COVID-19 PANDEMIC

COVID PANDEMIA UPGRADE APRIL 1st, 2020

WE ARE STILL IN TROUBLE: WE MUST BE PROACTIVE !!!

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist has a stark message for U.S. leaders: “Shut down the country everywhere now to quell the spread of the Corona virus (COVID-19). Failing to do so would be a recipe for disaster”

In an article published in The Washington Post on Tuesday March 31, 2020 he said the U.S. had already “missed the opportunity to get ahead” of the virus. But, he stressed, it wasn’t too late for mitigating actions.

“The choices we and our leaders make now will have an enormous impact on how soon case numbers start to go down, how long the economy remains shut down and how many Americans will have to bury a loved one”

He recommended three immediate steps that need to be taken:

1.  The country needs “a consistent nationwide approach to shutting down,” “Despite urging from public health experts, some states and counties haven’t shut down completely. In some states, beaches are still open; in others, restaurants still serve sit-down meals. This is a recipe for disaster. Because people can travel freely across state lines, so can the virus. The country’s leaders need to be clear: Shutdown anywhere means shutdown everywhere,”

Gates estimated that it could take 10 weeks or more for case numbers to start decreasing across the country ― and until then, “no one can continue business as usual or relax the shutdown.”

“Any confusion about this point will only extend the economic pain, raise the odds that the virus will return, and cause more deaths,” he wrote.

2.  The federal government needs to ramp up its testing efforts. That means making more tests available and developing more efficient testing methods ― and ensuring that high-priority individuals, including health-care workers and first responders, as well as symptomatic people who are at risk of becoming seriously ill, are tested first.

3. Finally, Gates said it was critical for the U.S. to adopt a “data-based approach” to developing treatments for the virus and, as soon as possible, a vaccine.

RICHARD MOELLER WAS ELECTED USASA VP

FSSA PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED USASA VP

Our Miami resident and President of Florida State Soccer Association was elected at the last USASA meeting that took place in Hawaii last month, as the new VP for the National organization. 

Congrats, big man!!!! For the good of soccer

Richard Moeller presiding FSSA mid-year meeting, Tampa Bay March 2017

ADULT SOCCER STRUCTURE IN FLORIDA

ADULT COMPETITIVE SOCCER LEAGUES IN SOUTH FLORIDA

There is quite a bit of confusion among soccer players, soccer parents and soccer coaches in relation to the rank and order of the different soccer leagues operating in the US and particularly in our South Florida area and who is eligible to play in those leagues.

As it is public knowledge soccer in the US is arbitrarily and drastically divided into youth soccer and adult soccer. Youth soccer under United States Youth Soccer Association admits players from 8 to 18 years old. Adult soccer is also separated into professional and amateur levels with no clearly defined limits between them. According to the by-laws of the USYSA Rule 208 any player can play adult soccer without losing his/her youth eligibility.  Such rule reads as follows:  “A youth player may play an unlimited number of adult games without losing his or her youth eligibility. The youth player must notify his or her youth coach or other authorized team official of the player’s intention to play adult games. The youth player shall request, in writing, (1) eligibility clearance from the Youth State Association through which the player is registered, and (2) permission 9/1/13 - 6 - from the appropriate Adult State Association. When the clearance and permission have been granted, the Adult State Association has sole discretion in permitting a youth player to play adult games and will be responsible for establishing the procedures under which the youth player will be allowed to play. In the event of a conflict between an adult game and a youth game, the youth game shall take precedence”. In Florida players 16 years of age are considered eligible to play adult soccer with approval from the youth organization (Florida Youth Soccer association). In California South the minimum age to play adult soccer is just 14 years.

Adult division approved by USSOCCER in 2017

Division 1 Professional                    MLS

Division 2 Professional                    NASL     USL

Regional Semipro                            NPSL

Regional Adult                                 PDL

Local Adult (USASA/FSSA)             GOLCO; APSL; CASA

THE ACADEMY TRAINING SCHEDULE

The Academy Foxes Senior Team next practice is Thursday, October 13 at Cypress Park, Field #6 starting at 5:00pm.

We will have a game this Sunday, October 16, time to be announced.