interested in knowing what clubs are offering players at this time, we have moved to an online e-learning system. What are clubs thinking about refunds?
We are working daily to monitor and amend our processes short and long term to address our recreational league start and competitive season. Like everyone else, all our activities are on pause. We have begun the communications with our parents and coaches to get open feedback on canceling/continuing the season and what percentage of refunds we give back. We have been notified by our Parks Dept that they will hold the monies paid for field rentals for next season and we have reached out to vendors about outstanding orders and invoices. Contemplating running a condensed season late May thru June but that too poses challenges. We are sorting thru options for our 1099 competitive coaches and what/if any compensation we will be able to give them with programing on pause. Also starting to look forward to fall 2020. We have parents wanting to know where we are headed with things and in a nutshell, we are amazing all the facts before we act. I would love to hop on a call, conference call or start an email thread with anyone interested in talking more candidly.
Hi All - I have been in touch with a lot of club directors these past few days about how they can be better supported. Nick - there are others talking about a condensed season May to June...and also the idea of new programming thoughts...not so much a team and season as we traditionally think about it - but a soccer experience such as training 2x a week/pick up type games so as to account for families travelling and also the significant need we have to provide a healthy experience for players.
Along those lines, I think there will be a lot of innovation that results from this.
Also - for all of you to pass along to your players - I will be hosting a webinar next Tuesday at 3:00 EST with Stuart Singer that is for players. He is a sport psychologist and we will be talking about motivation, how to handle this time off, mindfulness, etc. This is free and open to 500 players (that's my max capacity on my webinar platform). Check out my social channels for a registration link tomorrow. I'm doing this for my clubs so they have something tangible to provide their players and am happy to open it to the Kwik Goal Summit attendees' clubs as well.
Folks, happy to provide assistance (gratis) to this group with graphics, images, communications or advice. Also, feel free to reach out privately (Gretchen@sixteen15.com)
We too have provided the following message to all of our members seeking information. "Thank you for your email. At this time our soccer season has not been canceled. We have suspended training sessions and game play with the utmost consideration of the health and well-being of our players and families. We have been closely monitoring the recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and local authorities. We are assessing when we can return to the field each week and will continue to update all our members."
At this point in time, it is all we can offer. We have begun a full Home Training programs for our Players, and our Directors are still working (remotely) every day. All the best to all, and let us know if you need anything during this time.
A number of clubs in Northern VA and MD are convening a conference call tomorrow to discuss the long-term implications of the outbreak and how it can affect our programs. At this time, the concern is the potential recreation program cancellation for spring. There are varied opinions about refunds/credits with some clubs planning to not issue any refunds due to their overhead and fees already paid, i.e., US Youth Soccer membership fees, league fees, equipment/apparel, etc. I suspect that smaller clubs will struggle maintaining their programs and/or those clubs who depend on tournament revenue for operational expenses will take a huge financial hit. We have cancelled our spring tournaments, spring break camp, optional programming. Further, Fairfax County has pulled all field permits so any form of organized sports are suspended.
Our schools are now canceled for the year and we are looking at a May 15 potential start for spring rec games. We have put in a request to run week nights and normal weekends to get a condensed season in over 4-4.5 weeks. One thing we are looking to do is implement a virtual training program called TopYa! for all our players. It allows clubs to create custom sessions and challenges where virtual coaches can give feedback and track progress!! Will help with risk mitigation, mental health fitness, help kids take a break from electronics and allow for some normalcy during these uncertain times. Check it out at https://topya.com
What are clubs doing for competitive coaching compensation? Our coaches are 1099s and have a 10mo season. We pay our coaches on the 15th of the month and mailed our March's check with a follow up email that our board is meeting as a group to evaluate cost saving measures to ensure the club stays afloat. Scenarios on the table include ceasing compensation, continuing as normal or reducing the amount of compensation they receive. What is everyone else doing?
Didn't they emphasize at the Summit that your coaches should not be classified as 1099 employees? If they qualify as 1099 employees (contractors for higher) than you would have no obligation to them other than the moral and loyal aspects of making the decision to remove them. Right? Possible helpful link: https://www.fundera.com/blog/1099-vs-w2-employee
One could argue they should not but cannot undue their 1099 status. You are correct that we are under no obligation but morality and loyalty are part of the equation. I have been open and transparent with coaches; if we have the money coming in from families, we are willing to pay them, if nothing is coming in, we will not be left holding the bag.
Hi all - we've seen an amazing spike in communication from our partners to their members across the board - lots of questions and confusion from members. Most Clubs have canceled and refunded spring camps, tournaments and training sessions but we are not yet seeing Spring Rec seasons being canceled. Most Clubs are in a holding pattern to see if we might be able to get things off the ground. One recommendation, if you haven't already done: make sure you update members through all channels - website, social, email - regularly as things change. If you're in a holding pattern on the Spring season, let parents know what some of the options are that you're considering to help alleviate concerns (especially financial) and incoming questions. These are tough times for all - glad to see everyone sharing ideas!
Would love to hear feedback from others on whether or not you'd support paying coaches to develop online training videos for their players to get outside and train on their own? Perhaps using a tool like @nick suggested - Topya) or even a free tool like joinme or youtube. This may help solve at least some of the compensation questions but also give players (and parents) some direction about how to keep their players focused and engaged during this hiatus?
We have our directors creating training tools along with our fitness trainer and sending them out. Our coaches are being required to finish their player evaluations as a part of their employment agreement while we wait. Depending on when we can start again, will determine how long we pay them. Our coaches are employees. If we are off for another month or so, we may need to address options.
All - based on the discussions we've had this week with our partners, I HIGHLY encourage all of you to communicate proactively with parents about how you are planning to handle refunds. We are already seeing some parents getting very nervous and starting to issue chargebacks for fees paid. This is BAD for everyone. Make a swift decision about what you will do (refund now - partial or full, hold on the decision until we know the return to play date, offer credits for future programs instead of refunds, or do not offer refunds but provide an explanation regarding why that decision was made). Here's an article on this topic as well: https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/85249/the-covid-19-impact-on-youth-soccer-haley-carter.html. Good luck everyone!
Kris - making a swift decision is not practical. Financial models and expenses already paid are a factor. As a point of information, several clubs in MD and VA have had conference calls to discuss how this could be handled. As you might imagine, everyone has various refund policies so there is no cookie-cutter approach. The smaller clubs are at risk as well as those clubs who rely on tournament revenue and/or have no reserve operating fund. I believe that everyone is examining what they are able to refund/credit (or neither) based on their financial situations. Tournament insurance, to my knowledge, does not cover a pandemic. I don't think WAGS ever recovered the funds paid during the year of the sniper. And, I suspect that not many clubs have business interruption or disaster recovery insurance. What I appreciate most is the collaboration from all the clubs working together and how we can potentially move forward without clubs having to cease operations entirely. Sad times, indeed, for everyone.
Totally understand your points. One of my big concerns for Clubs is that if there isn't proactive communication to parents - even if just to inform them of the challenges being faced and the factors that are going into the decisions - that more parents will start issuing chargebacks and disputes with their banks, which will then have an even bigger financial impact to the Clubs, as well as less control over the situation.
Sporting Brookside
sponsored by the Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy
Sporting Brookside Families,
I hope this email finds you well! I appreciate your patience during these uncertain times and I want to provide you with an update on what’s happening with Sporting Brookside’s 2020 Spring Youth Recreational League season. Our spring season has NOT been cancelled, but with the health and well being of our players and families in mind and with guidance from KCMO Parks & Rec we are delaying the start of our league.
Practices & Games
KCMO Parks & Rec has closed Swope Soccer Village through May 15, 2020. Therefore, all practices have ceased. Our current target to resume league play is the weekend of May 16 & 17. Our Board of Directors is currently working through all available options to ensure the continuation of our league from this date forward, including holding games on weekday evenings as well as regular weekends.
Game schedules that were posted last week have been retracted and will be reissued once we solidify our spring league plans.
We will continue to evaluate the situation, taking the utmost care and consideration in our decision making, while utilizing the most up-to-date public health & safety information as it evolves. With the rapidly changing conditions of the COVID-19 impact to our communities over the last 5-7 days, making any plans beyond this target is not prudent.
Family has always been the core of the Sporting Brookside's mission. We want you to be able to watch your kids play and celebrate their achievements in soccer and beyond. As weather improves, we would like to encourage our players & parents to get outside and practice their soccer skills in a safe manner while our traditional season remains on hold. To aid in this endeavor, we are looking into some home-based soccer learning apps like TopYa! Further details regarding this program will be provided in the coming days, as well as any updates that develop regarding our spring season.
Stay tuned & stay healthy!
Sincerely,
Nick Garcia
Executive Director
Sporting Brookside
A couple of topics for discussion have been suggested.
Communications to families and staff
Whether or not their seasons will continue, be postponed or canceled
Dealing with coaching compensation parent issues, ie, communications, refunds
and expectations
Tryout disruptions
Please feel free to add any other talking points as well.
interested in knowing what clubs are offering players at this time, we have moved to an online e-learning system. What are clubs thinking about refunds?
We are working daily to monitor and amend our processes short and long term to address our recreational league start and competitive season. Like everyone else, all our activities are on pause. We have begun the communications with our parents and coaches to get open feedback on canceling/continuing the season and what percentage of refunds we give back. We have been notified by our Parks Dept that they will hold the monies paid for field rentals for next season and we have reached out to vendors about outstanding orders and invoices. Contemplating running a condensed season late May thru June but that too poses challenges. We are sorting thru options for our 1099 competitive coaches and what/if any compensation we will be able to give them with programing on pause. Also starting to look forward to fall 2020. We have parents wanting to know where we are headed with things and in a nutshell, we are amazing all the facts before we act. I would love to hop on a call, conference call or start an email thread with anyone interested in talking more candidly.
NICK GARCIA
Sporting Brookside
Kansas City, MO
913-787-1536
nick@brooksidesoccer.org
Hi All - I have been in touch with a lot of club directors these past few days about how they can be better supported. Nick - there are others talking about a condensed season May to June...and also the idea of new programming thoughts...not so much a team and season as we traditionally think about it - but a soccer experience such as training 2x a week/pick up type games so as to account for families travelling and also the significant need we have to provide a healthy experience for players.
Along those lines, I think there will be a lot of innovation that results from this.
Also - for all of you to pass along to your players - I will be hosting a webinar next Tuesday at 3:00 EST with Stuart Singer that is for players. He is a sport psychologist and we will be talking about motivation, how to handle this time off, mindfulness, etc. This is free and open to 500 players (that's my max capacity on my webinar platform). Check out my social channels for a registration link tomorrow. I'm doing this for my clubs so they have something tangible to provide their players and am happy to open it to the Kwik Goal Summit attendees' clubs as well.
Tim, Thanks for setting this up. This will be very valuable as we navigate the next several weeks and months.
Folks, happy to provide assistance (gratis) to this group with graphics, images, communications or advice. Also, feel free to reach out privately (Gretchen@sixteen15.com)
We too have provided the following message to all of our members seeking information. "Thank you for your email. At this time our soccer season has not been canceled. We have suspended training sessions and game play with the utmost consideration of the health and well-being of our players and families. We have been closely monitoring the recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and local authorities. We are assessing when we can return to the field each week and will continue to update all our members."
At this point in time, it is all we can offer. We have begun a full Home Training programs for our Players, and our Directors are still working (remotely) every day. All the best to all, and let us know if you need anything during this time.
A number of clubs in Northern VA and MD are convening a conference call tomorrow to discuss the long-term implications of the outbreak and how it can affect our programs. At this time, the concern is the potential recreation program cancellation for spring. There are varied opinions about refunds/credits with some clubs planning to not issue any refunds due to their overhead and fees already paid, i.e., US Youth Soccer membership fees, league fees, equipment/apparel, etc. I suspect that smaller clubs will struggle maintaining their programs and/or those clubs who depend on tournament revenue for operational expenses will take a huge financial hit. We have cancelled our spring tournaments, spring break camp, optional programming. Further, Fairfax County has pulled all field permits so any form of organized sports are suspended.
Be safe!
Our schools are now canceled for the year and we are looking at a May 15 potential start for spring rec games. We have put in a request to run week nights and normal weekends to get a condensed season in over 4-4.5 weeks. One thing we are looking to do is implement a virtual training program called TopYa! for all our players. It allows clubs to create custom sessions and challenges where virtual coaches can give feedback and track progress!! Will help with risk mitigation, mental health fitness, help kids take a break from electronics and allow for some normalcy during these uncertain times. Check it out at https://topya.com
@nick I love the Topya idea!
How much $$ are you investing in TopYa? I like the idea to do this, just need to review. Thanks!
@adam.gee4 Our pricing is about $6 per player
What are clubs doing for competitive coaching compensation? Our coaches are 1099s and have a 10mo season. We pay our coaches on the 15th of the month and mailed our March's check with a follow up email that our board is meeting as a group to evaluate cost saving measures to ensure the club stays afloat. Scenarios on the table include ceasing compensation, continuing as normal or reducing the amount of compensation they receive. What is everyone else doing?
Didn't they emphasize at the Summit that your coaches should not be classified as 1099 employees? If they qualify as 1099 employees (contractors for higher) than you would have no obligation to them other than the moral and loyal aspects of making the decision to remove them. Right? Possible helpful link: https://www.fundera.com/blog/1099-vs-w2-employee
One could argue they should not but cannot undue their 1099 status. You are correct that we are under no obligation but morality and loyalty are part of the equation. I have been open and transparent with coaches; if we have the money coming in from families, we are willing to pay them, if nothing is coming in, we will not be left holding the bag.
Hi all - we've seen an amazing spike in communication from our partners to their members across the board - lots of questions and confusion from members. Most Clubs have canceled and refunded spring camps, tournaments and training sessions but we are not yet seeing Spring Rec seasons being canceled. Most Clubs are in a holding pattern to see if we might be able to get things off the ground. One recommendation, if you haven't already done: make sure you update members through all channels - website, social, email - regularly as things change. If you're in a holding pattern on the Spring season, let parents know what some of the options are that you're considering to help alleviate concerns (especially financial) and incoming questions. These are tough times for all - glad to see everyone sharing ideas!
Would love to hear feedback from others on whether or not you'd support paying coaches to develop online training videos for their players to get outside and train on their own? Perhaps using a tool like @nick suggested - Topya) or even a free tool like joinme or youtube. This may help solve at least some of the compensation questions but also give players (and parents) some direction about how to keep their players focused and engaged during this hiatus?
We have our directors creating training tools along with our fitness trainer and sending them out. Our coaches are being required to finish their player evaluations as a part of their employment agreement while we wait. Depending on when we can start again, will determine how long we pay them. Our coaches are employees. If we are off for another month or so, we may need to address options.
Good feedback - let's all pray people stay home and we get past this craziness!
Is anyone using 360 sports lab?
Sharing this event with you all - today at noon ET - John O'Sullivan and James Leath will be sharing ways to support your kids and your athletes during COVID-19 - https://changingthegameproject.mykajabi.com/fb-live-march-20-registration
Check out Techne Futbol app developed by Yael Averbuch. McLean and MD United purchased this for our travel players.
All - based on the discussions we've had this week with our partners, I HIGHLY encourage all of you to communicate proactively with parents about how you are planning to handle refunds. We are already seeing some parents getting very nervous and starting to issue chargebacks for fees paid. This is BAD for everyone. Make a swift decision about what you will do (refund now - partial or full, hold on the decision until we know the return to play date, offer credits for future programs instead of refunds, or do not offer refunds but provide an explanation regarding why that decision was made). Here's an article on this topic as well: https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/85249/the-covid-19-impact-on-youth-soccer-haley-carter.html. Good luck everyone!
Kris - making a swift decision is not practical. Financial models and expenses already paid are a factor. As a point of information, several clubs in MD and VA have had conference calls to discuss how this could be handled. As you might imagine, everyone has various refund policies so there is no cookie-cutter approach. The smaller clubs are at risk as well as those clubs who rely on tournament revenue and/or have no reserve operating fund. I believe that everyone is examining what they are able to refund/credit (or neither) based on their financial situations. Tournament insurance, to my knowledge, does not cover a pandemic. I don't think WAGS ever recovered the funds paid during the year of the sniper. And, I suspect that not many clubs have business interruption or disaster recovery insurance. What I appreciate most is the collaboration from all the clubs working together and how we can potentially move forward without clubs having to cease operations entirely. Sad times, indeed, for everyone.
Totally understand your points. One of my big concerns for Clubs is that if there isn't proactive communication to parents - even if just to inform them of the challenges being faced and the factors that are going into the decisions - that more parents will start issuing chargebacks and disputes with their banks, which will then have an even bigger financial impact to the Clubs, as well as less control over the situation.
Sporting Brookside sponsored by the Center for Sports Medicine at Children's Mercy
Sporting Brookside Families, I hope this email finds you well! I appreciate your patience during these uncertain times and I want to provide you with an update on what’s happening with Sporting Brookside’s 2020 Spring Youth Recreational League season. Our spring season has NOT been cancelled, but with the health and well being of our players and families in mind and with guidance from KCMO Parks & Rec we are delaying the start of our league. Practices & Games KCMO Parks & Rec has closed Swope Soccer Village through May 15, 2020. Therefore, all practices have ceased. Our current target to resume league play is the weekend of May 16 & 17. Our Board of Directors is currently working through all available options to ensure the continuation of our league from this date forward, including holding games on weekday evenings as well as regular weekends. Game schedules that were posted last week have been retracted and will be reissued once we solidify our spring league plans. We will continue to evaluate the situation, taking the utmost care and consideration in our decision making, while utilizing the most up-to-date public health & safety information as it evolves. With the rapidly changing conditions of the COVID-19 impact to our communities over the last 5-7 days, making any plans beyond this target is not prudent. Family has always been the core of the Sporting Brookside's mission. We want you to be able to watch your kids play and celebrate their achievements in soccer and beyond. As weather improves, we would like to encourage our players & parents to get outside and practice their soccer skills in a safe manner while our traditional season remains on hold. To aid in this endeavor, we are looking into some home-based soccer learning apps like TopYa! Further details regarding this program will be provided in the coming days, as well as any updates that develop regarding our spring season. Stay tuned & stay healthy! Sincerely, Nick Garcia Executive Director Sporting Brookside
Follow us on social media!
