Ontario Soccer, in consultation with Canada Soccer and Provincial Government authorities have been monitoring the most recent developments of COVID-19 and are currently assessing operational plans for Return to Play, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold and potentially wind down.

The Ontario Provincial Government made an announcement on April 27, 2020 and within it has laid out a phased-in approach to de-escalating the State of Emergency in Ontario.

Other Canadian provinces have also begun the process of re-opening businesses, easing social restrictions and gradually moving towards modes of operation that work in each region.

Ontario’s Provincial Government has not yet set a date for the beginning of the province’s phased-in approach but there is now an opportunity to begin thinking about what that Return to Play might look like for soccer in our province.

Ontario Soccer has been invited to be part of an Ontario Provincial Government sport sub-committee to assist with the management and strategy of how amateur sport navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the eventual easing of social restrictions from the Provincial and Federal government, Ontario Soccer understands that there will still may be a great deal of concern on the part of Parents, Players, Team Officials, Match Officials, Clubs, Academies and Districts as Return to Play becomes possible.

The safety and health of our participants will be first and foremost in the decision-making to come.

To better understand your concerns, Ontario Soccer has created a survey so you can provide us your input on what Return to Play in Ontario may look like.

Ontario Soccer asks that administrators at the Districts, Clubs and Ontario Recognized Academies complete the survey. As well, we ask that you share it widely with your members to ensure their ideas are heard and accounted for.  

Survey data collected will assist Ontario Soccer with our Return to Play strategy and can also be shared with the Ontario Government sub-committee on sport.

Click here to take this survey and help us shape the Return to Play. The deadline for submission is May 11, 2020.

Thank you. We wish the membership the best of health and safety during these unprecedented times.

If you have any further questions regarding Return to Play, please contact Patty Forbes, Director, Administration.