The following is a letter from FSA president Dave Kudro about our sport in the face of the Corona virus, and saying there will be a meeting on Saturday to decide if it is best to halt all shuffleboard activities for the rest of this season. We will be posting any further information on the Northern District website.

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Florida Shuffleboard Association (FSA) March 12, 2020

To: FSA Executive Board, District and Club Presidents and all FSA members

I am sure by now everyone has seen on the news that the CDC has declared the Corona-virus Disease 2019 (COVID -19) a pandemic health alert. Now is time to not panic, however, I feel we (FSA) need to be proactive to do our part to provide our shuffleboard members with as much information on the Corona virus and how it relates to shuffleboard. Below are suggestions on what needs to be done whether its hosting a State or District FSA tournament, or day to day club play. Every shuffleboard player also should do their part to protect themselves as well as other shuffleboard players

1. If you are not feeling well, or have serious chronic medical conditions such as Heart Disease,Diabetes, Asthma, Lung Disease as well as a chronic cough, sneezing, and shortness of breath, for your safety,please DO NOT shuffle during this pandemic.

2. If you are planning on attending a tournament or just daily club play, please do not rub your face, nose and eyes with your hands and recommend no handshaking. When close to other shufflers please for their safety and yours, honor their inner space as it also can be transmitted by breathing on someone. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you do have to cough or sneeze use a handkerchief or your inner elbow area to keep it at bay.

3. Host Clubs where FSA shuffleboard players will gather and play shuffleboard should also do what they can to help. Clean and disinfect you shuffleboard facility to remove germs. A daily routine of cleaning frequently touched surfaces ( for example: door knobs, light switches, handles, handrails, sinks, faucets, tables, desks, chairs, erasers, scoreboards and any other areas you think where shufflers have to touch. If possible have hand sanitizers available that contains at least 60%alcohol. If you have courts in an enclosed area make sure it is well ventilated. The risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 increases in crowded, closed-in-settings with little circulation if there are people in the facility who might be sick.

As most FSA shufflers are in the high risk (elderly) the full board will be meeting on Saturday March 14, 2020 at Sebring Florida and I will discuss this serious issue as to where we go from here forward. Being that we are dealing with high risk shuffleboard players and possible gatherings of large groups of 100 individuals the FSA board will have to make a conscientious decision whether to proceed on with the remaining tournaments, or curtail tournament play the rest of the 2019-2020 season. As the events unfold I ask each FSA board member to contact all the club presidents in your district and share this letter and to check the FSA website Bulletin Board for updated information the rest of the season.

David P Kudro