In conjunction with MD’s expanded statewide mask order, which takes effect Friday, July 31 at 5:00pm for anyone over the age of five, the Soccer Association of Columbia has adopted the following face covering guidelines for all visitors to the Bob Lucido Fields at Covenant Park:

-Players are required to wear face coverings to and from the field
-Coaches are required to wear face coverings at all times (on and off the field)
-Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times

We expect all visitors to abide by these guidelines. Failure to do so may result in removal from the complex.

We also ask, as an added measure of safety, that visitors continue to practice physical distancing around the fields. Please avoid stopping and/or gathering in common walking areas and remember that there are multiple points of entry to each field.

(Press Release – Governor Hogan Announces Expanded Statewide Mask Order)

SAC general guidelines for return to play phased approach are designed for all participants to be safe. These SAC guidelines are for staff, players, coaches and families. All participants must read the return to play guidelines and sign a liability waiver before participating in a training session.

Guidelines:
https://www.sackick.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/SAC-Return-To-Play-Guidelines.pdf

Waiver:
https://www.sackick.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SAC-Covid-Waiver.pdf

Select tryouts will be held the second week of August. Supplemental Tryouts will be held for all age groups except U9, who will hold full tryouts. Current Select players do not have to tryout. Pre-registration in our Sports Connect registration system is encouraged.

A full schedule has been posted to the Select Tryout page: https://www.sackick.com/select-tryouts/

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jon Romero, a wonderful coach and beloved parent. All of our thoughts go to the Romero family during this difficult time. “I have had the privilege of knowing Jon for years now. We met when we were both coaching rec soccer and our teams played one another. He was a great coach with an awesome attitude of what the game brings and how it should be played. He was the finest gentleman as well as an outstanding father, and he will be missed by everyone.” -Coach Dave

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have modified our SAC Training Academy summer camp schedule. We will only be offering the morning (9am-12pm) session for players ages 6-14 years old. Please see the SAC Summer Camp webpage for details. We will be contacting anyone registered for the afternoon sessions to make arrangements for a refund. https://www.sackick.com/sac-summer-camps/

Rec/Select/Juniors
Register now for Fall soccer using your SAC – Sports Connect account! Click here

Travel/Pre-Academy
Returning Travel/Pre-Academy players can submit their Club Membership Dues now! Click here

The annual College Scholarship Essay Contest will be awarding two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school students who will be attending an institute of higher education in the upcoming academic year. The scholarship will be awarded to one male and one female student. Please visit the dedicated page for application details: https://www.sackick.com/college-scholarship/

Aki Lake has been promoted to Club DOC. Aki will now be overseeing the entire Travel program, while maintaining his role as the Recreational and Select Director.

For the purposes of opening direct lines of communications about upcoming tryouts, we have decided to set up a ‘Tryout Pre-registration’ program for Select.

If you would like to receive communications about the upcoming tryouts, please sign up by registering for the program below.

Current Select players do not need to pre-register for their existing program to receive tryout updates.

Select Tryout Communication Pre-registration:
https://clubs.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=889008

Baltimore Armour is excited to announce that we are working with MLS to form a new league, after US Soccer ended operations of the Development Academy on April 15. According to Fred Lipka, MLS VP & Technical Director, Player Development, “This new platform will provide year-round, high-level matches for MLS club academy teams and non-MLS academy teams that previously participated in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in the U13, U14, U15, U17 and U19 age categories.”

Link to MLS’ announcement available here: MLS Memo to Academy Directors

Baltimore Armour is now being exclusively run by the Soccer Association of Columbia for both boys and girls. For the upcoming season, BA Boys will be competing in a new league being created by MLS. Details for the BA Girls will be coming soon.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, area soccer clubs and organizations have joined to form DMV UNITED. DMV UNITED formed to provide organizations with a way to share ideas, resources, and best practices in these unprecedented times.

Please find the full DMV United Press Release here:
https://www.sackick.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DMV-United-Press-Release-3.pdf

With the increasing number of cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) being reported we want to help you, our members, and your players stay healthier by encouraging everyone to use the same basic health rules you’d use with any virus. Staying home when you are sick (including players!) and regular and complete handwashing are the start.

See the CDC’s recommended everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases here:
https://bit.ly/2x7FoAc

More information about COVID-10:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html