The Chelmsford Sunday Soccer Club's Blog

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.

The clocks change this weekend.

Weather is supposed to be dry this weekend.

Temps are supposed to be mild on Sunday.

Sounds to me like we should play soccer. Could just be me. But, I am hopeful that it is you too. I was thinking of retiring after last week, but I’m still here. You’re welcome.

Let’s gather at 8:30 AM at the McCarthy turf. If that field is taken, we can just set-up across Graniteville Road. But, at 8:30 we should be okay.

Bring a white shirt. Bring a dark shirt. When asked why you don’t have a white shirt do not pretend that this is a new concept.

Hope to see you all on Sunday.

Lawrence

Sunday the 23rd of Feb looks like it will be clear and reach almost 50 degrees. Even if a bit cooler in the morning, it should be a fine day for soccer.

Cancel all other plans you have for Sunday. Get your soccer stuff together. Plan on being ready for a game to kick-off no later than 9:00 AM at the McCarthy turf. I know that I am eager to play as I have not been on the field in several weeks and looking forward to seeing all of you. I think that it would be great if we had enough players

At this time of year, the weather is not our friend. So, having an unseasonably warm Sunday will be a welcome bonus.

Lawrence

February 6, 2020

Hello Hearty New Englanders,

If McCarthy Turf Field is clear (not covered in snow), there are those among us who are eager to play every week. If the field is clear, show up at the McCarthy Turf for a 9:00 AM game. This may not get posted every week (although we’ll try to post more often), but it is true all winter.

We don’t lose the turf field until the kids sports start in the spring. We should take advantage of it. As of Thursday night, it looks like the field will be clear and the conditions dry. Heck, if we play this winter, we may be in April shape by June this year.

As a reminder, everyone high school age and older is welcome. Bring a dark shirt and a white (or very light) shirt.

Lawrence