I am hoping you and your families all had a safe and healthy summer.

The role of the coach during this pandemic and for the coming fall season, is more important than it has ever been, everyone at ABYS holds a deep appreciation for your work and time in helping the young kids in our community. This season we are faced with a number of new challenges, constraints, game modifications and protocols, all aimed at keeping everyone safe and allowing sports to happen.

The fantastic news is that we can play soccer in the fall, but in order to do so we will have to accept modifications to the game we all know, we will need additional patience with our refereeing staff who will have the toughest of times interpreting and overseeing the new rules, and a collective and vigilant understanding from everyone that the rule modifications are in place not only for our safety, but also so the kids can get back onto the fields. Playing ‘modified soccer’, is much better than having no soccer.  

Please, read and digest the following guidelines, any failure on our part to comply with any of the protocols or guidelines that are now in place, could result in permits for fields being pulled, games abandoned, or soccer being brought to a halt.

The information and details on this page are very important. If there is any part that is not clear, please do not hesitate to reach out and as always, thank you once again for your valuable time and effort to help the kids, always appreciated.

Mitch Doherty
Director of Coaching

Information from Mass Youth Soccer (MYSA)

Guidelines
Please review the Mass Youth Soccer Return to Play guidelines.  All coaches must read and understand these guidelines before getting on the field this year.
Modifications to the game:
For the exact language of the Modifications to the Laws of the Game click here
Webinar
MYSA President, Michael Borislow, recorded a webinar on August 17th discussing the latest guidelines and modifications to play.  You may want to watch this in addition to reading the guidelines.

Preseason tasks

MYSA Registration
As in prior years, you must complete Mass Youth Soccer Adult registration before you can set foot on a field.  See instructions here.
Coaches toolkit
Consult the Coaches toolkit provided by MYSA
Team COVID Coordinator
Identify a team COVID-19 Coordinator.  Tasks and checklist can be found here.

Content from Coaches Meeting

Presentation from coaches meeting.

Communicating with parents

Physical Distancing Session Plans
MYSA has created physical distancing session plans for practices.  Please consider using these as a means to limit contact and increase physical distancing.
Note, for Micros, Kinders, 1st grade and 2nd grade divisions, a Professional Development Coach (PDC) will assist in facilitating all sessions and will provide session plans.

COMING SOON: Link to updated field layouts
COMING SOON: Updated field rules to email to opposing travel coaches prior to games 

Other Resources

Coaches, Parents and Players encouraged to stay aware of Massachusetts COVID-19 Community Level Data Map

12 Coaching Tips for the Post-Lockdown Return to Sports: A great, quick read from Positive Coaching Alliance.

Coaching Conversations
Mental Health Considerations for the Youth Coach and Return to Play webinar?  In June, MYSA held a webinar on the topic of Mental Health Considerations for the Youth Coach and Return to Play.  It is a review of helpful/relevant developmental and mental/behavioral health considerations for the youth coach to be aware of as we try to return-to-play during the pandemic.