Keeping Kids Active Safe Engaged Healthy

ASA in
2020

A year of adaptation, resiliency, new programs and safety guidelines.

14
Employees
400
Coaches
11
Programs
1742
Zoom Meetings
4,500
Active Kids
500
Active Adults

ASA OUTCOMES:

  • Improved health and well being of every ASA participant
  • Alexandria is a thriving community because of ASA

In 2020 with the onset of the pandemic, ASA continued to focus on our mission and outcomes.

Although adjustments were made, the organization remained focused on delivering quality programming as prescribed by our strategic plan. At the core of every decision was thoughtful consideration of the safety, health and wellness of our ASA participants and the Alexandria community.

Key to ASA’s outcomes are the physical health, emotional health, mental health and behavioral health of our participants, ages 2-adult.

ASA is committed to operating under the Sports Based Youth Development (SBYD) model. SBYD is a validated model of youth development that uses the delivery of sport intentionally and primarily to achieve positive non-sports-based outcomes. These outcomes include social emotional learning; critical pro-social relationship skills; better academic performance and educational attainment; and improved health and wellness.

A Year Like No Other

Letter from Tommy Park, Executive Director

For all of us, 2020 was a year unlike any other. At the conclusion of a successful 2019 Fall Season, the year started with the most impactful Futsal Cup and Futsal League in club history. In March, a full spring season of in-person programming was cancelled and ASA’s 50th anniversary celebration was postponed. Our priorities quickly shifted beyond soccer programming to thinking about how we can best help our community. With our collective health and safety at risk during the early days of the pandemic we questioned what would be best for us to do going forward. Amidst the uncertainty and anxiety of the spring, I watched our community rally together, support each other, work creatively and tirelessly, and shift programming to meet the changing needs of children over the course of just a few weeks.

ASA has always been more than just a soccer club. At the end of 2019 we began focusing on measuring two overarching outcomes that encompass much more than winning games or teaching soccer skills:

— Improved health and well being of every ASA participant
— Alexandria is a thriving community because of ASA

These outcomes helped center and ground our actions, planning, and adjustments to programming. When we thought about adding non-soccer programming this year we considered whether the new activities would help us achieve these outcomes.  

Our staff worked closely with state and local officials to determine appropriate safety protocols and monitored when it was safe to return to the field. The ASA family collectively raised $15,000 for Act for Alexandria’s emergency response fund, to support those in our city most affected by the pandemic. When asked, ASA launched new programs to help kids in our community stay active, while offering parents childcare to support their own welfare. ASA staff members stepped in to new roles to help ensure activities and programs were safe and that coaches were trained to follow new health guidelines or deliver non-soccer programming.

People of all ages struggled immensely this year. Without interactions at school, work and social time with peers it was more important than ever to provide safe and active outdoor opportunities to run, play, learn, grow, compete and MOVE with friends. With little historic precedence for operating programming during a pandemic, we questioned whether returning to play was viable. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants and parents kept us more energized than ever. Additionally, we didn’t see any community spread of COVID-19 from soccer activities once we re-opened. 

"Jamie had a great time, she was so happy to be around kids all day instead of her parents, it's the best consistent mood she was in since this all [COVID-19 pandemic] started."

- A Happy Summer Soccer Camp Parent

As we transition to 2021 it is my hope that the world transitions back to some normalcy with kids in school, unlimited spectators cheering on the sidelines and mask-less coaches. Whatever happens though, I am confident that our team is prepared to adapt and move forward. Thank you for your support this year and I look forward to high fives, handshakes and congregating on the sidelines again some day soon.

2020 at a glance

  • —
    JAN
    2020
    Futsal
    Futsal Cup — Futsal League — ASA coaches attend a coaching conference in Baltimore
  • —
    FEB
    2020
    Futsal & Tournaments
    Futsal League — Feature Weekend Showcase — Academy winter practices — preparation for the ASK Tournament
  • 6-7
    MAR
    2020
    ASK Full Sided Weekend
    More than 100 U13+ girls and boys teams
  • 12
    MAR
    2020
    ASK Boys Weekend Cancelled
    U9-U12 tournament weekend
  • 14
    MAR
    2020
    ALL ASA PROGRAMMING IS PAUSED
  • MAR-JUNE
    2020
    ASA goes virtual!
    Zoom workouts — Zoom tactical sessions — Zoom hangouts — & more!
  • —
    JUNE
    2020
    Summer Soccer Camps begin
    All camps are socially distanced, no physical contact
  • —
    July
    2020
    Camp ALEX launches
    ASA launches a multi sport and activity camp for kids ages 5-12. And, Futsal Ball Mastery kicks off.
  • —
    SEPT
    2020
    School+ launches
    ASA launches an outdoor learning lab experience to provide virtual school support to kids in grades K-5th.
  • SEPT-NOV
    2020
    All in-person league play resumes
    Rec League, Tots, Academy, Ball Mastery, Junior Academy and Adult League all proceed with safety protocols — masks, social, distancing, health checks & more​
  • —
    DEC
    2020
    Futsal
    Futsal ID kicks off, OUTDOORS!

The ASA Operations Team created this handbook and we continue to keep it updated with the most relevant research and guidelines. This information drives our safety policies and helps inform our community.

In 2020 we committed to keeping kids ACTIVE! Once the pandemic put a pause on in-person programming ASA got creative. We stayed active via Zoom and later in the year we launched two new programs to give kids opportunities to MOVE, INTERACT, LEARN, & GROW.

The new programs, Camp ALEX & School+, allowed kids to learn, play and exercise in a safe environment while giving much-needed support to working parents.

Keeping Kids Active

Zoom

Workouts, hangouts & meetings

Instructional Videos

Camp Alex

School+

The NEW programs gave kids the opportunity to stay active in safe & fun environments. 

Camp ALEX

A multi-sport & activity camp hosted in partnership with Alexandria’s Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities to meet the unique needs of the community in the summer of 2020.

“Our children really enjoyed being in camp and we noticed they were a lot happier and more energetic than they had been the rest of the summer when they were not around other kids as much, or as active due, to the pandemic.”

– Camp ALEX Parent

Camp Activities

  • Scavenger Hunts
  • I Spy
  • Olympics events
  • Field Day competitions
  • Obstacle course
  • Crafts
  • Talent Shows
  • Charades
  • Soccer & other sports

School+

A weekday activity and learning lab experience that aligns with virtual learning programs in the fall of 2020. Day and half day schedules supplement learning and offer child care opportunities for busy parents. After a successful nine week session the program was extended five more weeks through the end of the year. After the initial extension, this successful program was extended into 2021!

Monday camp style programming coincides with ACPS students asynchronous learning requirements. On Tuesdays – Fridays counselors help guide and facilitate virtual learning for each participant’s schedule throughout the week. They ensure kids are “present” for each Zoom class throughout the day and supplement down time and movement time with camp activities — games, crafts, puzzles, sports, playground time and more.

“We have never seen Jane so happy with any program before. There has not been a day that I pick her up and she doesn’t have a beaming smile on her face. ASA has amazing, talented, caring and professional staff who have provided such a vital service for the community and it’s children. We are beyond thankful.”

– School+ Parent 

Programming in 2020 started off strong with the Futsal Cup, Futsal League, the Feature Weekend Showcase tournament, and the very beginning of the Academy season. When the pandemic cancelled all programming ASA committed to returning to play as soon as it was safe to do so. In July we cautiously and carefully relaunched programming and ALL ASA programs took place in the Fall.

It was our goal to keep kids healthy by offering a program for every age and skill level.

IMG_7644

Keeping Kids Healthy

Rec League

  • Conducted Zoom workout sessions for Rec elementary kids
  • Created a 9v9 league for U13+ participants after SFL cancelled
  • Hosted the first annual Harvest Cup Tournament for middle and high school students
  • Employed 14 high school students as weekend field marshals
  • Supported 1000+ kids in a modified, safe and FUN league experience

Academy

  • Academy coaches held online Zoom workouts and technical sessions with their teams in the spring
  • Summer practices offered for every team to get kids back on the field before the season
  • Participation level remained the same in the fall — every spring participant was offered a spot on a team in the fall
  • Academy coaches, participant parents and field staff adhered to strict safety guidelines at every practice and game
  • Participants received 100+ hours of physical activity during the fall season
  • More fall Tots participants than ever before
  • New Tots coaches with childhood development experience
  • Modified curriculum to motivate and support activity without typical group hugs and high fives

Tots

Summer Camp

  • Socially distanced activities, no physical contact
  • Hand sanitizer stations, coaches required to wear masks at all times
  • Employed 24 high school Counselors in Training
  • Launched a new non-soccer specific activity camp
  • Successful fall season with 4 games against external teams
  • More female participants than ever before
  • Successful transition of 2012 Junior Academy participants to the Academy program in the fall

Junior Academy

  • 1214 league games
  • 307 teams
  • 15 divisions in the league
  • 19 indoor courts utilized across Alexandria

Futsal League

Futsal ID

  • 370 participants competed in a successful Futsal ID season that wrapped up before the pandemic hit
  • Two State Champions, 3 Regional Champions, 3 Regional Finalists, 2 Regional Semi-finalists
  • High school teams practiced and competed against Futsal PRO teams to increase quality of play and development.
  • Hosted over 1,000 teams and 20,000+ player at these events: Futsal Cup, Feature Weekend Showcase, ASK Full-Sided Weekend, Columbus Day Tournament
  • Columbus Day Tournament was hosted with COVID-19 safety guidelines: masks required, spectators outside the fence, social distancing & more
  • Employed 24 Academy high school aged field marshals to oversee facilities during Columbus Day Tournament

Tournaments

Training Programs

  • Futsal Ball Mastery
  • Ball Mastery
  • Alexandria Growth Program (AGP)
  • In the Fall and early Winter we hosted 100+ kids in training programs. Kids were excited to get thousands of extra touches on the ball!

Keeping Kids Engaged

In 2020 it became more important than ever to keep kids engaged. Without in-person school, social interactions with peers, and responsibilities that come with a busy schedule, ASA set out to give kids, ages U13+, opportunities to work, learn and lead.

These initiatives developed skills beyond the sport of soccer, such as: communication, leadership, responsibility, adaptability, time management, money management & more!

"If you ever have the opportunity to help coach a team, do it. I am telling you it is one of the best experiences and it helps you develop a lot of skills (regarding: communication, leading, soccer skills etc). It is nice to be able to give something back to the club that has taught me so much. It is such a great community and I am happy to help advance the girls soccer program at ASA."

Lulu Schropp, 02 Academy Player | Coach in Training Program
  • Hired, trained and employed 75+ counselors & counselors-in-training for Soccer Camps, Camp Alex & School+ programs
  • Paid counselors & CITs ~$75,000 — money invested directly back into job training for Alexandria teens
  • Trained and hired middle school aged students as referees for Junior Academy games
  • Hired 15 high school aged students as Rec game day field marshals and Harvest Cup Tournament support
  • Launched a Coach-in-Training program for 02 & 03 Academy Girls
  • Hired 24 high school aged students to work as field marshals during Columbus Day Tournament

Keeping Kids Safe

The most important part of returning to play was ensuring kids were safe and remained healthy. Our Operations Team worked tirelessly to stay on top of COVID-19 regulations, recommendations and research at the national, regional, state and city levels. 

Throughout the year ASA opted to implement more conservative policies than recommended to ensure health & safety.

Keeping kids safe also meant helping families safely navigate registration, jersey distribution and more. ASA’s office administrators development an appointment system, created an in-person staff work schedule, organized contact-less drive through uniform pickup and more!

Access4All

Despite a year filled with paused and amended programming ASA continued to support access to sport for every child interested in playing soccer, futsal or attending a camp.

After School League

Free After School Leagues at William Ramsay & John Adams were cancelled in the spring due to COVID-19. Our team sent videos to the kids to say hi along with some activities to do in the backyard.

Scholarships

ASA provided $475,000 of scholarships to ensure access to play for more than 1,500 kids across all programs.

Financial Aid

Academy participants were automatically offered the same percentage of Financial Aid they received last year, no questions asked.

School+ Grant

ASA received a grant to provide scholarship students with free tuition to the School+ program. Nine elementary school students and three TC Williams International Academy students were able to attend with their fees fully covered.

Diversity, Equality & Inclusion

In June ASA committed to listening & Learning

We shared the following statement: "Alexandria Soccer has always been a diverse and inclusive community soccer club. It is all of our responsibility to take a stand against racism, and we can't call ourselves inclusive while staying silent on the social injustices in our country. We commit to listening and to learning. We commit to education ourselves, our staff and our coaches so that we can support our #ASACommunity and use our collective voice as a positive force for change. We stand against racial injustice."

We have created an action plan around the following:

  • Establishing and sustaining a club community that shares the collective responsibility to address, eliminate, and prevent actions, decisions, and outcomes that result from and perpetuate racism.
  • Eliminating inequitable practices and cultivating the unique gifts, talents and interests of every child to end the predictive value of social or cultural factors, such as race, class, or gender, on participant success.
  • Respecting and championing the diversity and life experiences of all community members to support the club’s mission, vision, values, goals, and objectives.
  • Acknowledging that racism is often compounded by other forms of discrimination.

Financial Highlights

Refunds & Credits

Fairly recognized undelivered programming with a generous refund / credit / donation policy to get money back into community hands when they needed it the most. Recognized $400,000 of credits and refunds.

Donation to COVID-19 Fund

The ASA community raised $15,000 during Spring2Action to support emergency response funds in Alexandria. The funds supported those most effected by the COVID-19 pandemic with food, shelter and health care costs.

No Fee Increase

Program fees were kept the same across the board, and in some cases were decreased.

Retain Staff

We made a commitment to retain all full time staff and coaches during the pause in programming.

Invested in Students

ASA invested ~$75,000 training and hiring high school students as counselors, field marshals, interns & event staff.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to our Red & Blue Club Members for their generous support of ASA in 2020.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Thank you to our wonderful #ASAFamilies and our incredible #ASACommunity—thank you for your patience, adaptability, support and energy in 2020. You kept us going and inspired us to get creative and stay active. We’re looking forward to 2021 and can’t wait to see you on the field soon.