Pickering FC
COVID-19 Update
June 26, 2020
June 26 th 2020

D ear PFC Family,
 
We continue our optimistic and cautious return to the field.
 
To date we have now completed presentations to:
 
  • 76 OPDL families and staff
  • 99 Competitive families and staff
  • 140 Grassroots families and staff
 
There were great questions and positive comments from our online attendees that further helped firm up our strategy and gave Board and Staff a positive boost as we move to the next stage. Our Match Officials Development Committee were the most recent group to see the presentation and will assess the needs from a competition perspective as they prepare to join us in the Return to Compete stage.
 
Our webinar will be made available on the PFC website very soon for everyone’s reference and provides a lot of detail on the three key components to our Return to Play Strategy:
 
  • Pandemic Policy
  • Return to Play Procedures
  • Communications
 
To borrow from the FA Premier League, our ‘Project Restart’ will begin with OPDL players returning next week, followed by Competitive and then Grassroots players. We will monitor the procedures each evening at the field and assess for any possible adjustments. Coaching staff will be in touch with families to confirm session dates and times.
Community
Any one venturing to the side of the Pickering Soccer Centre last Summer will recall how incredible our raised flower bed looked. Thanks to Tammy, and the In-Motion program members, they converted our annual weed patch into a flourishing flower bed of colours attracting many birds and bees. Over the lockdown the flower bed has been somewhat neglected but thanks to volunteers the flowers are now starting to return to their former glory. Thank you to Barbara and Barry (pictured) who spent some time this past weekend to get us back on track.
The Virtual All Abilities Program is this Tuesday June 30 th from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Tammy will send out a reminder each Monday. If any of our coaches, volunteers, athletes or parents would like to assist with programming on one of our upcoming dates, please let her know ASAP. This week’s theme is Mexican Fiesta - Coach T is going to lead us with some Spanish Dancing, and then we will enjoy a Taco Dinner with everyone.
Ahead of next weeks Canada Day celebrations we wanted to share this fantastic link with you. The talented Hollie B our Grassroots Director has built an interactive activity for our younger players with a Soccer and Canada theme! It will go live on Canada Day at: Pickering.ca/CanadaDay so please check it out, we think you’ll be impressed!
Respect
Our early efforts in building the PFC Return to Play strategy owe a lot to the mutual respect among Technical Directors from a handful of clubs across Ontario. These TD’s spent hours each week on group calls with our own Director of Soccer Operations, Dave Benning building what has become the technical core of our strategy. This was enhanced by the Emergency Response Plan outlined in the Ontario Soccer Return to Play plan and then at its core the PFC Board approved a Pandemic Policy as a long-term risk management tool.

That team effort and collaborative spirit is now being paid forward as PFC have been able to share the strategy with smaller Clubs across Ontario that simply don’t have the resources. Most recently we joined other sport clubs across Durham Region as part of a Sport Durham webinar to share our strategy and find that there is a lot of common ground when it comes to a safe Return to Play.
Don’t forget, our specific COVID-19 page on the website is your constant source of information for our weekly updates and our Return to Play (RTP) plan.
Excellence
While we make every effort to get back, we need EVERYONE to play their part in our safe return. That means excellence by all of us in our behaviour on and off the field. Our key takeaways to enhance a return with excellence include:
  • Prepared players with Ziploc, ball and water bottle
  • Return to home plan for cleaning of uniform, ball and cleats
  • Sports Engine Update each session to confirm player wellness
  • Regular contact with your Coach and Team Manager relating to concerns or comments.

We will move through our stages of Return to Train, Return to Play and Return to Compete with your fantastic support and one BIG TEAM EFFORT!
Player Centered
Until we are all back on the pitch please make use of our Recreational Virtual Training options.
  1. Active Start virtual sessions are a 6-week video series focusing on development and physical literacy! Every Monday a new video will be released to our Recreational players. Each video is 10 - 15 minutes and can be accessed on demand throughout the entire program. A special guest each week guides players through each video! At the end of the 6-week program, each participant will be awarded with a Certificate of Completion to recognize their commitment and hard work throughout the weeks! The virtual program is available FREE of charge to any existing participants of our Active Start Program (U3-U7). If you are not currently registered but are interested in participating, we encourage you to register for our Outdoor Recreational Program using our $1 down registration (2 future installments subject to the season running).
  2. As we enter the Summer months our Club-based Recreational Virtual training program will now move to once a week, each Wednesday at 3pm. For new players, register for the Outdoor 2020 season here for only $1 down. Then click the image to register for the Virtual training session.


Our Grassroots Development (U8-U12) continues twice a week led by Coach Hollie (Tuesdays, 5pm) and Coach Trey (Thursdays, 5pm). Details are available from your Head Coach and players are welcome to join in on both sessions.
If you have any inquiries or questions regarding the program, please contact our Grassroots Director via email at grassroots@pickeringfc.ca We’re looking forward to launching this exciting new program and offering soccer resources to our members during our time away from the field.

Transparency and Integrity
As a not-for-profit organization our money is very closely accounted for and we hope to get member and community support as we work through this situation.
  • Indoor Competitive Teams are currently being surveyed with regard to the remainder of their Indoor Season fee with three options open to them: Donate – Defer – Refund.
  • Competitive Outdoor seasons are continuing to be planned by our Leagues and therefore our staff assess the cost/deliverables as the picture becomes clearer. We continue to hear provisional plans from OPDL and DRSL. Our Return to Play presentations will outline the latest information.
  • Outdoor Recreational season is currently being assessed by staff with a view to offering a modified format based on skill development and small sided games once we enter the Return to Compete stage. We’re now focused on an August 1st start date. The Clubs ‘Dollar Down’ registration is now open with a 2-part payment plan.

League 1 Ontario, Ontario Soccer League and the Ontario Women’s Soccer League are the leagues to date that have confirmed their cancellation for the Outdoor 2020 season.

The Club has, and will, communicate every week (since March 19 th ), in order to keep you, our members informed during this tough time. For the most up-to-date information please remember to follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook or visit our COVID19 webpage .
 
If you have any questions or comments about this message please email: memberservices@pickeringfc.ca with 'COVID Update' in the Subject line.

Stay safe.
Matt Greenwood, Executive Director
Pickering Football Club
(905) 831-9803
PickeringFC.ca
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