Cal United Strikers Return to Play after COVID-19

With Orange County coming off of the California Governors watch list, we are faced with the difficulties of determining how to safely resume the activities we were participating in. The Cal United Strikers Football Club have started getting back to their new normal, returning to a new season with increased safety precautions.

Newport Orthopedic Institute is on their third season of providing the Cal United Strikers their team Athletic Trainer. This year the position has taken on an expanded role as the sanitary procedures increased, focusing on the continued safety of the team, staff and opponents. Players & staff were tested prior to resuming practice & will be tested prior to each game. Symptom & temperature checks have become part of the daily rituals as well as facemasks for all staff.

Jill Ayres, the Team Athletic Trainer and head of NOI’s Human Performance & Sports Medicine department, has adjusted her care & communication to accommodate new restrictions and the challenges when returning to sport. The return of the Cal United Strikers came with a bonus though. “Watching (the players) moods, enthusiasm and sense of well-being give us all a sense of normalcy… There has been so much stress during this time and sport has provided an outlet, allowed a team to be together and given us all something to look forward to.”

The California United Strikers will play in their first league game this Sunday at 5 PM against the Los Angeles Force. Catch a piece of sports stress relief for yourself by watching your Orange County soccer team take on their Los Angeles rival on the live stream.

Live Stream:
Sunday, August 30th at 5 PM (PT)
Open MyCujoo.com in your prefered browser.
Search for Cal United Strikers Football Club.

Photo Credit: Brian Jackson, Instagram @brian.jacksonphotography