Just in case you're not worried about the flu, consider this: The Manhattan Soccer Club, a youth soccer organization, is banning handshakes and high-fives at games.
Children are awesome at carrying germs, thanks to school and other places where they are in close quarters and share equipment. CBS 2 obtained the letter the MSC sent to the parents of little Typhoid Madison's and Mark's:
There have been increasing Influenza cases this winter so we just want to remind families of some strategies for decreasing the spread of the Flu within the club.
Players should practice good hand hygiene by washing hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (eg. Purell).
Players should avoid touching their nose or mouth.
Players should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they sneeze or cough.
Players should not share drinks or snacks with each other.
If your player is sick, do not send him or her to practices or games. Keep your player home for 24 hours after there are no longer signs of a fever or other flu symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches). Keeping your sick player home will prevent other players from getting sick.
Speak to your doctor about the flu vaccine.
At this point the MSC Board and the coaching staff would recommend that players not shake/touch hands with opponents after the games. The safest thing to do is to touch elbows. The coach or manager can explain this to the other team prior to the game.
Or else we'll have to start casting the kiddie version of Contagion:
And CDC director, Dr. Thomas Frieden (the former NYC Health Commissioner), says the Contagion scenario is TOTALLY plausible:
