Pickering FC
COVID-19 Update
October 30, 2020
Dear PFC Family,

Happy Hallowe’en!

For those of you that enjoy this spooky season I’m sure it will look a little different tomorrow. The good news is that we still have plenty of soccer activity happening, and even some spare field time if you want to get active and burn off those calories!!

Our Indoor season has got off to a great start and a huge thanks go to our Facility Staff for running the player check-in and to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in and out of the dome. We also want to send a thank you to the many parents that have ensured your child is ready to enter on time and fully equipped – we truly have a great parent group. Thank you!

Our third-party users (athletics, volleyball, drop-in soccer and others) have also done a great job of following our Return to Play and sanitization directives. No one here at the Club is complacent and the longer we can return to play safely, the more chance we have of getting through the indoor season in one piece.

Don’t forget our helpful resources have been created to provide guidance to families and facility users prior to visiting the Pickering Soccer Centre:

  1. Pickering Soccer Centre Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) that we will update as and when required
  2. Pickering Soccer Centre Entry and Exit protocols. (Thanks to Megan and Paige!) (video)
  3. Pickering Soccer Centre Return to Play Protocol presentation (video)

We have also:

  • Spread out some field bookings during these early weeks in the dome, allowing for extra space beyond the Provincial guidelines
  • Increased our facility staff numbers during the first few weeks of our return in order to maintain cleaning levels and assist players coming in and out of the field house
  • Acquired additional student help to provide support and guidance.
Governance and Operations
You will recall the Club had started planning for our first ever virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 18th. Unfortunately, the Club has been overly stretched as a result of the pandemic and preparing the audit in a timely manner has put undue stress on our Club staff and on our auditors.  As a result, the PFC Board approved a postponement of the AGM and the presentation of our audited financials until early 2021. This gives everyone a little more time to consider our positions up for election and to think about how you might want to volunteer. Club Secretary, Roz Lavoie is managing this area and can be contacted at secretary@pickeringfc.ca for more information. Board positions up for election:  

President - 2 year term and nominee must be a current Board member 
Treasurer - 1 year term and should possess accounting knowledge & experience 
Secretary - 2 year term 
Director at Large - Full Field Recreational Soccer - 2 year term 
Director at Large - Boys' Competitive Soccer - 2 year term 
Director at Large - Girls' Competitive Soccer - 1 year term 
Director at Large - Special Projects - 2 year term
Ball Mastery
High Performance
The Pickering FC structure defines high performance as those programs where teams compete in standards-based leagues. This includes the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) for players from the U13-U17 age groups and then for older players League1 Ontario (L1O). These leagues bring with them a higher cost that reflects the increased training time, coaching level, longer season, uniform and equipment. We can now confirm the continuation of OPDL Trials until Dec. 15th:
Competitive
As a reminder any player wanting to train with us has to be registered in the Sports Engine system. Please speak to the Head Coach for your age group first.

Pickering FC runs teams in the Durham Region Soccer League (DRSL) and the Central Soccer League (CSL). Promotion and relegation allow for teams at U13 and up to be promoted from the DRSL into the CSL. The CSL is confirmed to run in 2021 and will cover an area including Toronto, North York, Scarborough and Peterborough in the east. In conjunction with the Team Head Coach and our Director of Soccer Operations, Dave Benning, the playing group is assessed for their ability level to play at one of these two levels.

To supplement the development of our Competitive players the brand-new Club REX program has been created. Led by Dave Benning and Hollie the program is by invitation only following a recommendation by Competitive Head Coaches who see talented players at the Competitive level who have the potential to advance their skills.
Grassroots Development
If your child is interested in developing beyond the Recreational level and learning from our well qualified and screened coaching staff then our Grassroots program for players aged between U8-U12 started this week. Our Open House philosophy means that new players wanting to try it are more than welcome. The program includes:

  • 26-week program
  • Inter Club exhibition games
  • 2 practices per week
  • Goalkeeper specialist session

Players are still more than welcome to register as part of our ongoing Open House and need to be in the Sports Engine system for contact tracing purposes so please contact us directly if you are interested in learning more. If you have questions about the program please contact our Grassroots Director, Hollie Babut (grassroots@pickeringfc.ca) for more details.
PFC Digital Rewards
Please enjoy these great offers as a thank you for all your support –
Click the image to see all the offers!
Recreational
We have started Mini Season 1 of the Indoor Recreational program. Spots are still available for the remaining games and this will get you ready for Mini Season 2. Click the image to register for Season 1, 2, 3 or all 3!
  • Multi-Season: This year we will be offering 3 mini-seasons (10 weeks each) instead of one long season (18 weeks). This will provide families with the flexibility to start their recreational involvement at a time that's right for them. 
  • Multi-sport players: Offering three mini-seasons will enable players that also participate in other sports to join us at the end of their current outdoor season or to get their soccer fix in before returning to another sport.
  • Discounts: The first season for each player will include their complete uniform package and Ontario Soccer registration. Subsequent seasons will be at a reduced rate to reflect those components are already paid for.
  • Outdoor kick-off: To make the most of this unusual Summer and to take advantage of good weather and fresh air the seasons will all kick-off on our community soccer fields located in neighborhoods across the City of Pickering.
  • Standards: PFC continues to develop our own match officials and using them for each game to ensure fairness and guidance to young players.
PFC All Abilities Programs
PFC All Abilities Program has had an amazing start to the fall season! 

  1. All Abilities Advanced Skills Program, we are into our 6th week of this NEW indoor program.
  2. All Abilities Junior and Senior Soccer, our tried and trusted model bringing players together for fun, fitness and friendship every Saturday morning starting October 31, 2020. We have 4 spots left (2 Junior & 2 Senior).
  3. All Abilities Virtual Training Program, started on October 15th with our fantastic duo of Coach T and Coach Zain leading our new program. 

Please contact Tammy at allabilities@pickeringfc.ca for more information or to register.

Christina Doucette, our All Abilities Program Assistant has written a great article on our new Advanced Skills Program hearing from the players and coaches. Take a read HERE and learn more about this great progression and our fantastic Award badges that the players will be working towards.
PFC Community Programs
Community Programs* continue each week during the day: 

  • Walk the Dome runs daily from Mon - Thurs from 9am - 11am 
  • Walking Soccer runs weekly on Tuesdays from 10:30-12pm. 
  • Adult Drop In Soccer on Sunday nights is temporarily suspended while we monitor Covid-19 case numbers across the Region.  

* Covid-19 protocols and participant waivers will be in effect for all community programming
Indoor Resources
With Week 1 of the indoor season safely completed we wanted to remind you of our helpful resources providing guidance to families and facility users prior to visiting the Pickering Soccer Centre:

  1. Pickering Soccer Centre Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) that we will update as and when required
  2. Pickering Soccer Centre Entry and Exit protocols. (Thanks to Megan and Paige!) (video)
  3. Pickering Soccer Centre Return to Play Protocol presentation (video)
  4. Pickering Soccer Centre Rental Info & Steps we are taking due to Covid-19

We are also:

  • Spreading out some field bookings during these early weeks in the dome, allowing for extra space beyond the Provincial guidelines
  • Increasing our facility staff numbers during the first few weeks of our return in order to maintain cleaning levels and assist players coming in and out of the field house
  • Acquiring additional student help to provide support and guidance.
Match Officials
The Match Official Committee is working closely with our technical Staff to not only ensure the new Laws of the Game that came into play this Summer are introduced but to also enforce the Ontario Soccer COVID-19 related restrictions to play. These can be found on page 18-24 here and include areas such as:

  • No throw-ins
  • No Spitting
  • No handshakes or high-fives
  • No heading
Notices
Don’t forget, our Return to Play strategy is available on the PFC website under our COVID19 page for everyone’s reference and provides a lot of detail on the three key components to our Return to Play Strategy. 

Our Weekly Update is supported by ongoing news and stories through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook platforms. 

Stay safe.

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