HAPPY THANKSGIVING !! 

A special thank you to our member organizations, their administrative staff, coaches, families, players and officials.  As we reflect on our challenges this past soccer season, we wish to share our gratitude for your commitment to keep players safe whether on or off the soccer field.  Thank you for your continued support. We wish you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

_{^{ECYSA ANNUAL GERNERAL MEETING 2020}}

Dear ECYSA Members,

Thank you all who attended Wednesday's Annual General Meeting (AGM).  For those who were not able to attend we have posted a version of the presentation on the website.  See the link below. 

On behalf of the ECYSA Board of Directors I want to thank you for your support and continued confidence in our leadership and the unanimous results of the elections at the AGM. 

I also want to take this opportunity to welcome our newest members to the board. Amanada Laflamme, Keith Totten, Jeremy Derby and Sharon Clement.  It is vital to have quality people stepping up to serve to keep ECYSA thriving. 

          The following were elected at the AGM             

                  President: Dean Sidell ***           

                  Vice President NS – Jill Thresher **           

                  Secretary – Amanda LaFlamme *           

                  Boys Commissioner: Kevin Brothers**           

                  Education Director: Jose Isidro ***           

                  G11-PG – Jen Houlihan ***           

                  G8 B:   Greg Buser **           

                  G8 G – Keith Totten *           

                  G6 B – Mike McGoldrick ***           

                  G6 G – Jim Talbot ***           

                 G4 B – Jeremy Derby *           

                 G4 G – Charles Yorke **

The following At Large Directors were appointed by the board at our November meeting following the AGM                

                  Jeff Chambers **            

                   Michael Kilkelly ***            

                  Sharon Clement *                           

                  Bob McGarvey  ** 

In accordance with the bylaw amendment passed at the AGM the board appointed Justin Walters ***  as ECYSA treasurer for a two year term. 

The following continue to serve on the board in the second year of their elected terms:   
                  VP NE - Bill Clark ***           

                  Girls Commissioner - Dan Dailey  *** 

The following are three compensated non-voting roles who continue to serve ECYSA and advise the board:    

                  Registrar, Janet Gargan   

                  Referee Assignor, Ben Reed

                 Accountant, Jackie Chee 

                                     * New to ECYSA Board of Directors

                                   ** Prior Board Member in a new Board position

                                 *** Prior Board Member in same Board position

As we communicated at the AGM the board continues to look at the possibilities for the spring.  There are some encouraging signs.  The EEA has lifted the requirements to implement the modifications to the game of soccer.  We can now play the game as it is intended to be played but must wear masks at all times.  There have been no outbreaks connected to soccer or other outdoor youth sports and MA Youth Soccer is working towards possible solutions to the liability coverage we lost over the summer. 

But we know the winter will be a volatile time and we will need to stay flexible as we approach the spring.  It is our intent to set a spring calendar including registration deadlines at our December meeting on the 21st.  Following that meeting I will send another update. 

Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions. 

May you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving and focus on all those things that we can be thankful for. 

Dean Sidell

President, ECYSA 

 The link below is a presentation recap of the ECYSA AGM held November 11, 2020:

 August 17, 2020

Dear ECYSA Members,

As promised, I want to give you an update on the results of tonight's ECYSA Board Meeting. 

At tonight's meeting we discussed the 11 towns that had already opted out of fall travel season, additional towns still in consideration, and the impact of the 10 towns rated Red and Yellow in the Commonwealth's new ranking system.   In addition, we reviewed feedback from some medical professionals, the trend of Covid-19 cases in Essex County, and the modifications to the game mandated by MA Youth Soccer.

All of these factors have led the board to the very difficult decision of not continuing with the planning and scheduling of the Fall 2020 ECYSA League Season. 

We made this decision for a number of reasons:

• The increasing cases of covid 19 in Essex county
• The increasing number of ECYSA member towns rated Yellow and Red
• The decreased value of playing with the significant modifications to the game turning soccer into what one member described as "a game of keep away."
• The overall complexity of implementing and enforcing all of the mitigation and changes throughout the league.

Despite the reality of no ECYSA Fall Season there are still a number of options for you as an organization to provide a soccer experience for your players.

1. Play all of your age groups as an in-town intramural program.
2. Form a mini-league with towns close to you and play games against each other.
3. Operate a series of Grade Group Soccer Clinics throughout the fall or weekly. 

In any case or with any program you decide to run you will need to do the following:

1. Complete the Adult Registration with Mass Youth Soccer for all adults in your program including all board members. This maintains your affiliation, Director and Officer, Cyber and Liability coverage.
2. Register all players who will participate in programs this fall with Mass Youth Soccer.
3. Incorporate all Mass Youth Soccer modifications into your games and scrimmages.
4. Follow all other guidelines for practices and games contained within the Return to Play website of Mass Youth Soccer (https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/return-to-soccer-activities/). 

In addition, if you wish to have certified referees at your games, one of the many referee assignors in ECYSA would be willing to assist you in assigning referees.  (Ben Reed at benrefereed@gmail.com, Jeff Chambers at jsc_soccer@hotmail.com, and Janet Gargan at jlgsoccer@hotmail.com)

We will also be holding an open Zoom meeting for town organization administrators on Monday August 24 at 7:00 PM.  Invite and RSVP will follow. 

These last few months have been unprecedented for all of us and the Covid pandemic has impacted so many areas of our lives including this game we all love.  It is disappointing that we will not be able to play out a normal league schedule this Fall, but our hope is that the limitations and mitigation we practice now will help make it possible to be back on the pitch in the Spring. 

Thank you for all that you do to serve the players in your towns and organizations.  Thank you for your support of ECYSA throughout this time.

I look forward to seeing many of you on Monday.  Please know ECYSA is here to support you even as you finalize what you will do this Fall.

Take Care and Stay Safe,

Dean Sidell

President, ECYSA 

  The link below is a video recording of the ECYSA Town Hall Meeting from August 12, 2020: