Dear Soccer Parents and Guardians,
Despite being in the middle of a lockdown, Thames Centre Minor Soccer executive is working diligently behind the scenes to try to plan and prepare for when and if we can get onto the soccer field this season. We are still hopeful and wanted to give you an update on how things may look this summer.
We will not be able to get onto the fields until we move into the Orange Zone. This means that our soccer season likely will not start until June at the earliest. Middlesex London Health Unit protocols and Ontario Soccer return to play guidelines indicate that when in Orange, Yellow and Green, the kids can only play in 50 player bubbles. In some age groups, we have more than 50 players, so we may divide them into different bubbles that play on different nights, or simply take the first 50 registered. We will try to keep teams smaller, meaning less contact between players (and more touches on the ball!). Depending on field availability, this may mean that we have to play one night per week for a longer time slot, rather than two nights per week.
Part of government regulations require us to do contact tracing and COVID symptom checklists. Not only are we asking for coaching volunteers, but we will need COVID leaders for each team as well. Please consider volunteering your time to help out as without these jobs being filled, we will be unable to successfully run the season. If you could please email the convenor back if you're interested in volunteering it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you to those of you who already volunteered through the registration page - you will be hearing from us soon!
We will keep you posted as soon as we have more information re: nights and time of the week, cost, and payment due dates. Our board will be meeting again in the next couple of weeks to evaluate opportunities, teams and schedules. Please be aware that once the season is a go, we will ask you to provide payment promptly through the Sports Engine Registration website. A link will be provided.
Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate the ongoing challenges that COVID brings.
Thames Centre Minor Soccer
The Government of Ontario announced that it has paused its current color Public Health Framework and announced a Province-Wide Shutdown for multiple sectors of the economy. These new restrictions are greater than the previous Government of Ontario Framework and the Province has made specific changes to the rules for outdoor recreational facilities and team sports.
As a result, Ontario Soccer (OSA) is required to suspend all in-person soccer activities ‘for at least four weeks’ in order to comply with government orders. See OSA Covid-19 Update Bulletins here.
Thames Centre Minor Soccer will continue to follow OSA's Return to Play process. We are hoping that completing our Recreational Registration will set us up to quickly make plans for a soccer season. Any future team soccer activities will be contingent on progressing to ORANGE, YELLOW OR GREEN levels of the provincial framework. Currently, we are still awaiting clarification of what the facility capacities will be under colour levels from our health unit and municipality.
We will continue to update our members when we have new information and hope to have more clarity as the end of this shutdown nears. Thanks for your continued patience.
Coaches Needed !!!
Please consider volunteering for Coaching and assistant positions as we need your help!
