Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board Eastern New York Youth teams can start training now, playing games Aug. 17

Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association teams can start training, and begin playing games on Aug. 17 as the organization and state enter Phase 2 of U.S. Soccer’s return to play guidelines.

While full team training is allowed, squads still must maintain social distancing. Teams have to do contact tracing for any positive cases and track them for the next three weeks.

Teams will be able to participate in only local and single-day competitions. Large events would have to be approved by the local government.

Local tournaments can be played on or after Aug. 17 with the hope that the fall season will kick off in September.

For any organized soccer to be played is dependent on the necessary field permits being issued.

I truly hope parents continue to follow the CDC/NIH guidelines and wear masks, socially distance and sanitize their hands. This is about the kids who need to be able to play soccer with their teams and be with their soccer friends. They need this sense of normalcy in their lives and now the opportunity is there. I am worried that parents will forget that and make it about themselves and not what’s best for their kids on the soccer fields. Be smart and be safe and hopefully they will be able to play local games soon.

Larry, if HS season postponed until spring will local leagues play games for HS aged kids?

I dont think anyone knows yet. This health situation is creating a lot of confusion. For me, if I had kids playing, I would NOT be engaging in any play until the end of the year at the earliest. Speaking just for me, this is serious stuff. As far as what the various leagues will do is still not set in stone, and then we need to consider field availabilities...getting kids an education is what parents should be focused on and not recreational soccer which is what all of Long Island youth soccer is, no matter how it is being sold or marketed.

I agree that the priority should be education and learning in a safe environment. At the same time I also believe that these kids need to be able to play sports in a safe environment as well. To isolate both school and recreation is not in the best interest of these kids. This isolation has gone on to long and is not healthy for these kids mentally. I believe at this point the risk/reward of having these kids playing is worth it. They will need this outlet IF there is no school, no school sports, no other outside activities. There are plenty of experts in the medical field who support this option. For this to work parents have to act appropriately and wear masks for these kids even if you do not want to.

Yes, I think kids need to out and playing...they dont need an organized league to play any sport...maybe creating street play on side streets is an answer. I'm confident that local village/police/towns will willingly close off a street for a few hours just like they do for street parties for the kids to play. Pu;; you cars into the driveways and a plethora of choose-up games of various sports can be played under safe conditions for the kids. I should also mention, no travel, and no cost

"Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association teams can start training, and begin playing games on Aug. 17 as the organization and state enter Phase 2 of U.S. Soccer’s return to play guidelines."

That's not what that document says.

This could be it! Is this that moment when the US discovers how the rest of the world plays soccer...? In the street, with anyone who wants to play, for no cost, with NO coaching.... Who knows, we may have a whole generation of kids who can control a ball, dribble, understand and love the game and more importantly THINK FOR THEMSELVES. Now that really would be something.

As per the document posted, Phase 2 and 3 started 7/27. The date of August 17 for games is from old guidance. As of 7/27 competition is allowed.

Who are some of the players we would have heard of that didn't start playing in professional academies before they were 10?

What you describe is not how players have developed in at least 20 years and pushing this myth ignores the many realy problems with how the US develops players. It's structural, not cultural.

It’s both structural and cultural. Kids in Latin America, South America get new soccer balls and cleats for Christmas here in the states it’s electronics. This country does not live and breathe soccer like other countries. There it’s a way of live, here it’s an activity.

US pro sports leagues can’t keep players healthy - I don’t see how this works at this level. How many weeks does this last before it hits a team and it’s all shut down again?

If you think putting kids under 10 in professional academies is the answer, you are the problem.

Just follow the money. Leagues are salivating hoping there's no Fall HS soccer.

How exactly do you have full team training while maintaining social distancing? So let's scrimmage and social distance. They may want to clean up that wording.

I ask this sincerely: where in my post did you see an opinion on whether or not I think kids in professional academies at ages below 10 is a good thing?

The only opinion I expressed was that focusing on whether or not kids play in the streets without coaching is the wrong place to focus and not what's wrong with US Soccer.

"I trained 3-4 hours a week at Ajax when I was little but played 3-4 hours everyday on the street. So where do you think I learnt football?" - [****] Cruyff

I'll tell you where he learned football -- in the 1950s, which is not so relevant for today.

Not the OP but I think most of todays top players learnt how to play in the street and in futsal courts.
https://urbanpitch.com/top-10-pros-playing-today-started-off-street-football/#:~:text=Messi%20the%20alien%20force%20grew,to%20train%20with%20FC%20Barcelona.

Dude, you are ignorant. Everything you see about the modern game and player development comes from Cruyff. Go learn some history.

These are the parents who think they know more about soccer than anyone else including club coaches with “A/B” licenses. Cryuff changed the game of football. His philosophy is the basis of what you see being played in Spain today especially Barcelona. The academies in Spain were reformed by Cryuff and the players like Xavi and Inestra ran his offense with perfection. This parent probably has no idea who those players are. Thanks for your “no clue”mans were you reinforce my opinion that you think you know soccer or who is a good player. I see parents like you on the sidelines letting everyone know your opinion about players and style of play of teams. Sometime parents should just be quiet.

Most of the pro players you have heard of were not in pro academies at u10. U14/15 seems like a common age to start bc that is when Europeans start 11 v 11, and many didn’t get into an academy until even older . And if I am not mistaken South America doesn’t even have club soccer for younger kids .

Biggest problem in the US of course is that kids don’t really like soccer enough to play pick up. Some do but a lot of these travel team kids only play at training and games .

Umm... so when are they going to actually start playing? Are there any schedules or alignments posted anywhere?

now its up to the leagues to schedule.

Reality is the WHO and Fauci say they virus might be here forever. Newsday poll says only half of people would take the vaccine when available. So it sounds like its time to move on. Play if you want, sit if you arent comfortable but the virus is looking more and more like it will be part of all our lives for years to come. no good answer

I agree with this. So how does it make any sense to not start games ASAP? The situation is only going to get worse so if you want kids to compete at all the time to do it is now.