Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards Roll Away The Stone Soccer News Youth soccer parents expect their children will return and team play will resume by Sept.

by Paul Kennedy @pkedit

A survey of youth soccer parents conducted by soccer.com indicates that most of them believe their children will continue to play soccer and and team play will resume by September after social activities are again allowed as the COVID-19 outbreak subsides.

Of the 1,437 respondents, youth soccer customers, to an online questionnaire soccer.com conducted April 17-22, 94 percent of parents expect that it is somewhat to very likely that their children will continue playing soccer once team play resumes. Only 5 percent responded that they are somewhat to very unlikely to resume.

As youth soccer purchasers at soccer.com, these parents and their children would tend to have a high interest in youth soccer. The key will be whether parents of more casual participants will sign their children up for the fall. Youth clubs and leagues are concerned that there will a drop-off in sports participation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn that has hit many communities very hard.

Following the 2008 recession, team sports participation dropped from 45 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2014, according to the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program, and has remained stagnant.

One reason for the high expectations of the respondents was the continued interest of their children in soccer during shelter-in-place orders: 81 percent said their children are training at home, 63 percent said their children are connecting with teammates digitally, 29 percent said their children are watching rebroadcasts of classic matches and the same percentage are playing soccer video games.

Of those youth soccer parents whom soccer.com surveyed, 93 percent believe youth soccer will resume in their area by September, 80 percent believe youth soccer will resume by August and 61 percent believe it will by July.

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cause widespread disruption to the organization of youth sports in 2020. A Wall Street Journal article reported on an estimate of 25 percent to 30 percent of youth soccer clubs perhaps folding by the time it's safe to resume play.

All travel sports will be hit the hardest. A survey of the International Air Transportation Association reported 40 percent of recent passengers said they may wait at least six months after the outbreak is contained to travel again and almost 70 percent said they may stop traveling until their financial picture improves.

Signup numbers for youth sports at the local level will likely be known later as some parents will wait to see whether schools reopen for in-classroom learning before they sign up their children for other activities. That uncertainty will add to the complexity of issues youth sports organizers will face. Many of the things that have been taken for granted in the past -- access to facilities, field maintenance, sponsor support, paid and volunteer coaches and referees -- will have to be evaluated in the aftermath of the sharp economic plunge.

One thing is sure. The soccer.com respondents agreed that the scene will likely be different when they return to the sidelines to watch their children.

Almost three in four parents (73 percent) responded that it will be somewhat to very important for spectators to follow social distancing and nearly half (47 percent) expect that spectators will wear masks.

We need to weigh the benefits vs the risks. until a vaccine is found there will be no 100% safe activity outside. That said, there comes a point where people need to get some normalcy back and kids need to be allowed to play, socialize and not stay sheltered in place. The long term damage won't be apparent immediately but an extended period of staying home and away from meaningful, in-person interactions will have ramifications. It is not unreasonable to expect that kids can play in September, which would be the end of a full 6 month time away. Obviously this will impact the national leagues and how they move forward the most. ECNL/NL/GA/MLS wont be able to do showcases or national events for a while but regional events may return in spring 21.

A vaccine is unlikely. At least not likely anytime soon. We have yet to create a vaccine for any virus in the coronavirus family (which includes the common cold, MERS, SARS, etc) so counting on suddenly cracking that code for Covid-19 is not a good plan. We are going to have to live with the risk, just like we live with the risk of the flu, and how people used to live with the risk of polio.

I agree with the above not because I want to but what I have been reading in medical articles and journals in which the medical community are weighing there metrics of the spread of the virus vs. the mental aspects and how it will effect everyone going forward. It the risk vs. rewards theory. At some point everyone needs to get back into the “deep end of the pool” and right now it must start with putting your big toe into the shallow end. The same with our everyday life. It must be done in a safe manner and right now with sports participation it’s the same concept. We know the economy cannot return without first returning to school and with that comes school activities and sports. It will happen sooner than later.

Look who did the survey. Not believing it for a minute. Most people are just praying they still have a job in September.

For those “for profit” clubs...shouldn’t they already be refunding training fees since they are also collecting PPP?

Cupcake parents risk low stop already, parents 6 feet apart watch and kids barely effect. People crazy. Don’t bring elderly or susceptible people too

Your ignorance is astounding. Go back to your basement. This is a real problem, educate yourself.

Seriously. It’s amazing how true the phrase “you can’t fix stupid” is.

let the kids play my god people stop being sheep

I guess you haven’t lost any family members. That puts kiddie soccer in perspective. You’re probably the one of those morons walking around with no mask, licking your fingers after you finish your pork rinds. Good luck to you.

What America coming too? Some spoiled brats! Last two generations in trouble hide at every little thing. Toughen up for Christ Sake!

My thoughts exactly

Fear will be the ultimate demise

Yeah ok. I'm fearful of the ignorant and selfish. I promote those wanting to rush back to voluntarily forfeit healthcare for the rest of their lives. At the core of this issue , is the failure of people to realize it's about other people- not yourself. You're protecting public health, not your kids ability to play a soccer game. You can fix an economy, you can fix unemployment rates, you can rework a new "normal" you can find a new job, you can find a new place to live. You can't fix dying.

Snowflake......

Go live, stop the crying and scared garbage you going to get eventually that reality. Your body was made to fight off. If your immune system compromised stay home. Our grandparents were in world wars at 18 years old and you scared of a virus? Millions got it and moved on.

If caring about the wellbeing of others makes us snowflakes, then I’m proud to be one. I’m sad for you...to be hanging on for dear life to kiddie soccer is pretty pathetic. I’m sorry you have nothing else going for you and you find your self worth through your kid’s performance on the field. Go out and volunteer to shop for an elderly person or do some yard work for someone who is ill. There are many things you can do to feel good about yourself that don’t involve kiddie soccer. Give it a try!

Being happy is Essential- Be Smart, Be Safe- Don't let government tell you what's essential and non-essential. Amazing how they are getting away with this

We are living under an aristocracy, do as I say not as I do,

Very wrong....., we are living in a country of anti-intellectualism with buffoons in “army” gear holding protests against governors who are looking to protect public health.

True story.

Very wrong, guvnors are going to get their hair done etc etc etc, and we can't, private jets limos, but they want us to drive smart cars, hence aristocracy

Your answer is too general,there are two sorts of governors,those who agree with the president and those who are against,forget politics and use common sense,it's a virus that kills but keeping kids at home is not the answer either,look at China and what their system is doing to open up schools

Yeah, look at China who created this disaster. Yeah, look at China!! When it comes to human rights and caring for their citizens, look to China? WTF!!