Sports the world over have taken a serious hit because of COVD-19. The world鈥檚 wealthiest soccer league, the English Premier League, aren鈥檛 allowed to have fans watch teams play inside stadiums this year after the phased return of spectators was halted on Oct. 1 because of a rise in coronavirus cases in Great Britain this fall.
鈥淔ootball is not the same without attending fans and the football economy is unsustainable without them,鈥� said the Premier League in a statement.
Spectators have been curtailed from watching professional sports across the world. Professional athletes have also been urged to take a breather for the interim. Likewise, Canadian children are encouraged to follow social distancing rules whenever they engage in sports or shared play during recess, in respect to the pandemic鈥檚 glaring and continuing influence.聽聽
鈥淲here possible, remove or reduce play with toys that encourage group play in close proximity or increase the likelihood of physical contact. Keep toys that encourage individual play,鈥� read a statement from the Prairie South School Division.
Despite what鈥檚 happening in the outside world, the Town of Assiniboia Recreation and Community Wellness Manager, Stephanie VanDeSype, has arranged a COVID-19-safe six-week soccer program for children in the community.
Registration is required by calling or texting 306-642-8900. Children are asked to bring clean shoes and water. Verbal cleaning, sanitization and extra cleaning have been introduced to keep the children safe. Tables with hand sanitizer are placed outside the gym鈥檚 doors and are also situated inside.
The Recreation and Community Wellness team have done their best to ensure children can join in soccer drills and games in a COVID-safe environment. 聽聽聽
Youth Indoor Soccer began on Nov. 5 in the auditorium inside the Prince of Wales Cultural and Recreation Centre for ages 3-10. The program will continue every Thursday until December 10.
The 7-10-year-old group plays soccer from 3:45-4:30 p.m. The younger crowd from ages 3-6 participate in the program from 4:30-5 p.m.
Assiniboia Recreation and Community Wellness is also running an adult pickleball program on Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10-11:30 a.m. Adult recreational volleyball is played on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. Meanwhile, recreational basketball for adults happens on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m.
All of these events, including the adult sport activities, are being arranged in the POW within a COVID-secure setting, which includes the appropriate screening, cleaning and sanitizing measures to reduce the spread of the virus.聽聽
