisdiction within the bubble apply. For example, if there is a travel bubble in Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick is <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> and Nova Scotia is <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span>, then an event in New Brunswick would be held under <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> rules even if all participants are from New Brunswick.'' | : ''A travel bubble is a governmental agreement to allow the same rules to hold within a group of jurisdictions. If all participants are within the same travel bubble, then the most restrictive rules in any jurisdiction within the bubble apply. For example, if there is a travel bubble in Atlantic Canada, New Brunswick is <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> and Nova Scotia is <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span>, then an event in New Brunswick would be held under <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span> rules even if all participants are from New Brunswick.'' | ||
; What if some businesses are open and some are not, or some require social distancing but others do not? | ; What if some businesses are open and some are not, or some require social distancing but others do not? | ||
: ''<span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> rules remain in effect until all businesses are open without restrictions.'' | : ''<span style="background-color:yellow">Yellow</span> rules remain in effect until all businesses are open without restrictions.'' | ||
− | ; Do you have a map showing | + | ; Do you have a map showing NASPA safety levels? |
: ''It is not practical to create such a map, because the safety level summarizes a situation based on a given group of people in a given place at a given time. Changes to situations and guidance may be issued by public health authorities at different times each day, and they are not always presented in a way that is easy for nonlocals to understand.'' | : ''It is not practical to create such a map, because the safety level summarizes a situation based on a given group of people in a given place at a given time. Changes to situations and guidance may be issued by public health authorities at different times each day, and they are not always presented in a way that is easy for nonlocals to understand.'' | ||
− | ; How fine-grained would a map be that showed | + | ; How fine-grained would a map be that showed NASPA safety levels? |
: ''If such a map could be constructed, it would be as fine-grained as needed to incorporate variations in government recommendations. For example, if a city says that residents of one particularly at risk neighborhood should stay home while everyone else is free to do as they please, then that neighborhood would be <span style="background-color:#ffc0c0">Red</span> while everyone else would be <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> or <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span>. | : ''If such a map could be constructed, it would be as fine-grained as needed to incorporate variations in government recommendations. For example, if a city says that residents of one particularly at risk neighborhood should stay home while everyone else is free to do as they please, then that neighborhood would be <span style="background-color:#ffc0c0">Red</span> while everyone else would be <span style="background-color:#C0C0FF">Blue</span> or <span style="background-color:#C0FFC0">Green</span>. | ||
; Why do I have to stand six feet (2 m) away from my domestic partner? | ; Why do I have to stand six feet (2 m) away from my domestic partner? | ||
Line 262: | Line 290: | ||
* You should bring your own disinfected equipment to events. | * You should bring your own disinfected equipment to events. | ||
* When you get home, wash your playing tiles and tile bags, disinfect racks and board with bleach wipes, and disinfect clocks and adjudication devices according to manufacturer’s instructions. | * When you get home, wash your playing tiles and tile bags, disinfect racks and board with bleach wipes, and disinfect clocks and adjudication devices according to manufacturer’s instructions. | ||
− | ** Use | + | ** Use an [https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/about-list-n-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19-0 EPA-approved product] to disinfect equipment, but exercise caution when using any chemical on electronic equipment or glass, especially bleach-based disinfectants and oleophobic resin-coated glass. |
** See [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172 Apple's recommendations] for how to safely disinfect their recent equipment. As of 2020-03-13, Apple says that 70% alcohol wipes or Clorox disinfectant wipes are fine on nonporous surfaces, but do check their website for recent updates. Remember that manufacturers speak with authority about what will not damage their equipment; the CDC tells you what will kill germs. | ** See [https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172 Apple's recommendations] for how to safely disinfect their recent equipment. As of 2020-03-13, Apple says that 70% alcohol wipes or Clorox disinfectant wipes are fine on nonporous surfaces, but do check their website for recent updates. Remember that manufacturers speak with authority about what will not damage their equipment; the CDC tells you what will kill germs. | ||
Line 309: | Line 337: | ||
=== If you are sick === | === If you are sick === | ||
− | * If you have a fever and/or a contagious disease (such as COVID-19, influenza, chickenpox or measles), do not go to a | + | * If you have a fever and/or a contagious disease (such as COVID-19, influenza, chickenpox or measles), do not go to a NASPA club or tournament where you may spread it to others. |
− | * If you have a mild contagious airborne disease (such as a common cold), do not go to a | + | * If you have a mild contagious airborne disease (such as a common cold), do not go to a NASPA club or tournament where you may spread it to others. You might also be carrying a more serious disease unwittingly, and risk spreading it when you cough or sneeze. |
* If you have allergies that make you sneeze or cough, take medication to prevent this from happening during a game, and wear a face covering in case it still happens. | * If you have allergies that make you sneeze or cough, take medication to prevent this from happening during a game, and wear a face covering in case it still happens. | ||
* If you have to sneeze or cough during a game, and are not wearing a face mask, do so into a tissue or your elbow and away from all playing equipment and players. Then ask your opponent to pause the clock and call the director to discuss whether you should withdraw from the event. If you decide to continue, wash your hands before resuming play. If you have to leave the playing area to wash your hands, do so under the terms of [[Rules|Rule]] IV.L (Leaving the Playing Area During a Game). | * If you have to sneeze or cough during a game, and are not wearing a face mask, do so into a tissue or your elbow and away from all playing equipment and players. Then ask your opponent to pause the clock and call the director to discuss whether you should withdraw from the event. If you decide to continue, wash your hands before resuming play. If you have to leave the playing area to wash your hands, do so under the terms of [[Rules|Rule]] IV.L (Leaving the Playing Area During a Game). | ||
− | * If you are immunosuppressed or otherwise at higher risk of contracting a respiratory illness, or at higher risk of serious consequences, do not go to a | + | * If you are immunosuppressed or otherwise at higher risk of contracting a respiratory illness, or at higher risk of serious consequences, do not go to a NASPA club or tournament without clearance from a medical doctor and the event director. |
* At a competitive event, you will be required to play all assigned opponents, regardless of your medical condition or theirs (although if one of you is visibly ill, you will be asked to leave). If you are not healthy enough to play all your opponents, you should stay home until you are. | * At a competitive event, you will be required to play all assigned opponents, regardless of your medical condition or theirs (although if one of you is visibly ill, you will be asked to leave). If you are not healthy enough to play all your opponents, you should stay home until you are. | ||
* If you become aware after an event has started that your participation is endangering your health or that of your fellow players, inform the director as soon as you can, and withdraw from the event. According to [[Rules|Rule]] V.K. (Forfeits and Byes), if you leave mid-game you will be awarded a rated loss for the game in progress; any subsequent games will not affect your rating. | * If you become aware after an event has started that your participation is endangering your health or that of your fellow players, inform the director as soon as you can, and withdraw from the event. According to [[Rules|Rule]] V.K. (Forfeits and Byes), if you leave mid-game you will be awarded a rated loss for the game in progress; any subsequent games will not affect your rating. | ||
Line 439: | Line 467: | ||
;2021-03-24 | ;2021-03-24 | ||
: Drafted guidelines for Cyan play | : Drafted guidelines for Cyan play | ||
+ | ;2021-05-20 | ||
+ | : Published guidelines for Cyan play | ||
+ | ;2021-06-17 | ||
+ | : Announced removal of cap of 12 participants for Cyan play | ||
+ | ;2021-07-01 | ||
+ | : Announced date for end of moratorium | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Line 481: | Line 515: | ||
=== Stefan Fatsis article=== | === Stefan Fatsis article=== | ||
[[Stefan Fatsis]] reviews the arguments for cancelling tournaments and clubs in [https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/playing-scrabble-coronavirus-pandemic.html?fbclid=IwAR09AKSKilIm7el46-a4QCB8bceiiLawGGRd-5Pzr2B7d9iFkFLmvX1oDv4 Slate]. | [[Stefan Fatsis]] reviews the arguments for cancelling tournaments and clubs in [https://slate.com/culture/2020/03/playing-scrabble-coronavirus-pandemic.html?fbclid=IwAR09AKSKilIm7el46-a4QCB8bceiiLawGGRd-5Pzr2B7d9iFkFLmvX1oDv4 Slate]. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− |
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus first discovered in 2019. The ensuing pandemic resulted in the cancellation of competitive Scrabble activities worldwide, and NASPA's implementation of color-coded guidelines that imposed a moratorium on in-person play.
NASPA's Board is not comprised of doctors or medical care providers. DO NOT predicate your medical decisions or actions regarding your personal health on anything provided herein.
Click here to see how the moratorium affects your NASPA membership.
This moratorium was lifted in two phases. First, as of 2021-06-01, the addition of the new Cyan Safety Level allowed groups of fully vaccinated players to gather to play normally. Second, as of 2021-09-01, the color-coded guidance was phased out in favour of a general requirement that events conform to all levels of official guidance.
Effective 2021-09-01, NASPA is returning to normal operations, subject to any restrictions imposed or recommended in governmental guidance, laws or regulations.
For example, if your town permits gatherings of the sort needed to play, but your state or province does not, you cannot play. Or if your county says unvaccinated people can meet indoors, but the CDC/PHAC (respectively) recommends social distancing indoors, you cannot play in such a group.
Members who are travelling from one jurisdiction to another must also comply with all government guidance concerning travel.
Directors may impose stricter rules about the need for vaccination, the use of masks and face coverings, hand washing, etc. Those restrictions must be made available to players both before registration and at the playing site.
Directors planning an event may find this tool useful in assessing the risks in holding the event and determining what mitigation measures might be warranted.
The remainder of this page is retained for the sake of historical interest.
On 2020-03-18, we advised all directors to cancel or postpone all sanctioned club and tournament activity, and to not resume until the appropriate public health authorities have recommended doing so.
On 2020-06-25, we published guidance on when and how to resume competitive Scrabble activities according to a four-color Scrabble safety level scheme.
On 2021-06-01 we added the Cyan Safety Level — conditions under which small groups of fully vaccinated players can meet for sanctioned tournament or club play.
On 2021-06-21, we removed the cap on the number of participants under the Cyan Safety Level.
Players should check with club and tournament directors to make sure that events have not been cancelled at the last minute.
COVID-19 can cause several avoidable or mitigable hazards.
Hazard | Chance | Impact | Risk | Mitigated Risk | Countermeasures |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bringing COVID-19 to venue | High | High | High | Medium | Screening, color-coded safety phases |
Finding COVID-19 at venue | Low | High | Medium | Low | Screening, separation from other users |
Spread during play | High | High | High | High | Spacing, ventilation, single-use equipment, disinfection, pairing |
Spread between rounds | High | High | High | Medium | Spacing, hand-washing, eliminate reasons to gather |
Spread to/from staff | High | High | High | Medium | Spacing, barriers, hand-washing, electronic communication |
Player becomes sick at event | Low | High | Medium | Medium | Screening, recording contacts, awareness of local medical protocol |
Staff becomes sick at event | Low | High | Medium | Medium | Screening, recording contacts, awareness of local medical protocol, redundancy |
We will discuss appropriate countermeasures in more detail below in the context of color-coded Scrabble safety levels.
From 2020 on, we will always be living in an era with a heightened awareness of the risks of pandemic disease. No matter what the current NASPA safety level, be mindful of your health and safety and those around you.
A NASPA Director has a duty to provide a safe environment for their players, to instruct them on how best to ensure their safety, and to verify their compliance.
A NASPA Director can refuse entry to players if the director deems that their participation will result in an unsafe environment for other players. A NASPA member has a duty to share any information (such as their positive infectious status) that may affect the safety of other members around them.
If there are reasonable grounds to believe that a player may have a contagious disease, even if they are not symptomatic, the player SHALL be refused participation to avoid exposing other participants to unnecessary risk of contagion.
There are different systems in place across the continent for describing what the current pandemic safety level is, and for recommending correspondingly appropriate measures. Here is one for our competitive community, using a red - yellow - green - cyan - blue scheme from most dangerous to most safe.
The NASPA safety level applies to specific groups of people gathered for a specific NASPA-sanctioned event (club meeting or tournament). It is keyed to the government safety levels of each of the participants and venue, but is more restrictive. NASPA’s reopening will therefore take a regionally phased approach as in many states and provinces.
Our color-coded guidance is designed to mitigate risk, but cannot eliminate it. Please think carefully about your personal risk profile when making choices about competing in Scrabble events.
Failure to comply with color-coded measures will be deemed physical abuse under the Code of Conduct.
Clubs and tournaments should not meet in person when the NASPA safety level is Red .
Clubs may play online using online apps and meeting tools such as Zoom or Discord. If they do so formally, the Code of Conduct is in effect.
NASPA will not rate online tournaments or recognize records achieved at online events.
Noteworthy accomplishments at online events may be reported to info@scrabbleplayers.org for publication in the weekly newsletter.
Players may meet in person to converse or play online on individual devices, subject to the following restrictions:
Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive Scrabble using regular playing equipment, subject to the following conditions:
Players may meet for traditional face-to-face competitive Scrabble using regular playing equipment, subject to the following conditions:
Competitive events may proceed normally, subject only to the following restrictions:
This section lists several categories of optional recommendations that may result in a safer experience for all participants.
According to at least one scientific study (Harvey, 2020), the risk of contracting COVID-19 by touching a contaminated surface is 1/10 that of spending one hour in a naturally ventilated indoor space of about 3,000 cubic meters (111,000 cubic feet) with a single infectious individual.
Participants are discouraged from using a common word adjudication device, to mitigate the risk of indirect contact transmission. This may be done either by having players use their own devices, or by having the director adjudicate challenges from a safe distance, while showing players the screen at appropriate points in the process.
Adjudicators are encouraged to use licensed software (or the NASPA Word Judge online) on their own mobile devices for word adjudication. Rule IV.J.1 (Software Lookup Procedure) lists which actions should be taken by the challenger and the player being challenged. If a personal mobile device is being used for adjudication, the owner of the device should take all actions necessary to operate their device for both players according to their specific verbal instructions.
Specifically, if one of the players involved in the challenge has an appropriate device (and not withstanding any other prohibition on electronic devices), then steps (e) through (k) should be replaced with the following. If both of the players want to use their own device, then the device belonging to the player being challenged should be used.
e. If either player at any time before the adjudication feels a word was recorded wrongly, they should verify the spelling.
f. The owner types the word(s) being challenged. All word(s) must be typed before adjudication.
g. Both players verify the word(s) have been entered correctly and that the correct lexicon is selected, and the owner presses the adjudication key .
h. The adjudication result is marked on the challenge slip.
i. Adjudication is final unless either player feels the device or program is flawed (and requests a manual adjudication) or feels a word may not have been entered correctly (and chooses to repeat the procedure.)
Follow official news sources closely to anticipate measures that will be taken to address outbreaks, and communicate them to your players. Be open with your players about your planning process, including how you will decide if the event needs to be cancelled, and how you will treat sick players.
Plan for the possibility that your event may have to be cancelled, either because public health authorities require it, or because your own risk assessment so indicates. Consider also that players and staff (especially those who are travelling) may have to cancel their plans.
When negotiating space with a new venue, discuss COVID-19 specifically as an example of force majeure. A standard force majeure clause permits either party to cancel a contract at no penalty. Even if you find yourself having to cancel an event without a force majeure clause in your contract, ask your venue if any deposit that you have paid can be refunded to you given the unusual circumstances, or at least be credited toward a future event post-outbreak.
Similarly, although it is NASPA’s position to remain independent of financial transactions between players and directors, we believe that it is in everyone’s long-term best interest for directors to be as lenient as they can about entry fee cancellation policies where COVID-19 is concerned.
Notify the Tournament Committee if you cancel a tournament. You can reschedule the tournament to another date if it does not conflict with a tournament already on the calendar. The standard 6 weeks advance notice will not be required for the rescheduled tournament.
During an outbreak, consider that any of the following may be unavailable on short notice: key personnel (including yourself), equipment, playing space, and players.
Your planning should provide for alternatives if a key resource becomes unavailable - for example, extra equipment or an alternate venue.
Before permitting a player or staff member to enter the playing space, verify that they (to the best of their knowledge, on pain of discipline as a Code of Conduct case of physical abuse) do not present an undue risk of spreading COVID-19.
Click here to download a form that you can use to screen participants.
When choosing a venue for your event, evaluate the risk associated with the location.
When laying out the floor plan for your event, minimize opportunities for players to
congregate in close proximity. If possible, ask players to keep a two-metre distance from
each other when not playing.
Consider room ventilation and its effect on airborne microorganisms:
Post notices reminding participants to wash their hands after each round, and offer
hand hygiene stations where possible.
If you have a large number of players who are diligently washing their hands after each round, you may find your tournament schedule delayed by lack of capacity of hand-washing stations. Plan accordingly by padding your schedule, and be lenient in the application of Rule III.C. (Arriving Late) when toilets and sinks are overcrowded.
Keep players at the same tables as much as possible, to minimize sharing equipment. At least one player at each game should stay at the same board in the next round.
If you have access to them, consider adding to your tournament supplies:
Be aware of the nearest emergency medical services.
if there are medical doctors participating, check with them about their
availability to intervene if needed.
Stefan Fatsis reviews the arguments for cancelling tournaments and clubs in Slate.
This page was last edited on 26 October 2021, at 19:55. Privacy policy
Copyright © 2024 NASPA All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. in the USA and Canada, and of Mattel, Inc. elsewhere. NASPA and its activities are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Hasbro or Mattel. For more information about NASPA or for comments or issues with this page, please email us.