We know that the past several weeks have had varying effects on families, but we hope that returning to play serves as a great way for players to be active, reduce stress and enjoy this (limited) social interaction with coaches and peers, in accordance with CDC guidelines.

On June 1, the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) issued new return-to-play guidelines, in accordance with US Soccer’s “Play On” protocol for member clubs, including Neenah Soccer Club. 
 
Effective immediately, clubs may enter Phase I of the “Play On” protocol. Here is what that means for us: 

• Maximum of nine players and one coach may now practice together in one location
• Social Distance measures will be practiced as much as possible during training sessions
  • Practices will focus on skill-development, endurance and strength, with a focus on mitigating injury, and all at safe and appropriate distances
  • Parents will not be allowed at training sessions to limit the number of people congregating 
  • Players will not be permitted to share equipment or gear
• Incident action plans must be in place and followed
  • Players must understand and comply with social distancing protocols
  • Parents must be notified should a team member become ill
• No competitions, games or tournaments 

Phase I will likely last 4-6 weeks, during which time the club will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19 within the state, and follow the recommendations of the CDC, US Soccer, WYSA and East Central Soccer District (ECSD). The decision to move onto the next phase will be made by the state.
 
The progression of US Soccer’s “Play On” phases will follow: 

• Phase II: Full team training, with social distancing during practice; 3-6 weeks;
• Phase III: Full team training and competitions; Large events/tournaments will be guided by local and/or state public health authorities
• Phase IV: No restrictions

As we progress through these phases, we need to be prepared to revert to earlier phases should we have infections or should recommendations change. 
 
It is important to remember that, while we all want to get back out onto the field and into full competition, we need to keep the health and safety of our players and coaches, as well as their families, as the priority that guides our practices. 

Neenah Soccer Club is targeting June 15 as a start date for small group, in-person training sessions. Groups will be divided by age and league, and will train for short times, between 30 minutes and an hour. These training sessions will be led by our Director of Coaching and our Master Coaches. Parents will not be permitted on the practice fields, and processes for drop-off and pickup will be released with our schedule. 
 
We are working on a schedule, and more detailed information about sessions times and dates will be released the week of June 8. 
 
We understand that every family has different comfort levels, situations and needs at this time. Please understand that these training sessions are completely optional. No player will be punished in any way for not attending. These practice sessions will serve as opportunities for players to refresh their skills and run through some non-contact drills in preparation for tryouts and fall seasons. 

In hopes that we are able to move into Phase II, Neenah Soccer Club has scheduled tryouts for the 2020-2021 seasons. All tryouts will take place July 13-15 at Memorial Park Fields 2 & 3 (please see your age-group for the appropriate day, time and field).

• 11U (2010) boys and girls
  • Monday, July 13, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 3
  • Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m.
• 12U (2009) boys and girls
  • Tuesday, July 14, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 3
  • Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m.
• 13U (2008) boys and girls
  • Monday, July 13, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 2
  • Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m.
• 14U (2007) boys and girls 
  • Tuesday, July 14, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 2
  • Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m.
• 15U-19U (2002-2006) boys
  • Wednesday, July 15, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 2
  • Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m.
• 15U-19U (2002-2006) girls
  • Wednesday, July 15, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
  • Memorial Park, Field 2
  • Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m.

This schedule is tentative, and subject to change based on changes to WYSA and US Soccer’s “Play On” status. Rain dates are TBD, and will be released as tryouts approach. 

All players 11U-19U interested in playing are asked to register for tryouts as soon as possible; the deadline for registration is July 9, 2020. Online registration is now open here. 
 
Due to the uncertainty associated with our return-to-play status, there will be no cost for tryouts. While the deadline is July 9, the earlier you sign up, the better we can prepare our fields, spaces and coaching staff for modification to comply with social distancing recommendations. 

We understand that there may have been some misunderstandings about prior emails regarding early offers. The early offer process, under guidelines of the WYSA 2020 Tryout Policy, allows clubs to present early, team-specific offers to existing NSC players prior to this year’s offer date of July 21, 2020. 

While the club has never utilized early offers in the past, we chose to do so this year as an opportunity, both to keep existing teams and age groups in-tact where appropriate, and to lower the number of players at our tryout dates. If you would like your player to be considered for this, you must register that player for tryouts by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 8. Should early offers be presented, they will be made on June 22, with a June 29 reply deadline. This is for early offers only, and declining an early offer does not prevent you from accepting a team offer during the scheduled tryout and offer period in July. 
 
Players need only register for tryouts ONCE. Those registered prior to June 8 will be considered for the early offer process. Those registered between June 8 and July 9, and those who registered prior to June 8 who did not receive or did not accept an early offer, will be expected at their age-group tryout in July. 
 
Should you have any questions about these processes, please do not hesitate to contact Tip Brown, Classic Director. 
 
Upon offer acceptance, regardless of date, a player registration fee will be due. You can find a schedule of NSC player fees here.
 

We know that this has been a long, often confusing process, and we appreciate your patience with us as we have worked through getting our players back out on the pitch, in the safest and most reasonable ways we can. We look forward to the day when we can all be out there together.