A message from NSC President, Jeff Trapani on Fall, 2020:
Fall 2020
Northampton Soccer Club is providing two options for soccer this fall, with the goals of keeping players playing and enjoying soccer and keeping you and your family safe and comfortable with the degree of interaction your child has with others.
Please read about the options and choose the option that makes sense for you and your family.* Whether we are able to provide both options at a particular age group will be determined by the number of children registered for each option and age group. Registration is now closed. Please contact the NSC Director of Coaching or Registrar to see if there are additional spots open in your age group.
Please read about the options and choose the option that makes sense for you and your family.* Whether we are able to provide both options at a particular age group will be determined by the number of children registered for each option and age group. Registration is now closed. Please contact the NSC Director of Coaching or Registrar to see if there are additional spots open in your age group.
* A note on risk:
NSC encourages families to make decisions based on their own comfort level and risk aversion. We also recognize that the degree of risk from participating in activities in Massachusetts is likely to change over the coming months. |
For both options, the following guidelines will apply to both games and practices:
- No heading, no shoulder to shoulder contact, no slide tackling, no throw-ins (there will be kick-ins), no corner kicks (there will be modified kick-ins), no defensive walls, and no dropped balls.
- Players will be required to wear a mask and only remove them if there is a stop in play or if they are away from the play and they need to catch their breath. (In practices when 6 feet of distance can be consistently maintained, masks will not be required.)
- There will also be additional hydration breaks.
- Only one spectator per player will be permitted near the field surface. Spectators will be able to spread in areas not previously allowed, such as behind the goal.
Option 1: Travel |
This option will be similar to previous years in terms of travel. Players will have two practices per week and one game on Saturdays. We will travel to many of the same towns as previous years, all within about 30 minutes of Northampton.
|
Option 2: Intramural |
This option will have players playing only against other NSC players. The rules for play will be the same, but there will be no travel and no play against teams outside of Northampton. Practices will be 1-2 times per week with one game per week, on a weeknight or on Sundays.
If a particular age group does not have enough players for a separate intramural group, intramural players would practice with the travel team, but would have an additional practice or mixed age scrimmage in place of a travel game. |
The Options Compared
Value |
Roots Travel Team |
NSC Intramural |
Practices/games per week |
2 practices, 1 game |
1-2 practices, 1 game |
Opponents for games |
Teams from other towns |
Other players within NSC |
Travel outside Northampton |
Yes |
No |
Cost** |
$150 |
$120 |
What happens if there are not enough players signed up for this option? |
If too few players of a particular age group sign up for travel, all players at this age will be offered a place on an intramural team. The difference in cost will be refunded. |
If too few players sign up for intramural, players will have the option of practicing with the travel team (and not travelling for games or playing in games against other towns) and having an extra mixed-age scrimmage or practice each week. |
Subject to the discretion of state and local health authorities and soccer organizations |
Yes |
Yes |
Refunds** |
NSC will refund the difference between Travel and Intramural cost if not enough for a travel team or if Roots seasons does not occur |
None |
** A note on costs:
The costs outlined above are based on NSC’s costs to allow its players to take the field. All costs save one are the same regardless of option. These shared costs include insurance, field usage, PPE, equipment, director of coaching and other administrative fees. The only cost difference between the two options are team registration fees to Roots. Additionally, there will be no new uniform purchase requirements for the Fall, 2020 season. |
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