At Washington Youth Soccer, we want to get back on the fields as much as you do. But only when it is safe and responsible to do so. Governor Inslee’s office, whom we have been working with constantly on guidelines for a safe return to play for youth soccer, released a set of phase 2 requirements for outdoor sports, including youth sports. On top of safety requirements that you will also find in our Return to Play guidelines, the release state the following in regard to youth sports:

In Phase 2, team practice can resume if a) players are limited to groups of five in separate parts of the field, separated by a buffer zone and b) practice can follow social distancing of a minimum of five feet between players with no contact.  Each league, organization, or club must publish and follow a “return to play” safety plan. Parents and household members must not congregate on the sidelines during practice.

To be clear, this statement and the WYS Return to Play documents DO NOT give clubs automatic permission to resume play in Phase 2. If your county is in Phase 2, clubs MUST reach out directly to their local county officials, city council, and parks and recreation departments and get permission to rent fields. Clubs should use the above document from the governor’s office, as well as the WYS RTP documents to craft their own Return to Play safety plan as required by the release. If permission is granted, you CAN return to play. If permission is NOT granted, you CAN NOT return to play until Phase 3.  

As Washington progresses through the Phased Approach on a county-by-county basis, we urge you and your members to contact the appropriate departments about returning to play in their respective counties if one has not been established. Contact the following groups and be sure to mention the governor’s release and your club’s Return to Play safety plan:

• local city council
• county officials
• parks and recreation departments

The WYS Return to Play documents, which were drafted with the assistance of top medical and other experts, are at your disposal: https://washingtonyouthsoccer.org/washington-youth-soccer-return-to-play-guidelines/

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