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FC 1974 Phase 4 Return To Play Guidelines

By Zovistoski, 06/30/20, 11:45AM CDT

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The Greater Libertyville Soccer Association is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of our players and members. We understand that our membership wants to get back on the field, but this must be done with strict focus on the safety of the players, coaches and families and follow state and local guidelines for resumption of normal soccer activities. The purpose of our Phase 4 Guidelines is to provide GLSA membership and their athletes, parents, and coaches with information that they can use to navigate safe return to play programming. 

Once Phase 4 is approved in Illinois by Governor Pritzker and the Public Health authorities, it will be possible to hold full team trainings and games. In Phase 4, gatherings of fifty (50) or fewer participants are allowed as long as capacity and safety precautions are maintained. Face coverings and social distancing are the norm. However, social distancing should NOT be taken lightly, and all aspects of the training environment must be assessed to identify and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. In the enclosed document, you will find FC 1974 Phase 4 Return to Play Guidelines. This Protocol is based on the Illinois Department of Public Health Youth Sports Guidelines, Illinois Youth Soccer Association, US Soccer and US Youth Soccer guidelines for soccer organizations.

We will continue with many of the protocols that were used in Phase 3 to minimize the spread of the virus, including, but not limited to, staggering training sessions, use of masks from car to field, social distancing off the field, sanitizing of equipment, etc. However, Phase 4 does bring about changes in training, we are now able to hold full team training sessions where activities with contact are now allowed. These sessions training sessions will begin June 29 and the coaches are checking with their players for participation. Phase 4 also brings about the ability for teams to play games against outside clubs. The new protocols has a section on game play and the guidelines that go along with it. Please pay special attention to this as it is new for everyone and help the club as much as you can in adhering to guidelines. 

Lastly, our schedule to the end of the year remains as we have stated in our May 6 Covid-19 Update. As long as player and team participation allow, GLSA will host the Libertyville Cup, July 10-12, for u8-u14 teams and FC 1974 College Showcase, July 17-19, for u15-u19 teams. Parents will be required to volunteer for these events if their child is playing. There are significant additional protocols that will need to be put in place to host tournaments that still need to be communicated from IYSA. Once we have that information from IYSA, we will pass it on to club membership. Additionally, teams that are able to participate, will attend the Rockford Puri Cup, July 24-26. This event will conclude the Spring 2020 season and we will begin our fall season on August 10.

The knowledge and circumstances around COVID-19 are changing constantly and, as such, the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association will continue to strictly comply with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), state and local guidelines for the resumption of play. Additional guidelines may, or may not, follow as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. Although the young and healthy may be subject to less severe cases of COVID-19, every case of this disease is potentially life-altering or deadly. Until COVID-19 is either eradicated, a vaccine is developed, or a cure is found, there is no way of eliminating the risk of infection. We all must stay diligent in our daily practices and awareness in limiting the spread of the virus and keeping our club and our family strong and prosperous. 

Thank you, 

Greater Libertyville Soccer Association