The Arizona Soccer Association (ASA) is 100% committed to our members, players, coaches, families, and communities.  Since March, ASA and our member clubs have worked diligently in developing protocols and reporting that were focused on returning to play safely. 

Over the past week, there have been measures taken by Pima County and the City of Phoenix that has resulted in the closure of fields in these communities. While very disappointed in these decisions, the ASA has and will continue to reach out and develop partnerships with local leaders, local municipalities, and elected officials. Numerous times since March, ASA has provided our protocols and return-to-play guidelines to public health and government agencies and have received no feedback. As has been stated many times, we absolutely stand behind the facts that we need to continue playing on the field in order to support the physical, social, and emotional health of our youth. 

We have a large soccer community in Arizona and our voice is stronger when we all work together.  ASA leadership will continue to use all our means to advocate, promote, and lobby to keep fields open as well as get those that have closed, to open as soon as possible. ASA asks that you do the same in your communities. Reach out to local leaders, local municipalities, and elected officials. Again, if all of us continue to reach out our voices will not be ignored.

It is vital that we all remain diligent and focused on complying with all ASA protocols.  This includes masking up, maintaining social distance, and being respectful of each other.  We are in this together and each person involved must continue to demonstrate that they will do what it takes to keep our fields open and our youth playing.  Every team, coach, team manager, board member, parent, and player must hold each other accountable for compliance – but do so respectfully and appropriately.

Know that ASA is here.  We are working hard in partnership with member clubs and leagues and doing everything in our power to keep playing soccer.  We will continue to host league games, tournaments, coaching education, and are working on plans for soccer to be played in the spring which includes the 2021 Presidents Cup and 2021 State Cup.

In closing, as we head into the holidays take a moment and look back on the past nine months and realize that soccer in Arizona continues to be played and grows when others are not.  There have been many obstacles, challenges, and frustrations. Yet, all who have been part of Arizona soccer are able to stand tall, on a soccer field, smile and know that together we have accomplished much.  There is more to come, but if we continue to work together, we will have a tremendous second half to the 2020-2021 season.