On Thursday, August 20^th Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Inc. (NOW) and Neconn Soccer Club will host a free soccer clinic at the NOW Field at Logee Park in East Putnam. The clinic is open to children ages 7 through 12 and will teach a variety of skills to participants. This event will be offered in the evening, running from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., with the goal of appealing to working parents and giving children a chance to play during the cooler evening hours.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all current guidelines will be followed to guarantee the safety of players and coaches. Safety measures will include: players and coaches being required to wear a face covering before and immediately after the clinic.  Masks may be removed while participating in drills, provided players are able to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from other persons present. Players will also be asked to maintain physical distancing on the sidelines. Coaches will enforce the rule of no group celebrations or celebratory contact. Before being admitted onto the field for the clinic, each participant will be asked if they are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19.  If individuals show any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 they will be sent home and instructed to contact their healthcare provider. Parents are welcome to watch the clinic. However, any parents that choose to watch on the sidelines will be required to wear a face covering.

NOW Executive Director Sarah Wolfburg shared her hopes for the event, “These past months have been difficult, especially for the younger members of our community with many regular activities cancelled or postponed. We are excited to offer this late-summer clinic to area children and hope this event will offer a chance to play in a safe environment.” NOW has a long history of supporting soccer in Northeast Connecticut, offering scholarship support and fitness & nutrition education to several youth leagues in the region. For the fall of 2020, NOW will partner with Neconn Soccer Club to offer scholarship support to qualifying applicants. For more information on future events and programs offered by NOW, visit www.nowinmotion.org.

Participants are encouraged to bring a soccer ball and will be required to arrive wearing shin guards with socks covering them. There is a limited quantity of balls and shin guards available if a player does not already have this equipment. To sign up for the August 20^th clinic, visit www.neconn.org and click on “Register Online” in the left column.