Due to the field and state regulations regarding the health and safety of our players, we are splitting the entire age group into Pods of no more than 12 players. These Pods will be unique for the month of July, and once we are allowed to enter Phase 3, we will return to team training.

The Pods are created alphabetically. Although there may be a couple of exceptions so that siblings may be in the same pod.

The Pods are set for the month of July. This is to ensure that the players are with a unique group during Phase 2, to minimize the potential risk of exposure. We understand that this may be a difficult time, however please note that we anticipate this lasting only a couple of weeks, and we will return to team training then.

As the traditional try out process was cancelled this year, we have placed our coaches throughout the age group Pods, encouraging them to evaluate every player over the 2 week period. This will ensure that - at the time of team placement - we have given every player the opportunity to demonstrate their talents.

Training will certainly look different than it has before. You are certainly used to a lot of small sided games, and with Phase 2 these will not be permitted just yet. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to work with the players and focus on their individual technique and ball mastery. Sessions will involve competition, but these games will stay away from contact to ensure that everyone stays safe.

We have the sessions based around a 40 minute session. There will then be a 20 minute window to get the players off the field, and the next set of players on the field safely. These 40 minute sessions will be heavily focused on technical work, which is both difficult to master, and a good endurance exercise. Our players are returning from months away from the field, and we want to ensure that it is a slow transition into full play. This will reduce injuries and help guide the players back into the full game.

Managing the fields is certainly a challenge, and the club has spent a lot of time focused on those logistics. We will operate the entrances on the south side of 53rd, and each station will have a check in, hand sanitization and signage. The players will check in quickly, then go straight to their respective Pod. They will have their own square for the session, before exiting on the north side of the field - again stopping for hand sanitizer. All players are more than welcome to wear masks should you/they desire, and you will likely see some of our coaching staff doing the same.

Absolutely! We have a page dedicated to the Return to Play, along with a full document, videos in English and Spanish and a full Podcast episode dedicated to it. You can find that information by clicking here : https://www.hillsborosoccer.org/corona-update/

All of our Pods are maxed at 12 players + 1 coach. Each Pod will have a minimum of a 1/4 of a field at any one time. So the Pods will be able to maintain plenty of space from one another to begin their practices. There is a limit to player count per field from the City and State, and the club is adhering to these policies.