While millions of medical personnel around the world are doing everything possible to contain the COVID-19 virus, the top priority of GLSA continues to be the health and wellness of our players, families, coaches and staff. Recently we have joined with other national soccer organizations to proclaim national time-out for our sport. At that time, we announced a suspension of our activities through April 15th. The suspension has been extended to May 1, which coincides with the Illinois Stay at Home Order. During the is time, we have communicated brief updates to the membership. This communication is meant to be a more detailed update that contains information specifically to each of our programs, Recreational and Competitive. We will look to send an update in two weeks.
If current conditions remain, the Stay At Home Order is lifted and players are able to return to schools, the GLSA Recreational Program will kick off on June 1. We are working on a schedule to condense the season to 5 weekends. Several of the divisions have an odd numbered teams, so there were already doubleheader Saturdays built into the schedule. Our volunteers that registered for shifts in April and May will be removed from those and moved to the new dates once they are confirmed. If those dates do not work, individuals can choose a new volunteer shift.
The FC 1974 Competitive Program has halted any in-person programming, including meetings, training, classes, etc., during this time. As most of you are probably aware, USYS has canceled Regionals and Nationals this summer. https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/usys-programming-notice-33120/ All events prior to May 1 have been canceled or postponed, Galaxy Friendlies and Rockford events have been rescheduled for June and July. Local leagues and MWC games, State Cup, President’s Cup and Illinois Cup have not been canceled, with the expectation they will be extended through June and possibly into July, so please plan accordingly. Once we are able to return to normalcy, our teams will continue to train through their last event, whenever that may be. The Directors and Coaches have built a Google Classroom platform to optimize distance learning and individual training. Our coaches continue to add to the growing list of activities and assignments every day for the good of our entire soccer community. We have included not just technical and physical activities, but tactical and mental assignments as well. It is important for our athletes to continue to develop the ‘whole’ player, so the tactical and mental assignments will challenge the mind. As Johann Cruyff said, ‘You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you.’ FC 1974 Directors continue to meet daily via video conference with staff meetings held weekly to discuss additions to the program and pros/cons to the distance learning. We already have fixed a few bugs in our Google Classroom. We will continue to post challenges and videos on our social media platforms to add the fun element for the players and families and we urge you to all so post videos and photos as well. For those of you that may not have connected, our platforms are listed below. Lastly, our coaching staff has been instructed to hold Zoom meetings with their teams on a biweekly basis to stay engaged and connect with their players.
We are all anxious to get back on the field. The goal for our Directors and Coaches is to give our players enough information and activities so they can continue to work on their own and continue to develop. The game will be here when we are able to get back.
These are extraordinary and challenging times and the most important thing we can do at the moment is to continue to practice good social and physical distancing. Be kind to one another, take care of your family and stay connected with your fields. We will all get through this together.
Lastly, to those of you working in essential jobs and out in the public and especially those working in the health care community – thank you for all you are doing for the rest of us!
All In Illinois – Stay In, Stay Safe
Michael Zovistoski,
Executive Director, GLSA