May 6, 2020

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Dear Sporting Omaha FC Families,

As we continue to evaluate the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are sharing the latest information about our upcoming programming as it stands today, May 6th. The Governor’s mandate of no team sports activities through May 31st will prevent any club activities until June.  To that end, there will be no club-organized or club-initiated in-person functions of any kind during May.  The club does not endorse any gathering that may occur among players or member families.  We intend on beginning some level of training opportunities on June 1st unless there is an extension of the gathering restrictions.  Please see the following details by program:

Select (Tryout Teams, 2010-2002 Birth Years)

As per the recently revised and posted guidelines of the NSSA, the new tryout window for the 2020-21 season will be July 6-11 assuming no further policy changes are presented by the Governor or local health organizations.  During that week, tryout sessions will be held for all age groups (u11-u19, boys and girls).  Another change for this tryout cycle will involve a Re-Signing Period during which players can re-sign with their current club without the need to participate in tryouts.  Families may accept invitations to return to Sporting Omaha for the upcoming year during the month of June based on their respective offers from the club through June 30.  As we get closer to that time, we will provide more insight into that process.

Academy, (2013-2011 Birth Years)
Our staff coach led Academy and Pre-Academy programs will host Open House sessions in June for boys and girls. During an Open House, players in the 2013-2011 age groups may attend for evaluation and consideration into the Academy program.  These Open House sessions will be open to all players and we will distribute the times and dates for the Open House sessions in the coming weeks.  For more information on our Academy program, please visit our website at:  https://www.sportingomahafc.com/academy-information.

Youth and Recreational Programs - Registration for the Fall season will open June 1st, with a registration deadline of August 3rd. Payment information will be required during online registration; however, payment capture will not occur until local and state agencies release youth leagues to full participation.

We will share additional details regarding our summer programming including plans for training and club camp opportunities during June and July in the coming weeks.

As always, thank you for your support of Sporting Omaha FC.

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April 9, 2020

 

Dear SOFC Academy, Select Program and DA Members,

We are indeed in unprecedented times and people around the globe and in our own community are grappling with how to navigate our current situation. The health and safety of our players, families, and team members continues to be our top priority. We have appreciated all the support you have shown us as we creatively implement new ways to connect with our players and add value to their continued development.

 

Last week the Nebraska State Soccer Association (NSSA) officially cancelled the remainder of the spring soccer season. This led the board to discuss and make decisions regarding financial matters impacting the club, including refunds. The board has decided that in the interest of the short and long-term health of the club and its members not to grant refunds for the Academy & Select 2011-2006 teams as well as for the entire DA program.

 

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we share one common goal, and that is to improve the lives of all our members through the passion of the game. This shared interest will remain a consistent theme as we find our way through this together. As such, and in the spirit of full transparency with our patrons, we would like to share what we are doing to maintain this high level of service to you. We intend to keep an intact coaches’ lineup / roster to continue to provide a meaningful soccer education even during this time of uncertainty. In addition to the coaching salaries, we have other operating costs that will continue, e.g. ongoing field and facility maintenance, affiliation costs with Sporting KC, utilities, insurance, etc.

 

We have given a great deal of consideration in evaluating our current programs within the DA, Select, and Academy. Fortunately, we have been able to provide a majority of the yearly planned soccer academia through training and competition, both indoor and outdoor. Thankfully, this rare situation has only affected our spring competitive events for this season. In appreciation of your understanding and continued patronage, we will offer free summer camps for the 20/21 season to all returning 2011-2006 academy and select players (note: this will also include the 2005 players that are in eighth grade). We will also offer the Team Retreat (previously the DA Retreat) for free to our returning DA girls, 2006-2002.

 

SOFC's leadership will continue to do what we can to see our common mission through.

 

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and patience as we navigate this together.

 

Sporting Omaha FC Board of Directors

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April 7, 2020

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Sporting Omaha FC Youth & Recreational soccer parents:

 

First of all, our staff extends warm wishes to each family within the larger Sporting Omaha family. Please know that we hope that you are able to stay healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Since spring soccer seasons were unable to be completed for our Youth and Youth Recreational programs, our club is reaching out with options for families to either have their spring fees refunded or to donate those spring fees to our Scholarship Assistance program. Please fill out the link below with your family preference. In addition, note that this email is provided to the primary contact on your child’s registration to avoid duplicate responses per player. 

 

We know that many families within the club have been impacted financially in some manner by the Covid-19 pandemic. If your family is requesting a refund, monies withheld will ONLY cover credit card and fees already incurred, instead of a higher amount ($20-$30) normally withheld under the agreed upon refund policy accepted during registration.  We want to make sure every family is able to return to play in the future. Players on U4-U10 teams will receive a refund of fees paid, minus $10. Players on U11 and older teams will receive a refund of fees paid, minus $15. Refunds will be credited to the card to which the registration was paid from if possible. If the payment was charged more than 90 days ago, or with a credit card which has expired, the payment will come as a check from our accountant.

 

For the majority of our Youth soccer players, spring soccer was supposed to start this week. Don’t worry though, I will be sending out individual sessions and video tutorials for all ages to keep our players on the soccer ball. It is essential that Sporting Omaha keeps your child engaged in sport during a time that can be stressful and lonely.  If you have not done so in the past, please follow us on your preference of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We will be posting fun player challenges for all ages on social media.

 

For Youth and Youth Recreational players only, please fill out the link below to allow our staff to process your family’s request for spring fee distribution. 

 

 

 Link to Youth & Recreational spring fee preference form: https://forms.gle/cH19KFq5hcYARUBd9

 

My best, 

 

Christina Lewis, Youth Director

Sporting Omaha FC

ChristinaL@SportingOmahaFC.com

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April 3, 2020

 

Hello Families,

 

Nebraska Youth Soccer League just released that they have decided to cancel the spring season based off the governor’s decision to cancel school and school sports. Sporting Omaha FC will have more details for all of you early next week regarding all our programs. Thank you for all your support and we hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

 

Sincerely,

The SOFC Staff and Board

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March 24, 2020

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Hi Members,

 

We wanted to send out another update to all of you regarding everything going on. Late last week Nebraska State Soccer sent out an email stating that they were going to follow the guidelines of local authorities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), US Youth Soccer and US Soccer. The have extended their suspension through at least April 30, 2020. Sporting Omaha FC will follow suit and we are suspending all training, meetings and gatherings through the club. The safety of our members is our highest priority. We hope that you and your family stay healthy and strong during this time.

 

Does the training at home stop, of course not! We recommend the players get in at least one hour of training a day. They can utilize the provided material from the club and/or work sent from the coach. Our coaches have spent the past week putting together ideas and sessions to keep the players engaged and fit. SOFC wants to give coach, Neil Hope, a big THANK YOU for working on our Sporting Omaha FC YouTube channel. He has uploaded several training sessions for players to use as a guide. We also want to give coach, William Taylor, a shout out for putting together video game analysis homework that he has shared with the staff. It’s dedicated coaches like this that make our club great.

 

As we get closer to April 30th, we will have more answers for all of you regarding what our next steps are and what the rest of the season will look like. Please bear with us as we are working hard to get everything figured out. We appreciate all of you and will be in touch as soon as we have more information.

 

Sincerely,

Sven Jasinski, SOFC Board President

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March 16, 2020

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Hey Families,

 

We sent out a message last week stating that we are suspending training until March 30th. This means all team and group training sessions. Once we get closer to the 30th we will reevaluate the situation and make plans from there. In the meantime, our DoC's and staff are working on creating individual training sessions that our players can work on at home. We have already updated our YouTube account with several training sessions for your players. They are broken down under the PlayList. You can search YouTube for Sporting Omaha FC, subscribe to our page and view the videos. We will continue to update our Playlists with videos that will benefit players of all ages.

Thank you, 

 

The SOFC Staff

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March 13, 2020

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Dear SOFC Members,

 

Sporting Omaha FC is closely following the growing concerns surrounding COVID-19. The health and safety of all our members is the top priority for the club. We are working with our state soccer association and will follow guidance from the United States Soccer Federation, United States Youth Soccer, school boards in the metro area, and the Nebraska Department of Public Health. This is a very fluid situation and we will continue to provide updates regularly.

 

At this point we will suspend all Sporting Omaha FC soccer activities until March 30th. This includes the following:

 

• All practices

• All camps

• All scrimmages

• Warren Academy has closed as well

 

An announcement about the Taylor Podraza tournament will be out within the next couple of days. As for the Sporting Omaha Youth program, currently it will begin on April 6th as initially planned. For non-canceled events during this time, we will work with the coach and the team manager to help make a team by team decision.

 

There is no existing road-map for this type of situation and therefore out of an abundance of caution we feel it necessary to take these steps. As you can imagine, the leadership at SOFC will be working diligently within the next two weeks to attempt to manage all the moving parts as best we can. This is a rapidly evolving situation. Updates regarding club programming will be communicated as quickly as possible.

 

We encourage families to stay informed through the CDC and state departments.

 

Thank you,

Sven Jasinski, Executive Director

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March 12, 2020

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SOFC Members,

 

As of today, March 12, 2020, Sporting Omaha FC will continue to train as scheduled. We will be guided by the Nebraska State Soccer Association and/or local schools in any future decision making. Any changes to training will be sent out immediately.  

 

As an added precaution, the Omaha Sports Complex has implemented an accelerated cleaning regimen at all facilities. High-traffic areas including counters, handrails, doorknobs and drinking fountains are cleaned throughout the day.

 

If you are sick or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please stay home to protect others. 

 

Guiding decisions:

• Any coach or player testing positive for COVID-19 must contact the club immediately and stay home.

• Any school closures impacting our club and its ability to hold trainings or matches will be met with an automatic club message. 

• Any local public health decisions impacting our club and its ability to hold trainings or matches will be met with an automatic club message. 

 

Thank you,

SOFC Staff and Board