Dear North Valley Families,

The much-anticipated guidance for youth sports from Los Angeles County has finally been released and, as promised, I am letting you know what those updates are. For the remaining 2 weeks of our Spring season, nothing will be changing. The changes that were made to the guidelines do not affect our program.

According to the updated guidelines:

·      All sports participants are required to wear an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and mouth at all times during practice and conditioning, even during heavy exertion as tolerated to protect the safety of all participants. During competitions, face masks must be worn when not participating in the activity (e.g., on the sidelines).

The only change to this paragraph is the addition of the word “mask” otherwise this is the same guideline we have been following from Day 1.

·      All coaches, support staff, family members, observers, and visitors are required to wear an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and mouth at all times. This applies to all adults and to children 2 years of age and older. Masks with one-way valves must not be used. Individuals who have been instructed not to wear a mask by their medical provider must wear a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, to be in compliance with State directives, as long as their condition permits it. A drape that is form fitting under the chin is preferred.

The only change to this paragraph is the addition of “appropriate face mask” otherwise this is the same guideline we have been following since Day 1. It is also the policy of the facility, which has been emailed, is posted on the board by the snack bar and is available on our website.

There are only 2 more weeks left in the season, so please continue to follow the guidelines. We’ve had several instances of board members asking spectators to put their masks on only for those spectators to remove their mask once the board member has left. If you can’t stand to wear the face mask for 1 hour during your child’s game, then please watch the game from inside your vehicle.

Morgan Saffari
Regional Commissioner

Dear North Valley Families,

There has been a lot of information in the news this week that indicates we are continuing to move in a positive direction towards resuming life as we knew it pre-pandemic. I want to clarify what that means for our program as of right now.

Los Angeles County has updated its Public Health Order. However, it HAS NOT updated its guidance on youth sports. In order to keep our program running, we are required to follow the guidelines set up for youth sports, regardless of what any other guidelines state.

Until we receive an updated order, we will continue to follow the guidelines as written – they are posted on our website here as well as posted on the board by our snack bar. This means ALL SPECTATORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE MASK AT ALL TIMES WHILE AT THE FACILITY, UNLESS THEY REMAIN IN THEIR VEHICLE. This has been the rule since day 1. Don’t make us be the face mask police. We would like to watch our kids play too.

The question I am receiving the most is regarding players wearing face masks. The guidelines read:

All sports participants are required to wear an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and the mouth at all times during practice and conditioning, even during heavy exertion as tolerated to protect the safety of all participants. During competitions, face coverings must be worn when not participating in the activity (e.g., on the sidelines).

*      Practices/conditioning = players are required to wear an appropriate face mask, even during heavy exertion, as tolerated
*      Competitions (games) = face coverings must be worn when not participating in the activity.

All coaches, support staff, family members, observers, and visitors are required to wear an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and the mouth at all times.

*      Coaches are permitted to lower their face mask to give instructions to their players and then put their face mask back in place.
*      Referees are permitted to lower their face masks to blow their whistle and to give instructions.

It is going to be hot tomorrow – much hotter than any Saturday we’ve had so far. Please exercise COMMON SENSE with ANY child playing during the game.

Concession sales are still prohibited at youth sporting events, which means we will not have water available for sale. DO NOT FORGET YOUR CHILD’S WATER!

Thank you for your cooperation and patience this season.

Morgan Saffari
Regional Commissioner

Dear North Valley Families,

GAME ON!

After what has seemed like the longest year ever, both the State of California and Los Angeles County have approved high-contact youth sports to resume play even though Los Angeles is still currently in the purple tier. We can play soccer!

We will be pivoting our North Valley Skills Clinic into a traditional Spring Soccer program, similar to what we have run in previous years. Like previous Spring seasons, games will be informal and scores will not be kept. After a year of being at home, more than anything we want the kids to get out there and have fun! Here is what the changes entail:

* 1 practice day per week at the coach’s discretion (beginning the week before April 17)

* Small-sided games on Saturdays (April 17-May 22)

* Uniforms instead of t-shirts

With all of this being said, we are not back to “normal.” There are still many safety protocols we must follow in order to keep our program running and to keep all of our players, volunteers and spectators safe. Your Region 174 Board has been working hard to stay up to date with the most current guidelines released by the State of California as well as the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Order so that we continue to stay in compliance and are able to keep our program open.

Players will be kept in small, manageable teams in order to play small-sided games of 4v4 up to 7v7. The updated county guidelines require that all players “wear an appropriate face mask that covers the nose and the mouth at all times during practice, conditioning, play and competition, even during heavy exertion as tolerated to protect the safety of all participants. Exceptions to wearing a face mask are when the face mask may become a hazard, when in the water, while eating/drinking, or when engaging in solo physical exertion. Participants must wear a face mask at all times when not engaged in practice, conditioning or in play, including when on the sidelines during competitions.” All volunteers and spectators are required to wear a face mask while at the facility. All common tables/seating has been removed, and our snack bar will remain closed. Failure to follow any of the protocols will result in an immediate shut down of our program. Please be considerate of others. To read all of the protocols in full, please visit www.ayso174.org.

To register, visit www.ayso174.org and click on the Register Now button at the top righthand corner of the screen and follow the prompts. Players who are registered in the current 2021 Spring North Valley Skills Clinic DO NOT need to do anything – you are already registered. If you have any questions, please contact our registrar Abe Levy at [email protected].

I can’t wait to see everyone back out on the fields and I really can’t wait to see our kids playing soccer!

Morgan Saffari
Regional Commissioner

Dear North Valley Families,

We are very excited to announce that registration is open for the 2021 North Valley Skills Clinic beginning April 17. This clinic will run for 6 Saturdays, ending May 22. The cost is $120 per player (+ $20 AYSO Membership fee for players not registered in Fall 2020 or the Fall Skills Clinic) and includes a t-shirt.

This clinic will be like the Skills Clinic we offered in Fall 2020, and we ask again for everyone’s patience and cooperation to make this as successful and enjoyable for our kids as possible. Many protocols and procedures have been put in place so we stay in compliance with the guidelines released by the State of California as well as the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Order. While we are all anxious to return to the fields, we are being cautious and attentive to the well-being of our volunteers, players and spectators.

That being said, there will be NO GAMES taking place during these 6 weekends – including any type of scrimmage. This is strictly a skills training and conditioning program. This is finally an opportunity for us to get our kids back out on the soccer fields and at least they can focus on their skills and conditioning.

To keep players in small, manageable teams, there will be a maximum 8:1 player to coach ratio for all age groups. Players will need to wear a face mask coming to and from their field and when they are not actively participating in play. All volunteers and spectators must be wearing face masks while at the facility. All common tables/seating will be removed, and our snack bar will be closed. The fields will only be open and available to coaches/teams at their designated times. Any coach/team seen on the fields at any other time will be told to leave immediately. Failure to follow any of the protocols will result in an immediate shut down of our program. Please be considerate of others. To read all of the protocols in full, please visit www.ayso174.org.

To register, visit www.ayso174.org and click on the Register Now button at the top righthand corner of the screen and follow the prompts. Since the groups we will be forming in each division will be small, please register quickly to guarantee your space. Our region has spent a significant amount of money and resources to develop a program during this pandemic. Therefore we will be unable to give a refund if the program is unable to continue due to orders of the pandemic. If you have any questions, please contact our registrar Abe Levy at [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you safely back to the fields!

Morgan Saffari
Regional Commissioner