What is your Fall forecast for soccer?

[Anonymous]

Interested in how you see this playing out and hopefully (ha) this won't turn into another political thread of endless yelling.

But here is the question: what do you think soccer will be like this Fall? As normal, some sort of half-way reduced schedule, back in quarantine?

At the moment I'm inclined to think:

--We will open as normal(ish) in August/September with some practices, maybe spread out due to social distancing (half team, limited types of drills) before move into the season in say September and play a few matches. However, I think there is a >50% chance by mid-October/November we could be back in lockdown again, with a break extending into the Christmas holiday.

[Anonymous]

I just hope the soccer fields are re-opened and teams are allowed to practice. Tactically I think the clubs and sports community should bargain for that before even beginning to discuss & plan for games.

I am taken aback by how restrictionist the mood is right now. That mood may break and change quickly but I wouldn't count on it. It has turned partly into a political argument and Trump is not helping. All of the talk of "re-opening the economy" and "dollars vs lives" is polarizing.

I think the more persuasive arguments would be around allowing resumption of some parts of life, health benefits of outdoors & sports, a return to some form of normality for kids, importance of school etc.

[Anonymous]

As of now, the numbers of new cases are growing in our area. Sadly, we are long way from opening up and there is a possibility of further upward spikes with colder temps. I would say it is more likely than not that the season won't happen in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As of now, the numbers of new cases are growing in our area. Sadly, we are long way from opening up and there is a possibility of further upward spikes with colder temps. I would say it is more likely than not that the season won't happen in the fall.

Please people, stop focusing on cases. The country has secured more teat and is not holding back to testing as many as possible so obvious, the number of cases will increase as we test more. The most relevant numbers are hospitalizations and deaths. Hospitalizations and deaths are not increasing, which is why they are even considering opening the economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now, the numbers of new cases are growing in our area. Sadly, we are long way from opening up and there is a possibility of further upward spikes with colder temps. I would say it is more likely than not that the season won't happen in the fall.

Please people, stop focusing on cases. The country has secured more teat and is not holding back to testing as many as possible so obvious, the number of cases will increase as we test more. The most relevant numbers are hospitalizations and deaths. Hospitalizations and deaths are not increasing, which is why they are even considering opening the economy.

That is not anywhere near enough, PP. Other countries are tentatively making plans to open up, because their numbers decreased very significantly. The US has NOT, in any shape or form, decreased the number of deaths or hospitalizations in any significant way, except in NYC, which implemented a strict lockdown that other American locations did not (cause and effect). Therefore the US should not be making any plans to open up now. This is why Fauci and Birx are against opening up.

I can tell you right now that opening up willy nilly will be devastating. Please don't make any soccer plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As of now, the numbers of new cases are growing in our area. Sadly, we are long way from opening up and there is a possibility of further upward spikes with colder temps. I would say it is more likely than not that the season won't happen in the fall.

Please people, stop focusing on cases. The country has secured more teat and is not holding back to testing as many as possible so obvious, the number of cases will increase as we test more. The most relevant numbers are hospitalizations and deaths. Hospitalizations and deaths are not increasing, which is why they are even considering opening the economy.

That’s false. States are opening with their highest death rate. It’s all over the news. Just stop with oh we are following a phase plan. That sh#t is not being followed nor are the recommendations of the health experts.

As for soccer va will open in a week or two. This will not include the schools. So no travel soccer till the school are reopened. The schools will open in the fall but no sports for a semester to see how things go. Which is reasonable. It will be hard to start play if the school are not playing. They may not let teams sports use the public fields. I really do not see any interstate travel play happening till maybe the spring. Tournaments/showcase are high risk but of minimal importance.

We are at 5-15% exposure now and we need to get to 60-70%. The states that are opening are just going for 60-70% exposure as fast as they can no matter the cost. Some states will be okay others will not. The history of the second waves seem to be worst vs first wave. If it gets worst they will not say okay let’s play travel soccer but they will not close everything again.

[Anonymous]

Probably too early to have full practices, but teams could be working on shadow play, pattern play, overloads, finishing and crossing, certain defensive drills, keeper training, etc and still practice social distancing.

[Anonymous]

My guess is there will be a heavy push for normalcy by the time school is supposed to start in the Fall. Not sure what year-round programs will do.

Many families will struggle to go to work if their kids are not in school as the cost of child care would be prohibitive if even available.

Sports may lag behind schools opening depending on how each state/county feels about opening fields prior to being fully staffed and operational again.

[Anonymous]

MD Hogan speaks today. Will be interesting to hear his update.

[Anonymous]

Bundesliga received the go ahead from German government to restart games on May 15th. That's a step forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bundesliga received the go ahead from German government to restart games on May 15th. That's a step forward.

Yes, in a country with a functional government and health apparatus that got ahead of the pandemic and got it under control.

Seriously, for all the armchair epidemiologists out there: does anyone really think we've made progress over the past two months?

Not even making this stuff up: 2 months ago, the frickin' US SURGEON GENERAL was telling people NOT TO WEAR MASKS. Not just saying, "Oh, they might not help" or "You can if you want to." He was saying DON'T DO IT.

Don't even compare the sh!tshow in the US to Germany.

[Anonymous]

Positive Coronavirus Tests Bring Scrutiny to German Soccer’s Reopening Plans
Germany’s closely watched Bundesliga confirmed 10 coronavirus cases in its first wave of mass testing. Government officials are expected to announce on Wednesday whether the league can restart.

LONDON — As one of the first major sports leagues to detail plans to return to action, Germany’s soccer league has become the bellwether for the thorny task of restarting sports events postponed by the coronavirus epidemic.
That decision became more complicated on Monday when 10 players were found to have the virus after blanket testing of 1,724 individuals from the 36 teams in the top two divisions of the league, the Bundesliga.
It was not clear if the results would derail plans to restart the league, a decision that could come on Wednesday. But the test results were seen as a harbinger for the heavy considerations all sports organizations would face as they make reopening plans, many of them contingent on widespread testing..

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/sports/soccer/coronavirus-german-soccer-bundesliga.html?smid=tw-share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bundesliga received the go ahead from German government to restart games on May 15th. That's a step forward.

Yes, in a country with a functional government and health apparatus that got ahead of the pandemic and got it under control.

Seriously, for all the armchair epidemiologists out there: does anyone really think we've made progress over the past two months?

Not even making this stuff up: 2 months ago, the frickin' US SURGEON GENERAL was telling people NOT TO WEAR MASKS. Not just saying, "Oh, they might not help" or "You can if you want to." He was saying DON'T DO IT.

Don't even compare the sh!tshow in the US to Germany.

Please feel free to stay at home as long as you want. I hate Trump to. I just value our freedom more. Virginia and Germany have a similar COVID 19 death rate.

[Anonymous]

Anyway--back to the thread at hand.

Hogan's announcement today basically allowed for things like golf, tennis and fishing to recommence early, and the opening of some state parks for hiking and fishing. It doesn't mention any team sports or Summer camps, and in addition, they announced the schoool closures until June which means a huge number of fields will likely be unavailable for footy this Spring.

No real guidance I heard on bringing back club sports just yet.

[Anonymous]

Found these guidelines from England as part of "Project Restart" (the plan to start on June 8). Of course, games would be without fans. That's a given for awhile, but was kind of interesting was the level the undertaking they are launching just to TRAIN the players.

"If training is resumed before social distancing rules are relaxed, BBC Sport understands players will be tested for coronavirus twice a week and would be screened for symptoms every day.

All tests would be carried out by health professionals at a drive-through NHS testing facility that each club would have access to. Training grounds will be optimised for social distancing and high hygiene levels.

In addition:

Players must arrive at training grounds in kit and wear masks at all times.
They must not shower or eat on the premises. If clubs want to provide players with food, it must be delivered as a takeaway to players' cars.
Only essential medical treatment would be allowed, with all medical staff in full PPE.
All meetings and reviews must take place virtually and off-site.
--BBC Sports

Found this interesting because people often remark the reason there is no football is because of the crowd problem (which basically doesn't apply to youth soccer). However, this is quite a list they are undertaking just to train, absent any crowd issue. Not even sure the MLS is doing this level of oversight.