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PDGA Guidance Regarding COVID-19 (March 10, 2020)

By: PDGA Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 17:33

The Professional Disc Golf Association is monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) and evaluating its potential impact on our membership across 43 countries on six continents, as well as disc golfers everywhere.

For the time being, and until further notice, the PDGA’s 2020 Major, Elite Series, and Euro Tour events will continue as planned. PDGA will not prohibit tournaments from taking place, nor will it prohibit players from competing in events. Determining whether these events can take place and decisions related to travel/access restrictions should rest with local authorities, national association partners, and tournament directors where the event is due to take place. Tournament directors can contact the PDGA or national association partners for further assistance, as needed. 

Players and other persons traveling to events are advised to seek advice from their relevant government agencies, as well as travel and medical providers regarding trips to any destination country and any restrictions that may be in place. This guidance can change with short notice, so be sure to review frequently.

Tournament organizers are advised to be in contact with their local authorities or government agencies for updates. With regard to event and player cancellations, the standard PDGA Withdrawal and Refund policy is intended to protect both players and tournament directors, but individual tournament directors may relax this policy in order to further benefit the players, should they feel their local circumstances warrant it. 

PDGA will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and encourages members to do the same as new facts and information, as well as government advisories, present themselves. PDGA is also encouraging members and players to follow World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to adopt preventative measures as you would for the influenza virus:

  • Wash your hands with soap regularly and thoroughly (30 seconds) followed by use of a disinfectant when available. This measure is particularly important before meals, especially in a buffet-style service.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections and stay at least two meters away from infected people or people who are showing symptoms (such as coughing).
  • Avoid mass gatherings.
  • Ventilate hotel rooms regularly.
  • Seek medical care if you have a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

PDGA also offers suggestions about what steps can be taken at events to help increase the safety of our athletes, volunteers, and spectators, as the safety and well-being of players and tournament personnel is the organization’s main priority. These recommendations take into consideration guidance issued by the WHO and CDC:

  • Consider that large player gatherings, such as player meetings, check-in, or player parties, could be held outdoors rather than in an enclosed indoor space.
  • Integrate preventative measures for the handling, packaging, and distribution of player packs.
  • Integrate preventative measures for the handling and distribution of water on the course.
  • Integrate preventative measures for the handling and distribution of food.
  • Make hand sanitizer available at all event locations (bathroom facilities, tournament central, scoring area, etc.).

We encourage the disc golf community to refer to the following links for the latest information, which may evolve in response to COVID-19 developments:

PDGA Announcements