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We regret to inform you that North Suburban (NSSO) will not be offering volleyball or bowling this fall.

While Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is planning to enter Phase 1 of their return to play, the guidelines do not allow a feasible fall season for our agency.  We do believe that many of you have been expecting this news, so will not be totally surprised.  With the high percentage of athletes (and coaches) that fit within various “high-risk” categories, this and other restrictions made our decision necessary.  There are no other NSSO scheduled activities for the fall – no Packer Party, no banquet, no Healthy Steps.  We hope to return to some activities as SOWI goes thru the Phases of the return to play.  SOWI may allow some counties to change Phases (allowing more people) quicker than others, depending on the COVID-19  threat, but we believe that all of you will agree that the greater Milwaukee area is not at a positive level.  We also believe that because of individual health risks as well as the overall COVID-19 risks, some athletes and coaches have already planned on not returning to sports until conditions improve, and we support these decisions.

SOWI is offering no competitions for either sport this fall.

Volleyball is not being offered as a “team” sport, but only with SOWI, etc., developed skills.

Both sports would have a limit of 8 athletes at any given practice (10 people total, which is 8 athletes, 2 required coaches, and NO spectators.)  Athletes would have to be 6 feet apart and, for the most part, wear masks.  No sharing of equipment, etc., and all items of equipment would have to be cleansed before someone else touched any item.  To have a second group of 10 people, this second group would have to be 50 meters (approx 160feet) away from the first group.  We felt that these choices would not fit NSSO at this time (since we have around 40 volleyball players and over 50 bowlers).  It is also uncertain at this time if the Milwaukee Safety Academy will be available for outside groups, so we would have no practice site. 

Before any athlete or coach will be allowed to return to “active duty” – a COVID-19 Participant Release form will have to be signed.  This form will be distributed later and can be done at any time to be prepared for a return.

Kevin and  LindaB  

The family plans a celebration of life when larger gatherings are allowed. Memorials may be made to North Suburban Special Olympics, 1008 Woodview Drive, Grafton, WI 53024

We have received word from Special Olympics Wisconsin that all competitions and practices for Wisconsin are now cancelled through May 31, 2020.

So – that means no practices, no tournaments, no NSSO special activities through the end of May.  With that date span, it means we will NOT have a spring sports season – no soccer, no track, no swimming.  We don’t know what the plan is for state games in June, but because we will not have a season for those sports, we will not plan on attending, even if the games are held.

Softball, bocce and tennis will NOT start in May.

We will send out any additional information as we receive it.

Stay healthy, please.

Kevin and Linda

The subject line is correct.  SOWI has cancelled the Sectional Team Basketball tournaments (March 15), the State Basketball Skills competition (March 21) and the State Gymnastics competition (March 21 – NSSO does concessions.)  There will be no make-ups and there will be NO State Team Basketball competition as originally scheduled for early April.

We are a SOWI Agency, so, in keeping with SOWI guidelines and preferences due to COVID-19, we are cancelling ALL NSSO sponsored activities thru April 5th.  Activities past that time will depend on SOWI decisions made.

Canceled activities are effective immediately and include ALL practices, the NSSO dance, and the March Healthy Steps program.

The WISO made the very difficult decision to suspend all in-person sports training and competition activities, and other activities involving our athletes, through April 5, 2020, due to concerns related to the spread of the corona-virus. While the news is incredibly disappointing for all of us, the health and safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff and partners is our top priority.

 The cancelled events include, but are not limited to:

·         March 11, Bucks Training Clinic, Mequon

·         March 15, Sectional Team Basketball, Stevens Point and Mukwonago

·         March 21, State Basketball Skills, Neenah

·         March 21, State Gymnastics, Glendale

·         March 29, LETR Bowling Tournament, New Berlin

·         April 4-5, State Indoor Sports Tournament

Attachments include a letter from the SOWI CEO about the cancellations and two information sheets on staying healthy.

Kevin and Linda