September 2, 2020
Dear Club and League Representatives:
In collaboration with a team from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, MSYSA has replaced our Return-To-Training (R2T) guidelines with updated Return-To-Play (RTP) guidelines, effective immediately.
The purpose of MSYSA’s RTP guidelines is to provide guidance to our affiliated clubs and leagues on safely returning to additional activities such as scrimmages and games. Currently, much of the state is in MSYSA Phase 4.0 (Regions 1-5 & 7) or MSYSA Phase 4.5 (Regions 6 & 8).
If/when an Executive Order (EO) is issued that relaxes the social distancing requirements specified in EO 160, there will be a brief, phased-in, approach with direct physical contact team training and intra-team activities (MSYSA Phase 5.0) prior to games commencing (MSYSA Phase 5.5). MSYSA will formally notify all affiliated club and league representatives on the movement from one phase to the next. MSYSA’s RTP guidelines are comparable, but not identical, to US Soccer’s approach.
The RTP guidelines outline our collective responsibilities specific to risk mitigation, soccer specific activities and matches/competitions. Please read and review carefully. When MSYSA formally announces that games may resume, things will look a lot different. Unfortunately, this is the new ‘normal’. For example, team handshakes, fist bumps and high fives will still not be permitted. In addition, a stricter face mask use policy for coaches, players and spectators has been adopted. Also, the number of spectators may be limited due to social distancing requirements and/or gathering size limits.
MSYSA acknowledges the frustration many have felt with not knowing when games will resume. The RTP guidelines outline a path forward sooner than initially anticipated in our R2T guidelines.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected]. In the interim, please continue to monitor our website and social media platforms for updates.
Sincerely,
Thomas Faro
Executive Director
cc.: MSYSA Board of Directors
