The Chelmsford Sunday Soccer Club's Blog

After such a long layoff, my body was pretty creaky after Week 1. A bit less creaky after Week 2. So, I think that I am getting back into a rhythm. It feels good to be back.

We are currently set-up to play on the Graniteville field at 9:00 AM on Sundays. We used the lacrosse goals last week. That works out pretty well. It was suggested that the score would have been higher with larger goals. Not sure. I got the sense that we would have missed those goals too. I know that I missed two shots that were really makable. But…that doesn’t matter. We had a lot of fun.

Everyone wore masks. We social distance during the water breaks. We play soccer. We have fun

I was asked to give the address of the Graniteville fields. Not sure that it has an address that a GPS would us. If you are coming from Drum Hill on Old Westford Road, you will see the McCarthy Turf on your left. Take a right at the fork just after that. And…you’re there.

Bring a white shirt. Bring a dark shirt. DO NOT bring a grey shirt. Don’t forget to bring your water bottle. I hope to see you all out there this Sunday.

L

I was very happy that we got back on the field last week. I was really pleased that everyone who played wore masks and social distanced during the water breaks. The bonus was that there were no discussions about grey shirts. Heck, not even grey masks. Sure, my whole body hurt for a few days afterwards, but that’s to be expected after not playing for a few weeks.

Let’s do it all over again on Sunday. 9:00 AM at Graniteville (across from McCarthy turf).

Bring a white shirt. Bring a dark shirt. Do not bring a grey shirt. If anybody has a pop up goal or two, that would be nice to have use of.

Lawrence

Since it has been a few weeks since we last played, this Sunday might be a good time to resume.

All of my research shows that all other games and leagues are requiring masks be worn at this time. Therefore, I encourage everyone playing to wear a mask when they are not social distancing. I can clarify that being a slow runner is not the same as social distancing as faster runners will (briefly) be in your vicinity.

As we have still not gotten confirmation from CYSA as to which field we’ll have this spring, we were thinking that setting up the cones or pop-up goals for a small-sided game on the field at Graniteville Road (across from McCarthy field) is where we’ll start.

Please do not come to soccer if you are feeling unwell. Please do not come to soccer if you are in a high-risk category. I know that we often say “don’t do anything stupid” just before we do something stupid, but please take your well-being and the well-being of the group seriously. That way, we can get back to doing dumb stuff on a long-term basis.

Sunday, May 2nd, 9:00 AM, Graniteville Road.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.

Lawrence

As a group, we need to figure out when to return to playing. Please take this quick survey.

If we are ready to start soon, we need to figure out which field has the big goals (in case we get a crowd) and we need to coordinate with CYSA. Please contact me if you are willing to help coordinate with CYSA regarding fields, etc.

Lawrence

As with last week, some of the group may show up at McCarthy for some passing practice. Getting in some touches in the early spring seems like a good idea and may help us get started with fewer injuries (knock on wood).

Almost forgot…9:00 AM at McCarthy. Since it is only practice, there is a prize for the person who shows up wearing the most grey.

Lawrence

We had a good meeting this morning to discuss how to move forward. Thanks for all who attended.

The feeling of the group is that it is still too early to play games. But a group is going to meet at McCarthy on Sunday the 28th at 9:00 for a short session of passing.

If you wish to come out for that, it is requested that you wear a mask and try to maintain social distancing as much as possible. Since this is just drills and not a game, this is your chance to wear as much grey as you want. Enjoy.

It has been more than a year since most of us have had the ball at our feet. Starting with some weeks of drills and practice while we see how things progress will be a way to hopefully cut down on the injuries and let us resume in a smart way.

The vaccinations rates are going up and should start to reach critical mass later in the spring. There is conclusive evidence that all three of the available vaccines are safe and effective. There is even a report that a fourth vaccine may be approved soon. Yay Scientists!!!

In Massachusetts, all groups will be eligible for vaccines after April 22nd. Then it is a matter of supply and demand. Two weeks after your last shot, you are good to go.

When we do start playing there will be masks and other accommodations until the vaccination rates are way up and the infection rates are way down. I love our Sunday morning soccer community. I hope that we can all do what we can to keep each other well.

As we resume, please do not feel pressured to come out to participate until you are ready and you feel that it is safe for you (and your family). We have been at this for many years and we’ll be here when you are ready.

Be well,
Lawrence

I know that we were all taken off-guard when we had to stop playing. However, I never thought that we’d be off for more than a year. I still don’t know when we can play again.

There are lots of questions. When will soccer be allowed? Will we have to wear masks while playing? Will grey masks be allowed? Will we modify the rules as some leagues have? Will CYSA set-up the fields? Which field will have the big nets? Will McCarthy be available to us? Etc.

I strongly suspect that different players will be able to return at different times. I am personally being cautious.

It would be great to see people. Let’s meet to talk (not to play) this coming Sunday, March 21st at 9:00 AM at McCarthy. Socially distant, masks, outside at McCarthy. Perhaps we can start to work through a plan to re-start our game when the time is right.

Lawrence

Hi all. What a crazy year 2020 was. I feel like it has been ages since we had a kick around. But, as they say, better safe than sorry. Sorry for the lack of communication. But there didn’t seem to be much to say.

I hope you are all safe and healthy and can find something positive to take from 2020. With that said, I do hope (ever so slightly) that we can pick back up in the spring. With the vaccines being distributed, at some point we will be able to get back on the field. We will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I will try to keep active with riding the bike in the basement, long walks with my wife, and the occasional juggling session in the back yard. I hope you can get some touches on a ball as well. We will get back out there eventually!

Stay safe and Happy New Year!

Bruce

Chelmsford Youth Soccer Association posted the announcement from Mass Youth Soccer that says that everything is suspended until April 15th. See below.

https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/coronavirus/

This is no surprise. The whole world has hit the “pause” button. Smart thing to do. Let’s make the most of it.

If things go back to normal on April 15th, we’ll look to resume our game on that Sunday (April 19th). Won’t know until then.

Some of my nagging injuries are starting to heal. I am getting a good amount of sleep. I am having to find alternative exercise outlets. Although not as fun as soccer, that is easily done.

This all reminds me of the “Blizzard of ’78”. That was actually a big blizzard that followed another blizzard in a very snowy winter. The state was slow to shut things down and that made the road clearing all but impossible. We’d already run out of places to put snow before that storm hit. We were trapped at home for the better part of two weeks. But I remember it fondly.

Of course, the blizzard was more easily understood and had a clear end in sight. Plows came and cleared the roads, my brother and I shoveled, and spring came and melted the snow. Simple. This one is a bit more complex.

I hope that you all stay well, stay safe, and don’t gain too much weight before we play again. I hope that we’re all back on the field together in April.

Lawrence

If you live long enough you see everything. I just really hadn’t thought that we’d see it all in one week. This week has been like a long year.

Yeah, we had a nice game last Sunday. Yeah, the weather looks acceptable this Sunday. Yay, Bruce bringing pinnies saved us from the awkward conversation about bringing a white shirt and a dark shirt (and grey is neither). All good. What is not good is the virus.

My guess is that things will get worse before they get better. Don’t know. I suspect that I will know more next week than I do this week. Probably won’t like what I learn, but that’s different. Although I hate to miss soccer, I am not playing this weekend. Avoiding close social contacts lessens the opportunities for infection. Does it guarantee that you won’t get the virus. Nope. But it moves the odds in a better direction for you and it moves the odds in a better direction for all of us. Flatten the curve.

All of us are young (well, some of you guys are getting older), healthy, and in good shape. We’re not the most vulnerable, but not immune either. The COVID-19 strain of Corona Virus is sneaky in that it can be low-symptom to no-symptom for a while. That means you can pass it along before you even know that you have it.

Because the science tells me that staying home this Sunday is the smart move, I am not playing this week. Next week — too early to tell. We’ll see. I can’t tell the group what to do. If you want to play, gather at McCarthy at 8:30 on Sunday morning. Have fun. Wear grey.

Sunday mornings are among my favorite times of the week. Love this group. Love this game. But, no soccer for me this week.

Lawrence
(March 12, 2020)

P.S. I didn’t mean that “wear grey” thing.