March 16, 2020

Dear Members:

Michigan Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, just announced sweeping restrictions through an Executive Order (No. 2020-9) to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), protect public health, and provide essential protections to the most vulnerable. These temporary restrictions begin as soon as possible, but no later than March 16, 2020 at 3:00 PM and continue until March 30, 2020 at 11:59 PM.

With respect to sport, and in brief, included in the restrictions are gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor exercise facilities, exercise studios, and spas.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued interim guidance for large events and mass gatherings. CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

On March 13, 2020, the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) suspended all of our soccer activities*, all MSYSA sanctioned tournaments, and all MSYSA affiliated activities through Sunday, April 5, 2020. For clarification purposes, ‘MSYSA affiliated activities’ includes scheduled games, team practice sessions, or sponsored activities that are under the direct supervision of a team official; or sanctioned local or national tournaments as a member of a contestant team (e.g., any activity that MSYSA sanctions and insures).

Our main priority continues to be the safety and well-being of our players, team officials, and referees. This is not just a soccer decision, but a public health decision.

*MSYSA (state-run) soccer activities suspended through Sunday, April 5, 2020 include:

·     MSYSA State Cup

·     MSYSA Junior State Cup

·     MSYSA Director’s Academy

·     Michigan State Premier Soccer Program (MSPSP)

·     MSYSA Olympic Development Program (ODP)

·     MSYSA Olympic Development Program 101

·     MSYSA Coach Education Courses



In accordance with social distancing guidelines, the MSYSA State Office is now closed. However, our staff is available to you during this time, primarily through email. For those seeking information on US Youth Soccer or US Soccer programming, please visit their respective websites and social media channels.

Please continue to share our updates with teams, clubs, leagues, family, friends, and co-workers through your various communication platforms (e.g., websites, social media, email distributions, etc.).

Future updates will be provided on our website and through our social media channels.

Sincerely,

Thomas Faro

Executive Director

cc: MSYSA Board of Directors