April 16, 2021

Dear Club and League Representatives:

Today, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) extended their Emergency Order under MCL 333.2253, which includes weekly testing (SARS-CoV-2) of all athletes (ages 13-19) for participation in organized sports, including youth (club) soccer, through May 24, 2021. This includes for contact and non-contact activities. Any athletes (ages 13-19) who do not comply with the MDHHS weekly testing requirement, are not permitted to participate in any soccer activities through May 24, 2021.

For those clubs/leagues conducting weekly testing through the MI Safer Sports Testing Program, MSYSA has been issued a CLIA waiver number. If you have not already done so, please complete our MSYSA Club Testing Form to provide your testing location information.

As a reminder, all players, team officials, referees and spectators must appropriately, and consistently, wear facial coverings at all times upon arrival to, departure from and during MSYSA activities. Continued compliance on the appropriate and consistent use of facial coverings (whether vaccinated or not vaccinated), and compliance with our return-to-play (RTP) guidelines, is needed to avoid the potential pause of specific team/club activities and/or a potential statewide stoppage. Please do your part, and implore upon others to do their part, so that children can play soccer this spring.

In closing, our next (Zoom) conference call is scheduled for Friday, April 23, 2021 at 4 PM. The Zoom call-in credentials will be sent by separate email to club and league representatives only.

Sincerely,

Thomas Faro
Executive Director

cc:       MSYSA Board of Directors