Nov 2020 through Jan 2021

January 29, 2021 – Update from Alberta Soccer Association

Subject: Pandemic Response Announcement

Good evening Alberta Soccer Membership,

I know everyone was disappointed to hear that traditional club sports would not be included in the next phase of openings on February 8^th. The details in the link below outline that one on one sport training will be allowed to resume in step 1, along with school based sport. This leaves the majority of Alberta Soccer membership waiting on step 2.

In Step 2 they will be considering “Further easing of indoor fitness and children’s sport and performance” and Step 3 they will consider “Adult team sports”.

https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx#Step1

Alberta Soccer will be providing guidance early next week on how one on one training can work within soccer but we understand that only presents a very limited opportunity for our soccer population.

We have no guarantee of a return to training or competition in step 2 or step 3 for soccer but it does give us a target to be ready to implement programming.

We continue to push through our contacts within government of the impact of the restrictions, especially given our demonstration in the summer and fall of how we made soccer safe. Below my signature you will see an invite to a government town hall that will be hosted next week. Please take the time to sign-up and distribute the link to other soccer organizations.

Have a good and safe weekend.

Richard Adams

JANUARY 8, 2021 – EMSA SOCCER ACTIVITIES SUSPENSION HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL JANUARY 21ST, 2021

Good Morning EMSA Members,

Yesterday the Government of Alberta decided to extend the mandatory restrictions provincewide until January 21, 2021. This decision was required in order to limit the current raise in Covid-19 cases across Alberta.

All the information can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

Health officials are monitoring the situation and will adjust measures if required.

EMSA is strongly recommending all its members to closely adhere to the current restrictions to lower the number of Covid-19 cases and allow for a quicker return to normal activities.

EMSA IS EXTENDING THE SUSPENSION OF ALL ORGANIZED SOCCER ACTIVITIES UNTIL JANUARY 21, 2021.

EMSA and our facility partners made a commitment to do everything possible to complete this 2020-2021 Indoor Season once the restrictions are lifted.

EMSA’s goal is to give our teams as many games as possible for the remainder of the Indoor Season. EMSA scheduling team is working on updating the schedules for the remainder of the season and will be ready to post them as soon as the AHS will allow us to play.

EMSA plans to complete the 2020-2021 Indoor Season through February, march and first week in April. Should the current Covid-19 restrictions prevent us from completing all our games by April 11^th, 2021, EMSA Board will decide a pro-rated refund policy.

Note that the EMSA Main website www.emsamain.com is constantly updated, please use it as a source of information for players, families, and Team Officials.

Thank you and Best Wishes!

Dec. 9th, 2020 News From EMSA:

Good Afternoon EMSA Members,

As expected, in light of the continuing increase in Covid19 spread, the Government of Alberta decided, on December 8, 2020, to implement stronger public health measures.

Full information here: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

The new restriction effectively shut down all sport and recreation province-wide until at least January 12, 2021.

As a result of these measures, EMSA is effectively suspending all organized soccer activities until January 12, 2021.

EMSA is encouraging all young soccer players in our program to do their best to stay active during these next 4 weeks and will work with the coaching staff to help them provide virtual training and support for their teams during this period.

EMSA and our facility partners made a commitment to do everything possible to complete this 2020-2021 Indoor Season once the restrictions are lifted.

EMSA’s scheduling team is working on re-arranging the new January-to-April Schedule in order to give our teams as many games as possible for the remainder of the Indoor Season.

We trust that the new Government of Alberta restrictions, coupled with recent vaccine development will allow all of us to resume a much normal activity come 2021.

In the meantime, stay safe, take care of each other and try to enjoy this Modified Christmas Season.

EMSA

Nov. 25, 2020

The Government of Alberta declared a health state of emergency, effective Friday, November 27th, to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and protect our health system. The emergency will remain in effect for 3 weeks and then re-evaluated.

Soccer and all soccer activities are therefore suspended until further notice.

Applications, by groups and or organizations, for special dispensations can be forwarded to the Government of Alberta.

EMSA, EDSA and Facilities are working together to apply for dispensation. ASA will hopefully join our application.

EMSA has arranged with the Soccer Facilities to extend the Indoor program into April 2020.

Nov. 12, 2020

I am sure many of you will already be aware that the AHS has announced today to temporarily suspend all sports activities for the next two weeks. This means that starting tomorrow, Friday, November 13^th, all EMSA league games will be cancelled through to and including November 27^th. Games will resume again on Saturday, November 28^th. EMSAmain is hoping to add these cancelled games onto the end of the second round schedule. Please be prepared to play in March.

Please see the COVID-19 update from Alberta Soccer.

Nov. 6th, 2020

Contract Tracing Update

https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/Page17199.aspx

October 26, 2020 Update:

Further, ASA clarified that the new 15 people limit only applies to uncontrolled/unstructured social gatherings and do not affect current soccer cohorts.