COVID-19 Update

Maccabi USA, 21st Maccabiah
COVID Safety Protocols for Tryouts
Updated August 30, 2021 

Overview 

Maccabi USA is preparing to select the team members who will join the USA delegation at the 21st Maccabiah Games in Israel. The health and safety of our athletes and volunteers is of utmost importance and will be our guiding principle. We recognize that in-person tryouts are a critical part of the selection process in many sports, representing an opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills. Additionally, any chance to gather Jewish athletes and build community through sports is a reason to celebrate. Considering the current COVID–19 pandemic, tryouts will look and feel different this time around.

Maccabi USA’s Medical Advisory Committee has provided guidelines aligned with the recommendations of the CDC and state and local health departments. We are committed to open and ongoing communication and, as we get additional clarity on policies and procedures, we will continue to communicate updated information. For the health and safety of every athlete, coach, volunteer, and professional, it is critical that all participants adhere to the prescribed guidelines. We appreciate your patience and cooperation.  

Protocols for Attending Tryouts 

1. Effective August 26, vaccines are mandatory for all tryout participants (athletes, volunteers, etc).  Proof of vaccination will be required to tryout.  Additionally, proof of vaccination (and possible supplemental treatments, i.e. booster shots) will be required to participate as a part of the USA Delegation to the 21^stMaccabiah in Israel.
2. Absolutely no walkup registrations will be permitted. The necessary forms and steps listed below must be followed within the designated timeframe.
3. Submit an application for the 21^st Maccabiah here.  
4. Register for the appropriate tryout.
5. All athletes must submit this form (to be uploaded through CampDocs) stating clearance from a physician in advance. 
6. All participants must sign a waiver and release of liability (electronic form through Camp Docs). 
7. All participants will be required to wear masks while indoors and not actively playing a sport.
8. Indoor tryouts will be closed to spectators and any attendees deemed to be non-essential.

UPDATE APRIL 8, 2020

Dear Maccabi USA Community:

We hope that this message finds you and your family healthy and safe.

We are writing to let you know that due to the postponement of the Olympic Games in Tokyo to Summer 2021, the 21st Maccabiah Games have been officially moved to Summer 2022. The dates will be July 12 -26, 2022. Stay tuned for the dates of Maccabi USA’s Israel Connect program and Training Camp.

While we were all looking forward to joining together in the Summer of 2021 for the 21st Games, we are committed to using this extra planning time to ensure that your experience in 2022 will be even more memorable. We hope you are all able to join us as part of the biggest and best USA delegation ever to march into Teddy Stadium for the 21st Maccabiah Opening Ceremony on July 14, 2022!

We are keeping our application system open as we begin planning for 2022 and hope you will keep your application active. If for any reason, you are unable to join us in 2022 and would like to remove your application from consideration, please let us know by sending an email to maccabi@maccabiusa.com. Please note that the application fee that you paid was used to cover a portion of our costs in processing your application and preparing for Maccabiah. Like many non-profits, the next several months are likely to be financially challenging for Maccabi USA. However, given these unprecedented circumstances, if you would like us to reimburse the $50 application fee, we of course will. Please email maccabi@maccabiusa.com to let us know, and if you have any questions, please email or call us at 215-561-6900.

During this time, we are excited to be planning a number of ways that the Maccabi USA family can do what it does best – come together to unite as a vibrant and strong community. Some of the anticipated opportunities include: launching our own Esports channel, offering expert talks from our alumni on a range of topics, streaming workout sessions, and hosting online Shabbat candle lightings. Keep an eye out for details soon. In the meantime, if you have an idea for a way Maccabi USA can engage our extended family during this time or would like to be a part of our online connections, please contact Dan Kurtz at dkurtz@maccabiusa.com.

In true Maccabi spirit, we know we will all emerge from this stronger than ever. Chazak Ve-ematz, Be courageous and strong!

Further to the previous announcement made in April 2020 with regards to the postponement of the 21st Maccabiah Games from 2021 to 2022, the Maccabi World Union (MWU) International Sports Committee (ISC) have amended the age criteria for the new 2022 event.

The updated age categories are stated below:

Juniors will now be for anyone born between 1/1/04 and 12/131/07 (u18 1/1/04-12/31/05 and u16 1/1/06-12/31/07)

Exceptions:

• In Swimming there will only be on Junior division for Boys (born 2006-2008) and Girls (born 2006-2008).
• In Gymnastics there will be only one Junior division for Boys (born 2004-2007) and Girls (born 2007-2008).
• In Rhythmic Gymnastics there will be only one Junior division for Girls (born 2007-2008)

Open; anyone born before 12/31/03

Masters 35; anyone who will be 35 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1987)

Masters 45; anyone who will be 45 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1977)

Masters 50; anyone who will be 50 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1972) Masters Golf only

Masters 55; anyone who will be 55 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1967)

Masters 65; anyone who will be 65 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1957) There is a specific age category of Grand Masters in Golf only

Masters 75; anyone who will be 75 in the year of the Games ( i.e. born before 12/31/1947)

We recognize that this news will come as a major disappointment to some athletes (especially Juniors who were born in 2003) as they will now unfortunately miss out of participating in a Junior Maccabiah. For those applicants who are affected by the new age category please do remember that the majority of applicants still have the chance of representing Maccabi USA and are encouraged to try out for the Open teams in their relevant sport.

If for any reason, you are unable to join us in 2022 and would like to remove your application from consideration, please let us know by sending an email to maccabi@maccabiusa.com. Please note that the application fee that you paid was used to cover a portion of our costs in processing your application and preparing for Maccabiah. Like many non-profits, the next several months are likely to be financially challenging for Maccabi USA. However, given these unprecedented circumstances, if you would like us to reimburse the $50 application fee, we of course will. Please  email maccabi@maccabiusa.com to let us know, and if you have any questions, please email or call us at 215-561-6900.

With the timeline for the Games shifting, teams will start making plans for tryouts where necessary and safe to do so, however, we do not encourage any tryouts to happen before this coming winter. Our goal is to have teams appointed by the end of August 2021, in accordance with pushing our timeline back a year. Recommendations for athlete appointment will resume in 2021.

We appreciate your continued support for the organization and your understanding.