Dear Youth Soccer Leaders,
Today, July 24, 2020, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has updated the Safety and Reopening Standards for Business and other Entities Providing Youth and Adult Amateur Sports Activities – Phase III, Step 1.
Soccer is now classified in the Moderate Risk Sport category, member organizations are permitted participate in Level 1, 2 and 3 type of play.
Type of Play: The following types of play are defined by level from least to greatest risk.
- Level 1: Individual or socially distanced group activities (no-contact workouts, aerobic conditioning, individual skill work, and drills)
- Level 2: Competitive Practices (Intra-team/group games, contact drills and scrimmages)
- Level 3: Competitions (Inter-team games - a.k.a. league play, meets, matches, races, etc.)
- Level 4: Tournaments (Outdoor only) NOT PERMITTED IN PHASE III, STEP 1
Mass Youth Soccer has updated our Return to Soccer Activities (RTSA) Guidelines and added additional information to the Return to Soccer Activities web page to reflect these updates.
It is important to note that all RTSA Guidelines MUST be adhered to. This update only changes what can take place on the field of play for soccer, nothing else.
Even though this news is exciting for our sport, we cannot stress enough the importance of the responsibilities we have to our children and all families involved in our sport for their health, safety and well-being. This is a privilege we have been given and we must stay true to our word that we will follow the CDC, State DPH, US Soccer and local guidelines in all that we do.
In addition, Mass Youth Soccer Executive Director Mike Borislow will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 29th, at 7:00 pm to provide youth soccer organizations across Massachusetts additional insight to the most recent Guideline updates. The webinar will also include specific information for COVID Safety Officers.
