US Club Soccer, our youth soccer governing body, joined with other youth members of the U.S. Soccer Federation (AYSO, SAY and USSSA) in immediately suspending all activities within their jurisdiction through April 12th.

To be clear: this includes not only activities directly operated by US Club Soccer, but also those US Club Soccer-sanctioned and related activities operated by member organizations, such as league and tournament play, scrimmages, practices/training, tryouts, team travel, large group meetings and related off-field activities. AYSO, SAY and USSSA are also taking the same measures.

There will be a subsequent update before April 12 addressing the possibility of returning to play or extending this cessation.

Dear Burlingame Soccer Club Member Families,

We know that our players, their families and our community want to be on the pitch. So do we. While the Burlingame Soccer Club's mission is to teaching fundamental skills, instilling confidence and building a love for the game of soccer in youth players we can only accomplish this by providing the safest possible environment, and safeguarding the citizens our community. COVID-19 has substantially altered the sports landscape. We want to reassure you that the health and well-being of our players, their families and our community is our primary concern. To this end, we are doing our part to communicate effectively and follow public health agencies and governmental authorities' recommendations.

As previously announced, we suspended all training at least through Sunday, March 22^nd. We expect that there is the possibility that there are going to game postponements in the coming weeks and months. The decision to proceed, restrict, modify or postpone practices will be based on availability of community resources and risk assessment based upon the relevant healthcare and government authorities.

BSC has experienced significant disruptions to our season in the past. About a year ago outside activity was suspended for a period of time due to the California wildfires. We have had weeks-at-a-time delays in practices and games where fields were closed due to significant rain. In every case, BSC has worked diligently to identify workarounds and provide a fun, worthwhile, exciting season for our players. In our 37-years as a Club, we have never cancelled a season and we certainly hope that it will not come to that now.

We assure you that we are monitoring the situation carefully, as well as working with our coaches to find alternative ways forward that may allow the kids to stay active yet still comply with recommended guidelines from local health officials. It is important that our players stay active during this time when they limited to staying inside their home. We will e-mail homework activities that the players can do by themselves with and without a soccer ball to keep them on their toes in preparation for resuming the Spring 2020 season. It is our hope that the Spring 2020 season will occur, albeit perhaps with a short respite now and also perhaps extending the season longer than usual.

In the meantime, with respect to fees that you have paid/will be paying for your child's Spring 2020 registration, rest assured that BSC will do as we have always done and that's what is fair and equitable to our families and coaches. We are a non-profit 501(c )3 that serves families in our greater community. The Club is run largely by about 100 dedicated parent volunteers. We also have compensated staff that provide tremendous value for our kids and families - and those staff are primarily our Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, as well as our Directors of Coaching and Operations. It's our intent to do all we can to ensure they are provided for during this difficult time while at the same time being absolutely fair and equitable with you, our family members. If, due to these unprecedented circumstances, the season is ultimately cancelled including all trainings and games, we would intend to make an appropriate credit to the account of registered players toward next season. Similarly, should the season go forward but in a materially abridged version, we would intend to determine a fair and equitable credit to be applied toward next season for all registered players. Like other non-profits working through this unforeseen set of circumstances, this will be a challenging time for BSC. Our intent is to do what's right for both you our families, and our coaches who have committed to BSC and your children for Spring 2020 season. Because of the uncertainty currently surrounding the resumption of the season, we have extended the registration deadline to April 1, 2020. To best prepare for when the kids can be back on the pitch, we encourage all families to register.

We of course recognize the fantastic benefit to the kids remaining active and being involved with team sports - especially soccer! We will balance that factor with the guidance from heath officials to make the best decision we can for our players and families.