The Ottawa TFC soccer club has unveiled its Return to Play protocol that will govern its 2020-2021 recreational and comeptitive indoor programs.

Like many other minor sports programs in Ottawa, the Ottawa TFC soccer club has been working with city and provincial health officials to ensure kids can return to play the sports they love in a safe and healthy environment. The administration and coaching staff at Ottawa TFC have developed a comprehensive set of protocols to achieve that goal.

Top among the protocols is the need for social distancing and limiting play to 3-on-3 for the U9 to U18 girls and boys recreational soccer program.

The 3-on-3 recreational program will held at the Superdome indoor soccer facility at the Hornet’s Nest. All divisions will play two 20 minute games between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday mornings. The first session will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19. The second session will run from Jan. 9 to Feb. 20.

All players must sanitize their hands immediately upon entering the dome and during scheduled breaks; clearly label their water bottles; complete a COVID assessment questionnaire before each game and practice session; avoid all non-essential contact including shaking hands and high-fiving etc.; and avoid the use of public toilets unless absolutely necessary. Parents will be banned from attending all practices and games unless they volunteer to be a sanitation marshal, or an on-field game leader.

Coaches have their own set of protocols which govern any interaction with parents and players including the need for an online pre-activity orientation on the Return to Play safety protocols. They must also ensure physical distancing during training drills and on the sidelines during games; appoint a sanitation marshal to attend all games and practice sessions whose job it will be to help ensure proper sanitation and hygiene protocols are followed; ensure that no heading, chest or hand contact with the ball is permitted including throw-ins; and ensure that all equipment and surfaces, including counters, door handles, benches, tables, etc. are cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Registration is being held on an ongoing basis at ottawatfc.com.

Ottawa TFC will also be running their competitive and academy programs through-out the fall and winter starting on Oct. 5.

The first part of the season will be run at Millennium Park until mid-November, weather permitting, after which the training sessions and games will be moved indoors at either the Louis-Riel Dome, or the University of Ottawa Dome.

The U9/10 competitive outdoor season will consist of one weekly on-field training session and one weekend game. After they move indoors, a 45-minute virtual training session will be added to the program.

The U9/10 academy program and the U11/12 competitive and academy programs will include one additional on-field training session per week.

The U13 to U18 competitive program will consist of two training sessions and a weekend 7-on-7 game at Millennium Park until mid-November, followed by two training sessions and one weekend 7-on-7 game in either the Louis-Riel Dome or the University of Ottawa Dome from mid-November until early March.

Extra sessions are also available in the competitive and academy programs for goalkeeping; technical training; morning training and virtual in-home training.

The Virtual Academy is a full four-corner training program that works on technical, physical, tactical, and social/mental develop-ment for athletes isolated at home, or would like to do some extra training. Players work live with their team or training group under the guidance of an Ottawa TFC coach through a full workout.

The players can interact and see each other training, see exercises demoed on video or by the coach who leads them through the workout. The coaches will correct the player’s form if necessary, and at times the players will lead one another through pre-determinedexercises overseen by the coach.

The Virtual Academy is open to all players from U8 to U18.

Last, but by no means least, Ottawa TFC will be offering a men’s competitive pro-gram and a men’s and women’s recreation program this fall and winter.

The men’s and women’s recreational pro-gram will consist of a 7-on-7 format played every Friday night at the Louis-Riel Dome. The fall season will run from October to January and the winter season will run from February to May.

The men’s competitive league is open to men born in 2003 or later. The 7-on-7 program will run for 15 weeks from Novem-ber to the end of February with a two week break at Christmas and consist of one game per week.

To find out more about the Ottawa TFC soccer club, the club’s various fall and winter programs and their Return to Play protocols visit ottawatfc.com.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)