Beginning at 5:00 PM on April 30, 2021, wearing a mask will no longer be required in outdoor settings in North Carolina. Our parent organization, North Carolina Youth Soccer Association, has changed its requirements for member organizations like ours and will no longer require masks outdoors. This change to the mask mandate and easing of restrictions by Governor Cooper effects all ABYSA/HFC participants including players, coaches, referees, and spectators.

The new Executive Order states “Masks will still be required indoors but are no longer mandated outdoors. Masks are still strongly recommended outdoors by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) in crowded areas and higher risk settings where social distancing is difficult.”

Specifically:
·        Players are no longer required to wear masks at any time during practice or games including while they are actively playing. Masks are optional and players may continue to wear masks if they or their parents want them to.
·        Coaches are also not required to wear masks, but can continue to wear masks at their discretion. Coaches are not required to wear masks at any time during practice or games.
·        We still recommend that our coaches and players practice social distancing in practice and game environments and self-monitor for symptoms. This includes minimizing team huddles, crowding in bench areas, spreading out as much as possible and staying home when experiencing any symptoms of illness.
·        Reporting of positive tests and exposures to people who test positive is still required for players in the ABYSA/HFC program. Report to [email protected]
·         Spectators are not required to wear masks, however, based on the recommendations of the NC DHHS, and the fact that spectators are generally in the most crowded area of the field, moving around less, and in a setting where social distancing is more difficult, we continue to encourage our spectators to wear masks.
·        We will no longer monitor the fields for mask wearing, however, we do encourage everyone to continue to practice mitigation strategies, be respectful of everyone’s safety and comfort, and help prevent the spread of Covid-19 in our community.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve your player and family!

Mike Rottjakob

Executive Director, ABYSA/HFC