Boys Soccer - 2021 Season

All,

As summer break approaches, I wanted to make you all aware of the schedule for the season ahead. Some dates to know:

August 2-6: Week 1 Camp (optional) ($50*)

August 9-13: Week 2 Camp (optional) ($50*)

August 16: Tryouts begin

Additionally, our game schedule for next year was recently released. Our matches will be as follows:

August 31: @ Wilson

September 2: Jesuit

September 9: @ Tigard

September 14: Lake Oswego

September 16: @ Canby

September 21: West Linn

September 28: Lakeridge

September 30: Oregon City

October 5: Tigard

October 7: @ Lake Oswego

October 12: Canby

October 14: @ West Linn

October 20: @ Lakeridge

October 26: @ Oregon City

*PLEASE NOTE: We work hard to ensure that camp fees are not a barrier to participation for any student. Please reach out to me at cduke@ttsd.k12.or.us if this cost presents you with any issues. 

- Coach Duke

TUESDAY Practice Cancelled

 All,

Unfortunately, due to the weather, the district has once again cancelled all in-person activities tomorrow. As a result, our Tuesday practice is cancelled. 

Our first practice will now take place Wednesday, from 7pm-9pm.

If the weather safely permits it, I would continue to encourage you all to work on fitness tomorrow afternoon in advance of our coming together. 

See you Wednesday,

- Coach Duke

PRACTICE TOMORROW CANCELLED

As a result of the current weather conditions, the district has cancelled all activities tomorrow. 

Our first practice will instead be held Tuesday from 7pm-9pm.

- Coach Duke

Monday Practice

 All,

I am writing with a change to our practice schedule this Monday. My apologies for the late change in plans.

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Monday Practice - 12pm-2pm: I have just been informed that lights will not be installed on the upper turf field until Tuesday, making our original practice time unworkable.

Thanks to the no-school day, we will move our practice to 12pm-2pm this Monday. 

Please note that practice Tuesday-Friday has not changed and will take place from 7pm-9pm, as previously scheduled. 

Should weather force us to cancel, an email will be sent Monday morning 

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Thank you for your flexibility and understanding as we navigate this untraditional winter season. We look forward to seeing everyone who is able to make it to this optional practice.

- Coach Duke

Another Update

 All,

I hope everyone is well.

Thank you for reading carefully through this information.

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1. COVID-19 Safety Procedures - The health and safety of our players and families is our number one priority as we look to begin training. It is essential that players in the program follow safety guidelines when participating in the soccer program. More details on these procedures will come as we begin our practices, but I want to bring your attention to a few items at this time:

• Both the safety of our players and the viability of our season will depend on reducing the risk of spread of disease. I would ask all players, beginning now, to redouble their efforts to social distance and avoid any interactions in close proximity to others that aren't absolutely necessary. As a program, our success depends on a shared commitment to reducing the possibility of exposure to COVID-19.
• Each day, players will need to complete an online health screening before participating in practice. More information on this system and how to access the survey will be provided this coming week.
• Players and coaches will be required to wear masks at all times. Masks will be available at the school, if needed.
• When at the soccer field, players will be required to maintain distance from other students at all times unless actively participating in a drill/scrimmage. 

2. Registration - Players will not be able to participate in practices and tryouts until they have completed the registration process. All players must submit each of the following:

1. An online Clearance Form 
2. A Pre-Participation Examination Form (filled out by parent/student) 
3. A Physical Examination Form (filled out by the student's physician)

Please visit the Tualatin Athletics Website to complete this process. 

3. COVID-19 Waiver Form - Players must also complete the attached COVID-19 Liability form, and bring it with them on the first day of practice. These will be collected by our coaches and will be required for participation in the program. 

I will have hard copies available at the field for parents and students who may require one.

4. Season Schedule - Since my last email, the Varsity/JV schedule has been updated with 3 additional matches.

Additionally, we have also been given a time slot for our preseason training. The combination of a later class schedule, students needing to get to campus at the end of the school day, the need for lights with early sunset, the need for additional space to physically distance, and the need to share the facilities with Football and Girls Soccer has moved us to a later time slot (7pm-9pm).

Times for practices once teams are chosen will differ depending on the team. 

The season will now look as follows:

Week 0 - Camp (Optional) - February 15-19 - 7pm-9pm

Week 1 - Tryouts/Team selection - February 22-26 - 7pm-9pm

Week 2 - Practice/Start of competition - March 1-5

March 4 - @Clackamas

March 9 - Lakeridge

March 11 - @Oregon City

March 16 - Tigard

March 18 - @Lakeridge

March 23 - Lake Oswego

March 25 - @Canby

March 30 - West Linn

April 1 - Southridge

April 5-10 - "Culminating Week"

Additional Notes

• There are games scheduled during Spring Break. 
• The schedulers were unable to get us a third non-conference game, hence two matches against Lakeridge. 
• The schedule for the freshman team is still being finalized.

5. Fitness - Players are strongly encouraged to use the coming week to help improve their fitness in advance of our camp. Running and physical activity of any type is beneficial.

Ideas for specific workouts can be found in our fitness guide.

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Our coaching staff is excited that it still appears our season will go ahead and looking forward to seeing you all on the field.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

- Coach Duke

 All,

I am writing with another update on this year's soccer season. The last week has brought positive news with respect to our return to play. With the release of new guidance from the Governor's office, it appears as though our season will take place as scheduled. 

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1. Match Schedule

In light of the new guidance from the state, I received yesterday the Three Rivers League match dates for the JV/Varsity teams. They are as follows:

March 11: @Oregon City

March 16: Tigard

March 18: @Lakeridge

March 23: Lake Oswego

March 25: @Canby

March 30: West Linn

April 5-11: "OSAA Culminating Week" - Matches TBD

The schedule will allow us to play each team in our league once and then participate in a week of post-season activities, the details of which are TBD. Game times will be coordinated by our school's athletic department and released once confirmed. 

Please note that this year's schedule includes two matches over spring break.

2. Preseason

In preparation for these matches, we will have a preseason schedule as follows:

Week 0 - (Feb 15-19) - OPTIONAL - Camp 

Week 1 - (Feb 22-26) - Tryouts/Team Selections

Week 2 - (March 1-5) - Practice in Teams 

Please note that with the official start of the season on February 22, our activities the week of February 15 should be seen by players as optional. Similar to years past, this schedule will allow for roughly a month of practice (Feb 15 - March 11) prior to our first competition. 

The movement of our season this year requires new coordination of field space with the City of Tualatin. This, coupled with social distancing requirements, puts some pressure on availability of our facilities. I will communicate practice times to you all as soon as this has been determined. 

3. Registration

Once again, it is extremely important that players complete their registration for the upcoming season.

If you have not yet done so, please register at the link below:

https://www.ttsdschools.org/Page/9831

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As a coaching staff, we are excited to be able to communicate this positive news to you all, as well as some concrete dates for both our matches and preseason schedule. 

Before our first meeting on the field, parents and players will need to be well-versed on the COVID safety protocols that we will be required to follow to ensure a safe return to play. Please expect additional information regarding these requirements in the weeks ahead.

- Coach Duke

UPDATE: Season Postponed - March/April

All,

I am writing with another update regarding the season ahead.

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Season Postponed

The OSAA executive board met this week and issued a press release yesterday. The board has made the decision to postpone fall sports (including soccer).

In place of the typical cycle of Fall/Winter/Spring sports seasons, OSAA has made the decision to create three shortened, 7-week seasons beginning in January. They are as follows:

- Winter Sports (January/February)

- Fall Sports (March/April)

- Spring Sports (May/June)

More specifically, our soccer season is now scheduled to begin with practices the week of February 22, with the season being played in March/April and the playoffs finishing on May 2. 

Next steps

With this change and Washington County headed towards remote teaching and learning to start the year, we will suspend our scheduled activities for the Fall.

I will continue to update you all as information about our game schedule and other details become known. 

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While we are disappointed to not be able to get out on the field at the moment, the coaching staff is excited that OSAA has been able to preserve a season for us at a later date. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

- Coach Duke (cduke@ttsd.k12.or.us)