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