By Stacy Case
The Coral Springs Youth Soccer program is pretty much chomping at the bit to get local youths back onto the city fields for this upcoming season. However, like most everything nowadays, the landscape of the 40-years-old plus organization will look quite different than it used to once it becomes time for the players to take to the fields at both Mullins Park and North Community Park.
CSYS President Steve Cimaglia sheds some light on the subject:
“Originally, I was optimistic that the players wanted to just get out of their houses and hit the field, but with the statistics of the virus cases having gone up, we, as a Board of Directors have worked really hard behind the scenes to put specific policies together to create the safest possible environment for all involved,” says Steve, who has been on and off of the 30-member CSYS Board of Directors for about five years. “As a recreational league, we need to do everything we possibly can in order to stay safe for the kids, parents, referees, and directors.”
In fact, according to Steve, parents will be required to sit further from the sidelines than they had done so in years past.
So once all the safety precautions have been implemented, and registrations have concluded, practices are scheduled to start in mid to late November, followed by regular-season games then concluding with the Soccer Bowl in early March for the older divisions.
(Boys divisions will include: U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U19. Girls division will offer: U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, U15, U10)
With the above timetable, it may depend on how many players register. Last season, Steve said the league had about 2,200 participants and he is hopeful to have about 60-80 percent of that this coming season.
“Our organization has always been about being able to give kids in Coral Springs a recreational program of soccer where they can have fun while still having room in their schedule to play other sports and offer them equal playtime rules,” adds Steve, whose three daughters will have all gone through the program at some point. “We make sure each player is out there for at least three of the four quarters and enjoys the safe, fun environment.”
While CSYS, along with many other recreational youth programs all over, is functional due to a committed group of volunteer coaches and Board Members, the ‘virus’ has created some worry in parents registering their children to participate. When the time comes for play to commence for CSYS, Steve and his Board and anywhere from 400-500 coaches, will be utilizing all necessary precautions to make sure safety remains the first priority. That aside, Steve is hoping that despite following the rules of social distancing and wearing masks, the kids can still just have some fun.
“I’ll just be happy at the chance for everyone to get outdoors together again and run around to play, even though we’ll be spaced further apart,” adds Steve. “We’re still gonna have all of the good things that soccer has to offer to our families.” We’re also all excited to watch the upcoming Qatar World Cup, we might even learn some new strategies from the professionals.
For more info, visit CSYS.org
