While the fields sit empty, the Red Deer City Soccer Association still has dreams of players hitting the pitch at some point this summer.
In early April, the City of Red Deer extended the closure of sports fields until June 30. That has left the local soccer association, which typically registers close to 1,700 players in the summer, wondering what a season might look like.
RDCSA president Stephen Kelly said that along with guidelines from Alberta Health Service, Soccer Canada and Soccer Alberta, he believes they can come up with a return to play model that will allow some sort of modified soccer action this summer.
“We’re preparing like we are going to have a season, we are hoping in July and August,” Kelly said.
“We’re cautiously optimistic by then we’ll have something. It might not be our regular leagues, it might be smaller sessions or half team things, but we’re willing to do whatever we can do just to get the kids to get out and play again… I think it’s important for our families– the well-being of the kids to get outside and play and get fresh air and exercise.
We obviously have to wait until it’s safe to do so. We’re optimistic that’s going to happen sometime this summer.”
Along with stay-at-home orders being eased and municipal facilities being opened, the return to play guidelines also include the associations sticking to a strict checklist indicating it is safe to return.
Kelly noted they have about 700 kids registered this year so far, with some asking for refunds as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re in a tough situation financially, but we’re hoping– I personally think if we have a season we would have record enrollment and registration because I think families and parents will be desperate to get their kids doing something. Get them outside and interact with other kids,” he said, adding with most other summer sports being cancelled, it could be a boon for soccer if they do return.
The organization, which is able to apply for federal and provincial grants, isn’t in dire straights if the summer season doesn’t go ahead. To reduce costs, the organization has taken over the preparation of the field for the season, something they usually hire out.
But if more cancellations come, it would be tough long term.
“I think financially, we’re okay. We have some money in reserve. It would hurt if we have zero income this summer, obviously,” he said.
“We have some money in reserve, so we would survive. We are financially pretty well off. We would definitely have enough money to start indoor, if that ends up getting cancelled for whatever reason, we would be in a lot of trouble after that.”
Still, his optimism grows each day as case-loads continue to decrease in Alberta and also cited some professional soccer leagues returning to play, such as the Bundesliga in Germany, as a reason for optimism.
“As more things open up around the world, I think people are going to realize okay, we can do this,” he said.
Kelly added that the association has bought a playground for Edgar park last year and is hoping to get that done in the next month.