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Heartland Cancels Remainder Of Spring Season

By Joe Comparato, 05/16/20, 9:45AM CDT

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Heartland wisely changes course and cancels the remainder of spring schedule

HEARTLAND SOCCER CANCELS REMAINDER OF SPRING SEASON

Update: May 14, 2020

Based on the most recent reopening phases announced by local government and safety of our players and spectators, we have determined we will be unable to complete our 2020 Spring soccer season without programming into late July. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remaining games of the season.

We recognize this will be disappointing to many of you and, contrarily, a relief to others as we navigate this unprecedented medical crisis.

For many of us, soccer is a tremendous source of self-esteem, self-confidence, healthy exercise, friendship and happiness. Playing the game gives us the physical, mental and social well being needed in times of hardship, and we are now focused and excited for soccer events to resume in the fall.

Before suspending the season due to Covid-19, teams began playing the first weekend of March and we completed nearly a quarter of the spring season. We have teams that played as many as four games and there are teams that have played none. We will be issuing credits to be applied to the fall season based on the number of games unplayed this spring season.

Our single largest expense is for our world class turf soccer complexes. We have been working closely with our soccer complex partners and have asked to receive field rental and lease credits that can be applied for league and tournaments in the upcoming seasons.  Accordingly, any and all credits received from the complexes will be passed on to the clubs and teams registering for the fall season (spring for HS boys) and will be reflected in the overall credit.  We have also calculated the referee costs of the unplayed games. This will also be included in the amount of credit being forwarded to the returning teams this fall (spring for HS boys).

Unfortunately, we will not be receiving credits for ALL of our field rental and other spring business expenses. These expenses include field maintenance and related personnel, rent for office space, scheduling costs, league staff, utilities, insurance, sanctioning fees and other league related expenditures. However, we recognize the huge negative economic impact this medical crisis has inflicted on our families, clubs and our soccer community. Our goal is to pass on to our clubs and teams, any and all credits we have been able to secure.

In addition to the league credit to be applied to fall league registration (Spring for HS Boys), all teams registered this spring that register this fall will receive a $350 credit toward one of the following HSA Tournaments: KCI, Midwest Classic, or Border Battle that can be used in the fall 2020 or spring 2021 seasons. We have chosen these events as they do not conflict with League play and we have the capacity to accommodate a large number of teams and field credits available to us on those dates.

Clubs and teams will receive a credit statement for fall league in the next 10 business days.  If we are able to secure additional credits from all the complexes and/or vendors in the future months, those will be passed on as well and added to the club and team credits.

We are also announcing a price freeze on league and tournament fees for the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 fees. There will be no price increases for any play at any event.

With team tryouts moving to June 19, we will be moving Fall League start back to August 14, 2020.   Accordingly, the registration date has been adjusted as well.

Be safe and we look forward to the fall season.

Heartland Soccer Association