From Regional Commissioner Mike Cramer;
Parents, Players, and Volunteers,
We at Middleville AYSO want you to know that whatever the regulations, restrictions, or guidelines are for fall sports - however cumbersome they may be - we are committed to provide a safe, fair, and fun environment for your kids to participate. With the restrictions that are in place right now, it won't be the soccer we all know and love. It's not the news anyone wants to hear, but it's better than no program at all.
With that being said, we are diligently working in the background trying to figure out exactly what that program will be. TK Schools are working hard on Return-to-Play guidelines. Whatever they decide will be our plan for a safe restart to allow the program to proceed.
What I can tell you is this - what we did for our 4th of July event worked. Small groups, skills based events, temperature checks, and lots of hand sanitizer is probably the new norm for the immediate future. We know the importance of the overall health of the kids in our community, and we know that the program we provide is a crucial part in maintaining that balance of both physical and mental health now more than ever.
With these unprecedented times comes an unprecedented gesture to those parents that are still unsure if our program is right for their family. We are going to extend our registration through Labor Day to allow for additional direction from the state government and the athletic governing bodies. More guidelines are set to be released towards the end of August. These will be the deciding factors as to what our fall season will look like, and will allow parents to make the best decisions for their family with all the information available.
In the extremely unlikely event that we do not have a season, we will be issuing refunds for the portion of registration that stays with Middleville AYSO. The $20 National Player Membership portion of registration goes to AYSO National to pay for insurance. This has to be paid before we can attempt to start a season, so that part would most likely be non refundable, but concessions will be made to be certain that you will receive some form of compensation, either via reduced spring registration or no insurance fee for the 2021-2022 season.
For those that have already registered, THANK YOU. We've missed your kids. Our coaches and volunteers put in a lot of hours to enrich our participants lives - with a huge return of investment in the global currency of smiles, laughter, and high fives.
For those that are still on the fence - we get it. It's every parents responsibility to make the best decisions in keeping their family safe, and what's right for one family isn't right for another. If you feel that the 2020 season isn't right for your children, we absolutely respect that and hope to see your family back when you're comfortable with it.
Sorry this was so long winded. Essentially, we want you as parents and participants to know that we are doing everything we can to continue to provide a quality soccer program for your kids. We hope to see you all in next few weeks. Stay safe and smile. Even with a mask on, people can tell.
Sincerely,
Mike Cramer
Regional Commissioner
Middleville AYSO