October 28, 2021
Dear Club and League Representatives:
Unfortunately, COVID transmission continues to be high in areas across the State of Michigan. The 7-day moving average for daily cases was 3,318 on Wednesday, the highest it has been since early May.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) indicates it is safer for individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated to wear facial coverings in indoor settings with people who they do not live with. MDHHS also indicates it is safer to wear facial coverings in high-risk settings where many unvaccinated individuals may be present to protect vulnerable populations, or when community transmission is substantial or high.
As the fall soccer season winds down, some of our affiliated clubs/teams will move to, or continue with, trainings and games that occur in indoor venues. As such, MSYSA recommends that our affiliated athletes (regardless of vaccination status) wear facial coverings in indoor settings (indoor gyms, indoor facilities, etc.) prior to, and immediately following, training and games, and when on the bench or sidelines. MSYSA also recommends our affiliated team officials (regardless of vaccination status) wear facial coverings in indoor settings when working with our affiliated athletes. At this time, MSYSA is not requiring athletes, team officials, referees, or spectators to wear facial coverings during MSYSA affiliated activities.
Please be aware that indoor gyms and/or indoor facilities, etc., may be subject now, or in the future, to local health department (LHD) orders/requirements, or have masking policies of their own, that could potentially apply to participants, team officials, referees and/or spectators.
MSYSA’s return-to-play (RTP) guidelines can be found here. As a reminder, the State of Michigan, and MSYSA, recommends that affiliated clubs/teams utilize the MI Symptoms Tool to help screen participants for COVID-19 symptoms.
In closing, to help limit the spread of COVID, MSYSA encourages social distancing of 6 feet between people who do not live in your household when and where possible, and maintaining proper hygiene habits by washing hands often and covering coughs/sneezes.
Thank you for your continued efforts with MSYSA’s risk mitigation strategies.
Sincerely,
Thomas Faro
Executive Director
cc.: MSYSA Board of Directors
