Pickering FC
COVID-19 Update
November 20, 2020
Dear PFC Families,

We hope you are safe and well as we enter this particularly difficult time for the community. Before we get to the serious stuff, we wanted to say that after last weeks great news about our Past President Corrado getting a Meritorious Award from Ontario Soccer we’ve followed that up with a Diamond level Readers Choice Award for Sports Team (or Club). We couldn’t have done it without your show of support and we’ll proudly show off this recognition through our social media and with a plaque in the trophy cabinet!
Covid-19 Update
Durham Region moved to RED ZONE - what that means for PFC Programs and the Pickering Soccer Centre.

Our Indoor season got off to a great start, but as we had feared, the pandemic slowly caught up with us causing Premier Ford to make his announcement this afternoon moving Durham Region into a Red Zone. This brings new restrictions for our soccer programs and also the facility. We are in regular contact with Durham Region Public Health and awaiting answers to some specific questions. However, effective Monday November 23rd we can confirm that:

Competitive and High-Performance programs are being assessed by Director of Soccer Operations Dave Benning and his staff with consideration given to returning outdoors subject to City permits. The format will return to training with no games and in order to keep numbers low at any given time there will be adjustments to the schedule.

Recreational programs including Indoor Rec (U3-U18), Women’s Rec and external bookings for games will be suspended until further notice. This is because of the facility limit and also because any type of match is not allowed. 

All Abilities program will continue in its current format but Tammy will be in touch with parents for any adjustments to the schedule.

Pickering Soccer Centre Users have already been contacted directly by Lisa and can expect to hear more in the coming days.

As we learn more you will be communicated to directly via email (program specific information) or through this Weekly Email and social media (general information).  

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)

Ontario Soccer are seeking YOUR feedback on the Provincial Return to Play plan. Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey and provide guidance to our provincial leaders on the progress to date as they prepare for the coming weeks and months. Click the image to be taken directly to the survey.
Ball Mastery
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
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 U13-U17 age groups and then for older players they enter League1 Ontario (L1O). These leagues bringing with them a higher cost that reflects the increased training time, coaching level, longer season, uniform and equipment. 
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
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 2, 3 or BOTH!
  • 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 Holiday Fundraiser
During Covid-19, we have been forced to meet a number of challenges while still offering quality programming to our athletes. Through innovation, and the strength and knowledge of our coaches, we have developed new ways of offering our programs, which will have lasting effects.

Like all sport programs, our All Abilities Program has been hit hard financially during this pandemic. In an effort of offset some of our costs, and to continue to keep registration fees low, we are coordinating a Holiday Fundraising Campaign.

  1. With assistance from Vandermeer’s Nursery, we will be participating in their Gift Card Fundraising , and selling $30.00 Vandermeer’s Gift Cards. The PFC All Abilities Program will receive $5.00 from each card sold. Whether you are shopping for this Holiday Season, or are planning your outdoor spaces for next summer, this is a great opportunity for you to support our program. The great thing about gift cards is that they never expire – so you can buy now, and spend later! All orders must be received by December 5, 2020. Cards will be available for pick up at the Pickering Football Club on December 12th. Order forms are below.
  2. In an effort to provide future accessible programming, we have established the All Abilities Development Fund. In partnership with Sport4Ontario and the National Sport Trust Fund, we are able to issue tax receipts for all donations. Proceeds from the All Abilities Development Fund will be used to:
  • Create and implement All Abilities outreach programs in the Durham area
  • Purchase upgraded sport and recreational equipment
  • Provide leadership and accessibility training to our coaches and volunteers
  • Establish athlete and volunteer bursaries
Organization Name: Pickering Football Club
Project Name: All Abilities Development Fund
Project Number: 155

Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in recreational opportunities that are fun, incorporates fitness and develops friendships. This holiday season, make giving back a holiday tradition. Consider supporting the Pickering Football Clubs All Abilities program.

Please contact Tammy at allabilities@pickeringfc.ca for more information.
Individual Order Form
Group Order Form
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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