To: Nebraska State Soccer Membership
From: Casey Mann, Executive Director and NSS Board of Directors
Re: Coronavirus Update
Date: April 1, 2020

We hope all of you are doing as well as is possible these crazy and trying days.  In previous announcements to membership, we have mentioned waiting on USYS for decisions made on their programming, namely USYS Regionals, Nationals, and President’s Cup.  We now have clarity on several of these factors that we can share.

USYS National Championship Series/President’s Cup
The USYS National office announced last night that the NCS/President’s Cup Regional and National events in June and July have been canceled. You can read the full release here: https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/usys-programming-notice-33120/

USYS National League/Midwest Conference
USYS also announced they have extended the suspension of their league play until at least April 30th.

NSS Spring State Cup
In response to the USYS National office announcement of the summer NCS event being canceled, we have made the decision to cancel the traditional version of Spring State Cup this June.  With no regionals or nationals pathway, and the challenges and uncertainty that lay ahead, we feel our focus should be on creating simple playing opportunities for all of our membership.  Refunds will be issued for any team who has already paid entry fees.

Nebraska Spring Classic (Level 2 tournament)
At this time we feel it is unrealistic that this event will be able to be played as scheduled.  Our focus is to get any kind of organized play going as soon as it is safe to do so.  Refunds will be issued for any team who has already paid entry fees.

NSS hosted events
It is our hope that in lieu of our usual spring tournaments, we are able to host an event for each level of competition  some time this summer. If for nothing else, to provide a fun, celebratory weekend of games for our members. As a concrete time frame of play becomes clear we will do whatever possible to offer additional events. 

Team Formation
The NSS Board is finalizing options for a simplified 2020 Team Formation.  Originally the tryout schedule was built around USYS regionals, and with that out of the picture, we have the flexibility to help make this a shortened and less stressful process for all. We are evaluating several options and will communicate an updated calendar to our members as quickly as we can.

NYSL
NYSL is working diligently to plan several league play options based on different return to play dates and time frames.  Whether in the form of a shortened league schedule or a series of play-dates, our staff is ready to get our teams out on the pitch as soon as it is safe to do so.  As we know more from our local government about restrictions, we will get these plans out to you ASAP. If your team has paid for spring season and would like a refund, please contact our staff and we are happy to help you with that. Otherwise, any payments will be used for league play/games that we schedule with partial refunds given if needed after play has concluded.

Sanctioned Tournaments 
For now, all sanctioned activities, including tournaments, are suspended through April 30.  Sanctioning beyond that deadline has not yet been determined.  For clubs with sanctioned tournaments scheduled for late spring, we will communicate all updates with you by mid-April.

As plans are changing and evolving as quickly as they are, we will continue to communicate all updates to our members as we have them. For now, we thank all of you for your patience and understanding as we work through these trying times together.

Nebraska State Soccer