Local soccer groups hopeful for the 2021 soccer season

Cautiously optimistic

By Mark Ribble

REGIONAL — With the weather warming and grass growing greener, it would normally be time for local minor soccer groups to be ready to hit the fields.

Last year, the soccer seasons didn’t get off the ground and local minor soccer groups scrambled to get refunds or fee deferments to their members.

This year, there was renewed hope — until this week’s emergency brake shutdown — and there is still some hope that the kids will get to play. Leamington Minor Soccer spokesman, Bob Rumble, told the Sun last week, that they are in a holding pattern.

“We’re not doing a registration until we know for sure,” he said. “We will make a decision by April 12.”

Rumble says that if they do go ahead, the season will be pushed back to July-August instead of the usual May start.

In Wheatley, minor board member Jesse Wright says they have already held a registration but are in a holding pattern, too.

“We’re hoping we can have a slightly delayed season,” said Wright. “But we need to be in the orange level to make that happen.”

Wheatley Minor Soccer board member, Jesse Wright, poses with his two boys, Evan (in blue) and Theo (in yellow) at the Wheatley soccer field on the weekend.

Sun photo

Both Wright and Rumble say they’ve been told that they aren’t allowed more than 25 people at the entire soccer complex at once, under the red level. “We will follow what Ontario soccer recommends,” says Wright.

If the shutdown reduces numbers to get Windsor Essex and Chatham-Kent to the Orange level, the local groups may attempt a soccer season with all the proper precautions in place.

“We just want the kids to get outside and play,” says Wright. “Let’s hope we can do that.”

Over in Kingsville, the group there has had ongoing registration for a couple of weeks.

The Sun reached out to Kingsville Soccer through their Facebook page but they hadn’t yet responded at press time. Their Facebook page says they are still hoping to have a soccer season, pending government restrictions.

There’s one thing that resonates with all three organizations.

No matter what group you’re affiliated with, the hope is that soccer can be played sometime this summer and the kids can have some fun.