Good morning, friends, family, players, coaches, referees, and all volunteers.  We are writing this email to all participants signed up for soccer programs of fall 2019, spring 2020, and our competitive (club) program.

To protect all our kids, volunteers, and spectators, all AYSO activities will continue to be postponed through April 6.  The current COVID-19 landscape and restrictions continue to develop.  Here is the most up-to-date information thus far:

• From AYSO National program: 
  • We are awaiting an official update since last week.Yesterday, the AYSO National Board of Directors began meeting.They are monitoring our state, since it is “a fluid situation.”An official AYSO response is being drafted today.They are also working out a way to make it easier to send back full refunds for the spring soccer season, if the kids are not allowed to return to play this April.Until the official response, they continue to pass on the tips for prevention of COVID-19 athttps://www.aysovolunteers.org/coronavirus-update-and-prevention-tips/
• From the Tony Pehle: 
  • “Due to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) effective immediately the City of Sparks is closing all fields for practice and/or games until at least April 6th.We are sorry for the inconvenience but with the advice from the Health department the decision has been made.So no Sparks Youth Sports Foundation organizations can hold practice or games on City of Sparks fields until at least April 6th.If I get any additional information beyond that I will let you know as soon as possible.Thank you.”
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on March 15 recommends cancelling large gatherings and keeping group meetup numbers under 50 at this time.Their update is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
• The President mentioned in a White House speech yesterday that their task force and administration recommends: schooling from home, groups of no more than 10 people, avoiding extra travel, and to avoid dining-in at bars, restaurants, and public food courts.A clip of the video is available at https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/politics/white-house-guidelines-coronavirus/index.html
• Our local friends GBYSL continue to update their website as well.Their programs are continued to be restricted until March 29 with the Sparks fields still being closed until April 6. Their website is available at https://www.gbysl.org/
• The US Club Soccer response tends to repeat similar information to .Their websitehttps://www.usclubsoccer.org/coronavirus also continues to update with national level changes and provides tips on the prevention of COVID-19.

I have had only two requests for refunds so far out of our 511 players currently registered for this spring season.  Thank you for being patient!!  If you only want a 50% refund, you can still follow the directions at http://www.sparksayso.org/wp/?page_id=4730.  However, AYSO National is currently working on the processes to make full refunds easier for all of us if this situation becomes prolonged, so we highly recommend that we all just sit tight currently.  Upon further AYSO National policy guidance, we also expect to change coach trainings, referee trainings, and our group outing to Reno 1868.  We are also trying to re-schedule a surprise “free” 2-eveningplayer clinic, like we offered all our spring players in 2019.  But instead of just before Memorial Day, we are attempting to have them offer something in early June.

Thank you to all of you for being patient and those of you whom have reached out to us in support of our response.   It is greatly appreciated.  I’m assuming the next big changes will come by mid-April, but we will continue to keep you updated as we know more.  My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all of you, those being most affected by COVID-19, and our frontline & healthcare workers.  We will continue to let you know more as the situation changes as we ride this information wave with you.

Sincerely,

Christopher Lanski
Volunteer Board Member with Sparks AYSO Region 166
E-mail: [email protected]