Important Heart of the City Program Update

***Updated 09/01/2021

We have updated our COVID-19 Protocols. You can review our new procedures here: COVID-19 Protocols

1/20/2021

We are excited to announce that Heart of the City will resume on field soccer programs! Illinois has approved Lake County to move to Tier 2, which allows for a return to play. Click here to view our Winter Academy, which is open to Fall Academy 2020 and Elite 2019/20 players.

11/18/20:
 
Dear Heart of the City Family:
 
Due to new Covid-19 restrictions set by Illinois Department of Health, all indoor sports have been suspended until further notice. This will take effect this Friday, November 20th.
 
The Winter Academy, scheduled to start on December 7th, will be postponed until the restrictions are lifted. Whilst we hope to resume programming soon, the current Covid-19 infection rates are alarming. Safety for all our members and staff is our number one priority.
 
Heart of the City staff is here to support you and your family. In the coming days, we will be communicating some virtual events/acitvities that we hope your athlete will find engaging and exciting.
 
Families that registered for the Winter Academy will be fully refunded by Tuesday, November 24th.
 
Please reach out to Heart of the City staff should you need support or have questions: letisia@heartofthecitysports.org; 847-775-9583.
 
Be well and stay safe,
 
Heart of the City Staff

After the shutdown, we returned to play under strict protocols in mid-June to tentatively prepare with team creation, rosters, coaches, registrations, etc., for the 2020-21 travel soccer season.

However, the Illinois Governor announced on June 29th that all youth soccer leagues and tournaments in Illinois will be suspended until further notice due to an uptick in Covid-19 infection rates across the State.  Upon this announcement, we decided to run an internal Fall Academy and Grassroots recreational program for our players to continue playing in a safe learning environment.

We are pleased to announce that Heart of the City is providing optional programs for travel level and grassroots players for the Fall/Winter season. Additionally, with our modified program up and running, we were able kickstart our College and Career Readiness Program to support our high school players to prepare them for life after high school.

Heart of the City hosted a Learning Lab for our players this Fall in our program center. This program provided a safe space and support for our student-athletes during their school day whilst they are in a remote learning phase.

Covid-19 Information & Resources

The Lake County Health Department is monitoring the number of people in Lake County who have tested positive for COVID-19, and posts a daily update here. 

  • Need Help? Call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 United Way’s 211 Resource Directory connects you to a variety of services within the community, whether it’s food, housing, crisis help, and more.
  • Community-sourced list of resources for undocumented communities - nationally and by state.
  • ICIRR list of resources for immigrant communities. 
  • Lake County Heath Department has additional resources on how to get help and how you can help others. 
  • Meals for Families - Many schools and churches are offering free meals during this time. Use this interactive map and type in your address to find the nearest school serving breakfast/lunch.
  • A Safe Place of Lake County- A Safe Place has a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, housing, counseling and more for those impacted by domestic violence.
  • Unemployment Compensation: The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently adopted emergency rules to try to make the unemployment insurance system as responsive to the current situation as possible. Learn more.
  • The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division has launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line, Call4Calm, for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19. Individuals who would like to speak with a mental health professional can text “TALK” to 5-5-2-0-2-0, or for Spanish, “HABLAR” to the same number: 5-5-2-0-2-0.