Outdoor 2021 Resumption of Games

Good afternoon SYSI registered soccer players and families;

The provincial government released exciting news yesterday with an adjustment to include the resumption of sport in Step One which begins on Sun May 30!

• Community Association Leagues U5 - U9 will receive six (6) games between Mon May 31 and Wed Jun 30. Community schedules will be available on Thurs May 27 on the SYSI website at http://saskatoonyouthsoccer.ca/.
• Zone Association Leagues U7 - U19 will receive eight (8) games between Mon Jun 7 and Sun Jul 18.No league games will take place Thurs Jul 1 to Sun Jul 4. Under-7 will play 4v4, Under-9 will play 5v5, Under-11 will play 7v7, and Under-13 to Under-19 will play 9v9. Zone schedules will be available on Thurs Jun 3 on the SYSI website at http://saskatoonyouthsoccer.ca/.

 Beginning May 30, 2021, competition and game play for outdoor team sports can proceed with the following requirements:

• Participants may not compete if they are feeling unwell. Players and coaches should be encouraged to screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to arriving to practice and play, using the self-assessment tool at ca/COVID19.
• League play is allowed to resume; however, tournaments are not permitted at this time.  This will be revisited in Step Two of the Re-Opening Roadmap.
• No interprovincial travel.  Teams competing in regional interprovincial leagues need to contact the Business Response Team prior to beginning play. 
• Capacity must be in compliance with the public health order for public outdoor gatherings for each playing surface or game area.  Public outdoor gatherings are set to expand to a limit of 150 people on May 30 as part of the Re-Opening Roadmap.  Common areas, such as those where there are multiple playing surfaces, must also be in compliance with gathering limits in the public health order. 
  • Starting May 30, SYSI will allow more than one parent/spectator per player so long as the public outdoor gathering size is not exceeded. Coaches will need to manage this if spectator numbers are getting too high. Alternatively if this becomes an unmanageable issue SYSI may need to reinstitute restrictions on number of parents/spectators per player.
• Individual and protective equipment should not be shared.  When helmets and bats or other equipment are shared, cleaning and disinfecting must occur between each use. 
• Commonly touched equipment used for game play (e.g. game ball, football) is routinely replaced or disinfected during the course of practice or play.
• Coaches, officials, umpires, referees and players who are not on the field are not required to wear masks outdoors under the public health order.  However, masks may be worn if they are more comfortable with that layer of protection. 
  • SYSI highly recommends coaches and officials wear a mask when entering the field of play or approaching a player/spectator when social distance of three meters cannot be maintained.
• No shaking hands, high-fives, etc.
• Spectators not from the same household should maintain two metres of physical distancing.
• Spectators must remain in designated areas.  Masks are not required to be worn outdoors under the public health order, but they may be worn if spectators are more comfortable with that layer of protection.
• Hand sanitizer approved by Health Canada (DIN or NPN) or soap and water handwashing stations should be available for participants and spectators. 
  • SYSI highly encourages players and spectators to provide their own sanitizer.
• No sharing of water bottles.
• Public washrooms, when available, are cleaned and disinfected regularly, and soap and water or hand sanitizer is available. 
  • Only applicable for U15-U19 games at Saskatoon Soccer Centre or other teams training at facilities with public washroom facilities.
• Contact information of the coaches, officials and players should be recorded by the home team and maintained in order to assist with contact tracing for 30 days in the case of a confirmed case of COVID-19.
  • Each SYSI team shall designate a team member to track attendance at each game or practice event. SYSI highly encourages players and spectators to provide their own sanitizer.

SYSI is very excited and relieved to be heading back to the pitch with meaningful competition this outdoor season. Our youth have been training in groups of eight or fewer for the past five months and while their spirits have collectively remained high, the socially distanced training drills have been wearing on them. Thank you to all of you for doing your part in getting vaccinated! "Saskatchewan people have reduced the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated," Premier Scott Moe said.  "So, the next time you drive by a field of happy kids playing softball or football or soccer, please know that you made that possible.  Saskatchewan people are putting those kids back on to the field by doing their part, by rolling up their sleeves and sticking it to COVID."

If you have any Return to Play questions please contact SYSI at 306-975-3413 or info@saskatoonyouthsoccer.ca.

Sincerely,
Saskatoon Youth Soccer Inc.