State Cup 2020 has been moved to July 11-13 (with some games taking place Friday night (July 10^th).  July 13 is a Monday but we are aiming to try complete on Sunday with the smaller brackets

 

• Website / Entry form is now back open  NO PAYMENT IS DUE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN ENSURE THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE

 

• All existing entries State Cup entries  will be transferred to the new date unless told otherwise  Here is the current list of entries so you can check your clubs status https://events.gotsport.com/events/teamlist.aspx?showall=clean&eventid=77882 

 

• If you wish to move from the State Cup to the Directors Cup bracket (see below for details)  then please let Pam know  pdraper@idahoyouthsoccer.org

 

• Deadline for entry will be June 17^th  

 

• Draw will take place June  June 19^th   ALL PAYMENTS WILL BE DUE AT THIS TIME

 

• The competition committee will be reviewing the rules due to the tournament no longer leading to a next level event. Rules they are looking at include, roster flexibility, substitutions etc.

 

 

A special Directors Cup division for other U15 and older teams has been added to State Cup

 

We have been asked by several clubs to include a Directors Cup division for U15 and above to take place at State Cup. This is to provide the older second tier players a season ending event before they get into high school.  We are unsure as to how many teams we will have so for now we have combined U15/16 and U17/U18/U19  If we get enough teams at any single age, for example U15 and U16 then we will split those ages. If you are interested in that group then go to the State Cup page and enter a team as you would for State Cup and there should now be a drop down in the division list. We HAVE NOT transferred the existing older teams from Directors Cup, please have your teams re-enter if they wish to be part of this division.

 

Over the past several weeks we have looked at all the variables associated with hosting a State Cup event.

 

• Number of fields required  (has to be enough so that games can be spread out as much as possible)
• Field availability
• Permits
• Governors Idaho Rebound Stage Compliance
• Tryouts
• Referee availability
• Team availability
• Team preparation
• Player availability
• League Play that might be going on
• Staff availability
• Parking staff
• Medical Staff

 

And many others……

 

The decision to go with July 11^th was not an easy one but for IYSA one of the critical components of the decision was that the Governors Idaho Rebound Stages would all be complete

 

 

This is being sent to the club leadership, please feel free to distribute it to your members

Before we begin today's update we would like everyone to know that IYSA gets all of the official Idaho State and local government information just the same way that all of you do.  We are not privy to any information prior to it’s release.

Stage 2 Information

Last week the Governor announced that Idaho has entered Stage 2 of his rebound plan. Stage 2 is not unlike Stage 1 for youth sports  and many of you will be returning to practice during this stage. It is important that if you have not done so, to develop an appropriate plan to make sure that you follow the Governors guidelines and enforce social distancing as well as appropriate sanitization measures. One thing that is vitally important to remember is that any return to play MUST BE OPTIONAL FOR ALL PARENTS / PLAYERS.  No one can be forced to participate and no one should be punished for not showing up.

As a reminder, there was a specific youth activity document released during Stage 1 by the Governor and that can be found here  https://rebound.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/stage1-protocols-youth.pdf Currently there is no Stage 2 document on youth activities and we are unsure as to if there will even be one as the Governors focus is producing similar documents for business that are just beginning to open.

Stage 3 Information (May 30-June 12)

Initially in Stage 3 we believed that we could return to full field play. Gathering numbers will be at 50 or less.  There are however some question marks as Stage 3 also refers to appropriate social distancing. We are seeking clarification

Stage 4 information (June 13-30)

Stage 4 looks a lot more promising with gathering numbers that are greater than 50 being  allowed and sporting venues can open with limited social distancing protocols.

USYS Return to play

US Youth Soccer has released its return to play guidelines and can be found attached to this e-mail.  Guidelines are not mandates, however a lot of the bullet points should be considered best practices as they align with the Governors documents and can be used to produce your own protocols and procedures.

Waivers

Several of you have been concerned about legal ramifications on the return to play. We have been advised that as long as you follow the Governors guidelines and are not negligent then it should be OK. I covered our bases and  contacted our insurance company and this weekend they sent me a sample of a simple hold harmless waiver (attached) that could be used should clubs wish to add an extra layer of protection for themselves.  

State Cup

The city of Boise is currently stricter than a lot of areas and has shut down its parks to organized sports until at least May 30^th.  We have asked about the likelihood of play at the Simplot fields in June especially with State Cup in mind.  We have been told that it was unlikely at any point in June  but it is not ruled out and is day-to-day based on data.  Pushing State Cup into July is not ideal especially for a lot of the older ages, however before we make that decision we are working on an alternate location plan here in the Meridian area but it will require a two weekend approach separating older players and younger players.  We will have more info for you on that in the coming days as examine  if it is feasible or not.  The weekends would be the latter part of June .

League Play

There are a couple of leagues within Idaho.  Each league will determine it’s best way forward.  If you are in the ISL league in the treasure valley an e-mail will be coming out this week,  The Snake River League is currently in planning mode,  The North is trying to put some games together with neighboring clubs for when we return to match competition.

 

Documents for reference:

USYS RTA Document

COVID 19 Sample Waiver

 

We will endeavor to keep you all informed on further information as we receive it ourselves.

 

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As you should all be aware, IYSA contacted the Governor for clarification on how the new OPENING UP IDAHO Stage 1 relates to soccer and youth sports in general.  This morning he released the Stage 1 protocols for Youth Activities Document.  The document can be interpreted as allowing soccer practices to begin starting May 1^st.

Read the document in its entirety here: Stage 1 protocols for Youth Activities

Although this is exciting information for all of us, IYSA is asking you to all please show extreme caution and read the document in its entirety before deciding to practice and informing your teams. We also ask that you make sure that you have the appropriate plans and protocols in place and if you do decide to proceed with practices that you make sure that those plans are followed.  

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Since mid-March Idaho Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) has kept a close watch on the COVID-19 situation. We have acknowledged the fluidity of the situation and have remained steadfast in our focus on making decisions that put our players, families, communities, and all of Idaho first.

The Governor recently announced his 4-stage guidelines for OPENING UP IDAHO.  Almost immediately afterwards we were starting to receive calls and e-mails about what we were planning on for beginning play based on the guidelines. The IYSA staff has read those guidelines and because of the demand has created the attached document.  It is very important to realize that despite the Governors guidelines the situation remains fluid and that things can continue to change.  Just as important as the guidelines is the facilities themselves opening back up so that practices and play can continue so we urge all of you to consult with your City councils as to when that might happen.

Click here to read the plan 

Here are some additional updates:

USYS Return To Play Guidelines

As several states begin to open up US Youth Soccer announced this morning that they are going to produce a set of return to play guidelines in the form of both written documentation and a video. The timing of these guidelines is unknown.  Idaho is one of the first states to open up so until we receive that documentation we will continue to  use the attached plan.  

 

 

IYSA Technical Directors Meeting

Last week 30+ Technical Directors attended a webinar hosted by IYSA TD Skyler Bell.  This meeting went over various topics (including the ones below) and it was recorded. If you wish to listen to that recording then please e-mail Skyler at sbell@idahoyouthsoccer.org and he will send you the link.

 

 

 

Directors Cup

For 2020 the event will now be moving to become a pre-season fall event and will take place August 21^st.  All current entries will have the opportunity to use their paid entry as credit for the fall event. More communication to come.

 

State Cup

State Cup will continue as currently planned on June 19-22.  Should this need to be postponed there is the opportunity of playing in July. If we do have to move the event we will make that decision a short time after the conclusion of the Governor’s stage 1.  Some questions were asked about possible Monday play so as clarification we will try to end the tournament on Sunday where possible unless larger brackets determine otherwise.

 

League Play

Each league to determine their own start and end date but we highly anticipate no games prior to Stage 3 which puts league start dates at May 30^th. Without Directors Cup on June 6^th this will allow for another full week of league play for those teams in June.

 

 

 

Tryouts

Tryouts will continue as planned on June 29^th

 

 

 

The Fall Season

A number of you have asked us if the delay in the spring season will affect the fall? At this point we do not see any change to the traditional fall season timeline other than Directors Cup becoming a pre-season event for this year only.

 

With regards to how Covid-19 will affect the fall season, that is much harder to predict but we are hopeful that we should all be back on the regular track but with a heightened awareness of the virus in our daily lives.

 

GEM State Challenge

The event is currently planned for October 3-4

It is not understated that these are unprecedented times and that we will get through this together. IYSA is committed to ensuring that everyone in Idaho, players, coaches, referees, and families are able to participate in ways that they are confident and safe and puts them first, ahead of everything else.

 

 

 

 

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Update regarding the 4/23 Governors Update

With the update and announcement of the Stages of Reopening by Governor Little yesterday, IYSA is working with technical and club leaders to put together a plan to resume play. Specifics to come.

To view Stages of Reopening guide visit: https://rebound.idaho.gov/stages-of-reopening/

Tryout Update

You will find the date modifications for holding tryouts as decided by the IYSA competition committee. This committee has representatives from all 4 districts across the state and I would like to thank them for their work on this document. Access the document here: Tryout Modification Document

If you have questions then please feel free to contact Skyler Bell sbell@idahoyouthsoccer.org or your district commissioner whose contact info can be found here  http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/governing-documents/

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind people that despite the current environment, the IYSA Poaching Policy is still being enforced and can be found here.

 

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Suspension of activities

In light of the Governors announcement yesterday, we would like to remind everyone that  IYSA had already previously suspended sanctioned activities until May 1^st. The https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ website has been updated extensively and can answer a lot of questions that you may have pertaining to the stay-home order as well as a comprehensive list of essential businesses that can remain open. IYSA is also posting our updates to http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/covid-19/

Several of you may have read a statement from USYS that suspends regional and national play until May 15^th. This does not pertain to local internal state play, each state may play whenever that state determines that it is safe to play.

State Cup

The competition committee which consists of representation from across all 4 districts, has been working behind the scenes on several projects. One of these was pertaining to an alternate date for State Cup which was originally slated for memorial weekend. We can now announce that State Cup will be  on June 19-22. For those of you that have entered, we are extending the payment deadline until such time as we see a return to play. You will be notified of the new deadline when it is known.

Farwest Regionals

As you are aware the event for 2020 was canceled. Idaho is due to host again in 2021 and we are excited to announce that Idaho has been chosen for the event again in 2022.

Tryouts

The competition committee is currently evaluating several tryout dates, we expect to announce the final date early next week.

General League Play

There are several competitive and recreational leagues around the State.  Each of those leagues are monitoring the situation daily and are planning to have some play in the May / June and possibly July timeframe based on whenever it is deemed to be safe to return to play. Until that time please be patient.

ESPORTS is coming

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the esports concept, it is the ability for people to play sport-based games against each other.  This can include tournaments, leagues or just friendlies.  For the youth soccer world, the game of choice is typically FIFA 20 on either the XBOX or PS4 and is not only enjoyed by the players but also coaches, referees and parents alike.   IYSA has teamed up with an esport specialist to provide the IYSA club members access to a SAFE and RISK MANAGED environment for anyone U13 or above (laws prohibit younger ages).  One of the features will include the ability for clubs to create their own internal events exclusively for their organization.  More information will be released soon.

 

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Club Leaders :

 

Here are a couple of updates regarding the current situation that we are all dealing with.

Suspension of play extension

A couple of days ago the President of the United States announced an extension of the government guidelines regarding social distancing. For this reason just about every major youth/adult sports organization across the country -- including US Soccer and US Youth Soccer -- have extended the current return to play date until May 1^st. 

Farwest Regionals and Regional Presidents Cup Cancelled

In one of the toughest decisions to date, US Youth Soccer has cancelled these regional and national events. This decision DOES NOT include State Cup, which we are still planning to hold. On the positive side, the cancellation of Regionals will  free up more weekends for league play.

For those of you what wish to see the reasons behind the decision you can read the full news release here: 

https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/usys-programming-notice-33120/?fbclid=IwAR1cAw66pKdtZ78bKDAow3eOJctqRSu8KeVKIh5F0_6EQrUjkNC4eSaVSiU

 

Tryouts

As the dust is now beginning to settle our discussions during the next few days will be regarding tryouts. With the season extending into the June/July time frame, we are now at the point where the current tryout timeline will not work for the vast majority of our state. We will touch base soon with further information.

 

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Further suspension of play

In lieu of today’s stay at home announcement by Governor Little, IYSA is suspending all activities until April 20^th which also coincide with the current school closures.

 

State Cup deadline extended

Several members have asked us about extending the State Cup deadline due to the current climate.  IYSA has agreed and will be extending the State Cup deadline until April 17^th.  Payment for the event will be due before the draw date which is going to be April 21^st.  The tournament is still slated to take place on memorial weekend

 

Directors Cup NEW DATE

In order to allow the various leagues around the state to begin play and for teams to have some game time prior to Directors Cup, we have now changed the date of the tournament to June 6^th.   Deadline for entry will be May 15^th.  The current entries will still be valid.

 Farwest Regionals

No change at this time

Regional Presidents Cup

No change at this time

 Other Idaho Tournaments

Other tournaments are beginning to move their dates, we will update them on our website as we hear from them.

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This morning I had a conference call with US Youth Soccer. They have also had a call with the other US Soccer affiliates which include amongst others, US Club and AYSO.  All agreed to extend the suspension of all activities beyond the current March 30^th date and are setting new dates for their organizations. US Youth Soccer is currently determining the date of their suspension but we have no news as to what that date is yet. As soon as US Youth Soccer decide on the date we will let you know.  In the meantime IYSA continues to plan for a late start to the spring season and an extension of play that could run through July.

 

For up-to-date information please ensure that you continue to check the IYSA Covid-19 page at http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/covid-19/

 

Lastly, here is a document from the CDC that was sent to us from the Chairman of US Youth Soccer Dr. Pete Zopfi  and explains very well  what is called the Community Mitigation Strategy. Click Here for that document

 

Stay safe.

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New Webpage

We don’t want to continually fill inboxes with data so we have created a simple webpage where you will find a daily log of any changes that are being made. This can be reached at http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/covid-19/ . 

The official Idaho Government Website which is updated frequently can also be found here  https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/  

 

Office

Per Government and CDC Recommendations, the IYSA staff will be working from home until March 30^th.  The phone voicemail will be monitored but you can also reach us vial e-mail:

 

Craig Warner                   cwarner@idahoyouthsoccer.org

Skyler Bell                        sbell@idahoyouthsoccer.org

Pam Draper                     pdraper@idahoyouthsoccer.org

Verna Weiss                    verna@idahoyouthsoccer.org

Alex Jones                        ajones@idahoyouthsoccer.org

Nicole Arsenault             narsenault@idahoyouthsoccer.org

 

ISL Recreational League

This league is not due to kick off until April 4^th but we are monitoring that date.  We could go to a more condensed season or an extended one but that may be determined by the clubs involved.

Snake River League (District 2)

To be determined by the District 2 participants, they are already communicating on a frequent basis.

ODP Sub-Regional

Has been postponed until May 1-3, location may have to change due to the current Boise Parks restrictions.

Directors Cup

At this time is still ON.   Deadline for entry at the moment is April 24^th

State Cup

At this time is still ON.  Deadline for entry is currently March 27^th  although the draw will be postponed in order to give people a chance to be present.

Regional Presidents Cup

At this time is still ON

Farwest Regionals

At this time is still ON

 

USYS Monday Conference call: All NCS events are still on as of today.(Directors and State Cup, Regionals, Presidents Cup)

Suspension of league play until March 30th remains in effect. 

ISRC: All referee classes have been suspended at this point. More info to come at a later date. 

CDC: Idaho public health experts recommend that organizers (whether groups or individuals) postpone or cancel mass gatherings and public events in any of the following situations:

• The event will draw audiences or participants from communities, states, or countries with confirmed community spread of COVID-19 disease. Your local public health district can assist you in making this determination.
• The event will consist of 50 people or more people. This is recommended for the next eight (8) weeks.
• The event’s primary audience includes or may expose high-risk populations, including adults over the age of 60 years and people with underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes, regardless of the number of attendees.  

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To: Idaho Youth Soccer Membership

Re: Coronavirus Update (COVID-19)

Date: March 12, 2020

 

Statement regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The health and well-being of the Idaho Youth Soccer Associations many players and families is our number one priority. Idaho Youth Soccer is following the guidelines being sent forward by Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Idaho Central Health District. We are also monitoring the newly created Idaho Coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/

Both US Soccer and US Youth Soccer have issued statements and are monitoring the changing dynamic around the county. We will share any updates if and when they are received. Based on the facts and information we have currently, we recommend everyone follow the protocols and best practices set forth by the CDC. www.cdc.gov

All soccer activity may go on as scheduled at this time. The situation is very fluid and so each organization is empowered to make their own decisions for their games and events. Please be respectful of individual or organizational decisions regarding participation. Also be mindful of your facility partners, especially schools and the decisions they need to make regarding usage.

Additionally, players in a higher-risk category, or who are not feeling well, should not participate.

 

CURRENTLY RECOMMEND PROCEEDING AS SCHEDULED

• ISL games
• Club trainings
• Future in-state tournaments
• RTC trainings in areas with local leagues continuing play
• ODP Sub-Regional Camp (although classroom session will be cancelled)

 

CANCELLED

• National League play
• Regional League play
• Coaching Courses
• ODP International trips

 

Along with statements from both US Soccer and US Youth Soccer you will also find a number of national as well as local resources listed on our website at http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/risk-management/. 

To reinforce health safety and best practices for illness prevention, please read the list below:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow the CDC's recommendations for using a facemask.
• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including Coronavirus.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms to help prevent the spread of the disease.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

 

Bill Taylor

President

Idaho Youth Soccer Association

 

Suspension of activities

In light of the Governors announcement yesterday, we would like to remind everyone that  IYSA had already previously suspended sanctioned activities until May 1^st. The https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ website has been updated extensively and can answer a lot of questions that you may have pertaining to the stay-home order as well as a comprehensive list of essential businesses that can remain open. IYSA is also posting our updates to http://www.idahoyouthsoccer.org/governance/covid-19/

Several of you may have read a statement from USYS that suspends regional and national play until May 15^th. This does not pertain to local internal state play, each state may play whenever that state determines that it is safe to play.

State Cup

The competition committee which consists of representation from across all 4 districts, has been working behind the scenes on several projects. One of these was pertaining to an alternate date for State Cup which was originally slated for memorial weekend. We can now announce that State Cup will be  on June 19-22. For those of you that have entered, we are extending the payment deadline until such time as we see a return to play. You will be notified of the new deadline when it is known.

Farwest Regionals

As you are aware the event for 2020 was canceled. Idaho is due to host again in 2021 and we are excited to announce that Idaho has been chosen for the event again in 2022.

Tryouts

The competition committee is currently evaluating several tryout dates, we expect to announce the final date early next week.

General League Play

There are several competitive and recreational leagues around the State.  Each of those leagues are monitoring the situation daily and are planning to have some play in the May / June and possibly July timeframe based on whenever it is deemed to be safe to return to play. Until that time please be patient.

 

ESPORTS is coming

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the esports concept, it is the ability for people to play sport-based games against each other.  This can include tournaments, leagues or just friendlies.  For the youth soccer world, the game of choice is typically FIFA 20 on either the XBOX or PS4 and is not only enjoyed by the players but also coaches, referees and parents alike.   IYSA has teamed up with an esport specialist to provide the IYSA club members access to a SAFE and RISK MANAGED environment for anyone U13 or above (laws prohibit younger ages).  One of the features will include the ability for clubs to create their own internal events exclusively for their organization.  More information will be released soon.