Colonie Soccer Club has officially suspended all soccer operations effective March 12, 2020. This difficult decision comes at a time when the COVID-19 crisis has just become classified by the World Health organization as a global pandemic.
On March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged ending gatherings of more than 50 people through May 10 to stop the spread of the virus. President Donald Trump has recommended that Americans must avoid nonessential travel, going to work, eating at bars and restaurants, or gathering in groups of more than 10 through at least April 30 and perhaps until June. Many states (including New York) have closed schools, bars, restaurants, gyms and other gathering spots.
In its coronavirus materials, the CDC offers guidance for school settings and community and faith leaders but nothing specifically for sports settings. However, the CDC says that the virus gets spread most frequently among close contacts within about 6 feet — distance that is hard to create in team and some individual sports. Transmission of the virus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through contact with contaminated surfaces.
We encourage our community to do your part to slow the spread of coronavirus, including the following:
*avoid any non-essential travel. If you must travel to purchase groceries, medicine, or gasoline...please do so during 'off hours', instead of during morning or evening commutes, or lunch hour.
*avoid social gatherings and practice social distancing, leaving a minimum of 6 feet of space between you and others.
*when returning home from the outside, remove shoes and outerwear, and wash hands thoroughly when entering your home.
*wash your hands regularly, even when in your home.
*avoid touching your face.
*sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
*disinfect frequently used items and surfaces often.
We recognize that this decision may not be popular. However, we have an obligation to our community and our soccer club family to be proactive in ‘flattening the curve’, to keep our families healthy and reduce risks inherent with close-proximity sports such as soccer. We appreciate your understanding of this very difficult decision.