Dear Ambush Soccer Club Members,

This is an update that I started on Monday, March 30.  And each time I was ready to send, something changed.  Either in the world of Federal, State, County, or Local government…or within one of our soccer governing bodies.  As you know, our world has changed in the last month and continues to change rapidly.  By the time you read this update, I’m guessing there may be a few more changes.  But I will try to keep you up to date of major developments as the weeks pass by during our current temporary postponement of the Spring Soccer Season.

Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Missing All of You at Webb Bridge Park.

Ambush!  Let’s Go!!

Doug Yearwood

President

Alpharetta Ambush Soccer Club

Ambush Members,

We hope all of you and your families, and those close to you, are healthy and safe as we all try to navigate these troubled times.  Please be sure to practice good physical distancing, carefully and continuously washing your hands and face and especially if you take a necessary trip outside your house.  And please, avoid crowds of people for the safety of everyone.  Following these simple steps now will make a big difference in the near future as we all work together to reduce the trajectory of the coronavirus.

We are now three weeks into the temporary postponement of the 2020 Spring Soccer Season.  As announced on Thursday afternoon, March 12, Ambush Soccer Club, along with all of Georgia Soccer will be temporarily postponing the Spring season until at least May 1st.   This date will be revisited when United States Youth Soccer meet on April 15th to discuss the viability of a Spring season.  Georgia Soccer also conduct weekly conference calls with club leaders and provide more locally related updates.  Reopen dates will almost certainly be moved back further into the Spring with the recent shelter in place rules outlined by the State of Georgia, Fulton County, and as of April 2nd, the City of Alpharetta.  However, the Spring soccer season has not been cancelled yet.  The Soccer governing bodies are looking at all possibilities to play a delayed spring season.  This could extend into late May, June, and even July.  We will share updates on this topic as soon as they become available.  No matter what decision is made, both soccer governing bodies and our federal, state, county, and local governing bodies will all have to be in sync for the season to be continued.  Needless to say, with the players, coaches, and spectator's safety first and foremost.

Ambush are part of the Georgia Soccer leagues and the integrity of these leagues depends on all club's participation.  We will remain calm and patient during this delay in the Spring season.  Ambush will be prepared to proceed in whatever direction our governing bodies decide and when the time comes.  If we can return to the field and complete the Spring season, then Ambush will be there to support our partners around Georgia Soccer and be ready to compete.  If our governing bodies elect to cancel the Spring Season, Ambush will respect that decision and then make all future business decisions (including credits or refunds) at that time.  We very much appreciate your patience and understanding during this delay. 

Most all of us have never faced a situation like this before.  As we venture into these unchartered waters, Ambush is very aware of your concern about playing the Spring season. You can stay up to speed with the latest data and information that will be used to make all decisions in regards to when the "lights can come back on by following:

Ambush Soccer Club at www.alpharettaambush.org

Georgia Soccer at www.georgiasoccer.org

USYS at www.usyouthsoccer.org

City of Alpharetta at www.alpharetta.ga.us

CDC (CLICK HERE)

GA Dept. of Public Health (CLICK HERE).


To further assist, we would like to provide a Q&A that will help answer many of your questions as we move further in to the Spring Soccer Season postponement. (Updated on April 2, 2020)

Can we still practice?
As we communicated Thursday, March 12, 2020, all practices and games are postponed until further notice.  No exceptions.  Also, it will now be against Federal, State, and Local social distancing policies and shelter in place rules to be out and about for an reason  other than the approved activities outlined in those policies.

Can my coach conduct informal practices?
Same answer as above applies to any and all gatherings in person.  All practices and games are postponed until further notice.  Including informal face to face sessions.  Ambush Soccer Club are participating diligently within our community in cooperation with local authorities to assist in the recovery from this situation.  To do so, our coaches and all personnel have been instructed to "Stay At Home" unless essential travel for food, medical, etc is needed.

Can I still go to a park and practice on my own?
As of last week, the City of Alpahretta informed us that all playing ball fields were locked and closed until further notice when an assessment will be made to continue the closure or reopen.

What can I do to continue training even though we can't get together?
Starting almost immediately in March when Ambush first shut down, the coaches began a series of conference calls on how best to answer this question.  As all of you know by now, quickly a series of over 55 training videos was developed and stored in a video library on the Ambush website.  Please visitwww.alpharettaambush.org/virtualtraining During the first two weeks, Ambush coaches provided directions to their teams to keep them busy approximately 2 days per week.  As we later heard from many parents, the players have much more free time now than during a normal school session.  Parents and players both began asking for more soccer training.  Starting the week of March 30th, the Ambush coaches began supplying shorter but more frequent training instructions on almost a daily basis.  To support this, the coaches are also now hosting a once per week Zoom video conference checking in with the players.  We invite and encourage all parents to join these Zoom video conferences and support your players on how to participate and most of all learn and have fun.  The coaches are incredibly driven to keep their teams busy.  We all understand clearly how important it is to continue training and working on their fitness and soccer skills until we can once again return to the field.  Please make sure your player is training as frequently as requested and training hard!  Ambush will be prepared when the lights come back on!! 

Have games been cancelled permanently?
No, if and when we return, every effort will be made to make up as many games as possible with the time available.  Again, a firm return to play date has not been established yet.

How long are activities postponed?
Per US Soccer and GA Soccer, all soccer activities are suspended until April 30, 2020.  With all the new shelter in place rules established, USYS have scheduled a meeting for April 15th to discuss possible reopen dates.  Much data will be collected by the governing bodies between now and then and decisions will be made with public safety the only criteria on when we can return to the field.

Will we get a refund or credit toward a future season?
Ambush Soccer Club maintain the same stance as our other club partners within USYS and Georgia Soccer.  Virtually all of our league partners have told us they are intent on completing their spring seasons, even though that might mean playing league games into July.  We know that a few clubs are being asked about future credits or refunds.  We believe until a return-to-play date is established, and leagues agree on exactly what will happen with the spring season, discussions on credits and refunds is premature.  As we get more information over the coming weeks, we will provide those details and especially as they pertain to credits and refunds.

Are potentially credited or refunded fees normally used to compensate our coaching staff?
Yes, a portion of the fees that would be credited to a future season or refunded would typically be used to compensate our coaching staff.  Ambush will do everything in its power to support our loyal families and membership while at the same time maintaining and supporting on of the deepest and most loyal coaching staffs in Georgia Soccer.