The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) on Tuesday announced a modified schedule for contact sports which will see boys soccer move to the spring and girls soccer move later into a spring-summer schedule. The news was difficult as it comes at a time which creates conflicts within the broader local soccer schedule, especially for boys soccer when players often play for their respective clubs during the spring season and will now be confronted with possibly having to choose whether to play high school or club soccer. On the girls side, the move of their season to a May-June timeframe means that elite level players may have to give up on playing in high-level tournaments that usually take place outside of the typical high school season — tournaments that gain players additional exposure to collegiate scouting and recruiting and the chance at scholarships in continuing their education.
Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), on the other hand, recently received support from the state’s governor to allow contact sports to go on as planned with guidelines and modifications that don’t upset season scheduling.
Soccer Chaplains United has high school chaplains in both states and it is uncertain how the shift for Colorado will affect chaplaincy, while the chaplaincy work in Tennessee will likely need to adapt to the COVID-19 protocols in order to support the athletes and family members of Christ Presbyterian Academy’s soccer program.
Please pray for the chaplains that are supporting high school soccer athletes and programs as they navigate and minister through these difficult and changing times. Pray for the mental and spiritual health and protection for those involved in soccer during this time, especially.
