Dynamo/Dash Youth implements Return-to-Play Guidelines

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Throughout the world of sports, teams at every level have begun gearing up for what could be the return of sporting activities in the coming weeks. The Houston Dynamo/Dash Youth Soccer Club has created the Return-to-Play Guidelines to ensure the safety of the players, coaches, and their families when the club begins optional training sessions starting Tuesday, May 26.

For players that choose to participate, before stepping on the training fields, players must be cleared by completing a health assessment and have a body temperature at or below 99.5 degrees for at least 24 hours prior to the start of the training session. Once at the training site, players have been instructed to wait inside their vehicles until notified by coaches to enter through the designated entrance. There will be 15-minute windows between each session to avoid contact with other training groups.

In order to create a safe environment for everyone involved, the Return-to-Play Guidelines prioritize social distancing and avoiding contact between players and coaches.

“The club will start training on Tuesday, May 26 with certain ages of the club in groups of 10 players,” said Simon Boddison, DDY Director of Soccer Operations. “Social distancing will be mandated for all players and coaching staff. The curriculum has been devised for individual training with one ball each with no physical contact in a private area.”

With 28 field locations across the Greater Houston area, the club will adjust training protocol based on recommendations from health officials in that area. “The club has soccer operations all over Houston at different facilities,” said Boddison. “We will continue to follow all health and safety guidelines based upon the geographic area that we conduct soccer programming.”

Boddison reiterated that these training sessions are “totally optional” and a player’s decision to opt-out of training will not have an impact on their standing in the club. “The Online Player Development Program will still be available for all the players irrespective of whether they attend training or not until June 1. This program has been extremely well received.”

Looking out for the best interest of the players and staff is just one of the examples why the Dynamo/Dash Youth Soccer Club is well received in The Woodlands. The Woodlands community voted DDY as the Best Youth Sports Club in the 2020 Best of The Woodlands contest.

“We’re very proud to be recognized for providing a high standard of soccer and youth sports programming for the community and to win this prestigious award,” said Boddison. “It’s a privilege to use the first-class soccer facilities that The Woodlands Township provides to the club and its local residents.”

For more information on Dynamo/Dash Youth Soccer Club and the Return-to-Play Guidelines, visit the club website: dynamodashyouth.com