May 8, 2020 Member Update

May 8, 2020

 

 

Saskatchewan Soccer and all member organizations continue to adhere to the Canada Soccer Suspension of all Sanctioned Soccer Activity and the Government of Saskatchewan Public Health Order issued on April 4, 2020 which states that indoor and outdoor gatherings of 10 people or more are prohibited.

 

In recent communications, we shared that Return to Play strategies were top of mind for us.  We are now aware that provincial health authorities will require provincial sport governing bodies, like the SSA, to submit detailed plans which demonstrate that we have considered physical distancing and medical protocols and have developed risk mitigation strategies to be phased in as we move toward full return to play.

SSA is working, alongside our soccer and sport colleagues and with leadership from Sask Sport and Canada Soccer, to prepare for and better understand what will be needed by provincial health authorities.  At this time the mechanism and criteria for a proposal is unclear, but we know that we will need your help!

We are asking every Member Organization to take the time to complete our initial survey.  Many other provinces are doing similar surveys. Your contributions will ensure we have a provincial perspective and will help inform our planning. Our combined efforts will support our ability to  get back on the pitch.

We are also aware and congratulate many of you who have been gathering information from your members. Please continue to share your surveys and results with SSA.  We will consider all information in the development of the provincial soccer return to play plan. 

 

Finally, we know that additional member engagement on this issue will be necessary in the weeks ahead.  For example; we anticipate that Risk Management Assessment tools will be developed to help

clarify that it is safe to return to play at each phase of the provincial play.  We will ask for your cooperation when additional input is required. 

 

Please join us on our next member call May 12^th at 8:00 pm.    

Along with return to play discussions we welcome Marinos Papageorgopoulos, VWFC Academy Centres Director, who will be providing information on opportunities and initiatives that are available at no cost to all members and players throughout Saskatchewan.

 

As well, Stuart Neely, Canada Soccer Manager of Coach Education, will be providing a brief update on the changes and upcoming initiatives within Coach Education from Canada Soccer.

 

 

 

On June 1^st registration for Indoor ends and we transition to the outdoor season.  Members are advised that in order to receive member privileges you must be registered to participate during the outdoor season.

 

Member privileges including Liability and Accident Insurance will be in place for:

Member Organizations that have renewed their annual SSA affiliation and offer sanctioned activities that adhere to COVID 19 restrictions which have been mandated by provincial health authorities and general safety guidelines for safe soccer and physical activity

Participants (Players, Team Personnel, Referees) who are properly registered and in good standing with Saskatchewan Soccer and its Member Organizations. Any person providing training or directing member activities must also be registered; this includes but is not limited to volunteers, staff, Directors and Officers (organizers), coaches, instructors, and assessors.

 Those individuals not registered with Saskatchewan Soccer will not be eligible for member benefits, including online opportunities, or insurance coverage. 

 

In order to operate an online sanctioned activity with applicable insurance coverage, members must follow certain protocols, including but not limited to:

 

All events require participants to register. Online event access must be confidential and only available to those registered (i.e. not open to the general public and not posted publicly)

Safety protocols must be adhered to

The event must be led by an authorized organizer and/or instructor. Online instructors must abide by the provincial health guidelines. All online activities involving physical activity should begin with a thorough safety check to ensure participants can engage safely.

General Activities that may be posted on the SSA or SSA Member websites which are public are not covered for insurance and all participants that engage in such activities do so at their own risk.

 

All participants must register individually online via the SSA online registration forms for the relevant activity or season. *SSA online registration will be defined as any online registration required prior to the sanctioned event. If the participant is not registered through RAMP, the alternate online registration must contain these requirements:

First/Last Name, Member Organization, DOB, Email

Link to SSA Waiver and Privacy Policy: http://www.sasksoccer.com/content/Amended-Individual-SSA-Waivers

Statement 1: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - BY REGISTERING WITH SASKATCHEWAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION, THEIR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES YOU ARE AGREEING TO SSA WAIVERS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

Statement 2: Parental Consent - By completing this registration you are declaring that your parent or guardian has given you permission to participate in this activity if under the age of 18.

Member Organizations registering participants will submit the Outdoor 2020 Amended Registrar Report no later than September 30, 2020 or 30 days after their last sanctioned event, whichever comes first.   

Should return to play be approved by the provincial government and Canada Soccer additional details on registration and insurance will be provide at that time.

 

Reminder! Goalline administrative access will be discontinued on May 14, 2020. The Goalline exit recommended steps are outlined in the GL Exit Strategy document. Walk through videos have been created to provide step by step instructions. You can find them here: Part 1 and Part 2.

 

SSA Calendar of Events 

May 11 @ 7:00 pm - Coach Education: Growing Club Culture & Inspiring Youth Athletes - presented by Bart Choufour - Whitecaps FC

 

May 12 @ 8:00 pm - Member Session 

 

May 13 @ 10:00 am- Webinar: Experts Connect: Creating a Safe Environment for All Girls - presented by Canadian Women and Sport

 

May 14 @ 8:00 pm - Canada Soccer Club Licensing Principles in Action - presented by Dave Nutt, Canada Soccer. Taking a principles based approach and some examples of it in action. 

 

May 19 @ 7:00 pm - Coach Education Workshop presented by Paul Marco. Topic of workshop will be available soon.

 

May 20 @ 10:00 am - Experts Connect: Redefining Risk-Taking - presented by Canadian Women and Sport

 

May 25 @ 7:00 pm - Coach Education: Whitecaps FC Philosophy and Methodology working with young players U9-U13. Presented by Bart Choufour, Whitecaps FC. Registration information will be available soon. 

 

May 27 @ 6:30 pm - Developing an Annual Plan Webinar 

 

June 4 @ 8:00 pm - Canada Soccer Club Licensing Principles in Action: Balancing Quality with Accessibility and Inclusion - presented by Dave Nutt, Canada Soccer. A discussion of the need for clubs to foster accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environments without sacrificing the quality of the programs and services delivered. Continue to check out our website for online learning opportunities and if you have any to share please send them our way!