COVID-19 – updated guidance January 2022

Essex and Suffolk Border Football League

COVID-19 – updated guidance January 2022

This update has been developed following the Government’s move to Plan B of the Covid / Autumn Winter Plan, in response to the risks of the Omicron Variant. It is recognised the Covid pandemic will continue to create situations that have the potential to impact on the competition through the course of the season. The intention is to try and minimise disruption to the completion of the 2021/22 season both league and cup fixtures.

Essex County FA have issued guidelines in relation to the county cup competitions and we want to dovetail into these arrangements.  To assist in this we have outlined information below to help in that process:

 – Please read and review FA Covid-19 Guidance for Grassroots Football which can be found here https://www.essexfa.com/about/coronavirus

– There is no legal requirement but clubs are encouraged to continue to support NHS Test and Trace by displaying an NHS QR code;

Reference to FA FAQ guidance on clubs competing:

– If an individual has Covid-19 symptoms you should stay at home and self-isolate immediately. You should arrange to have a PCR test as soon as possible and follow all government guidance. If this PCR test result is positive, you must continue to self-isolate. If you do not have Covid-19 symptoms, but you have a positive PCR test result, you must stay at home and self-isolate. If you live in the same household as someone with Covid-19 you are at significantly higher risk of becoming infected yourself.

– the Club can carry on, and continue to adhere to FA Covid 19 Guidance for Grassroots Football and ensure all current Government guidelines are strictly followed

– Match play, including training, is not considered close contact;

 ESBFL FIXTURES

We wish to be vigilant of Covid situations that are beyond the control of teams, with the impact of the current Omicron variant while ensuring the season progresses in a timely manner with as little disruption to clubs and teams as possible.

– Providing a team has a minimum of 11 players available to play it is expected that the fixture takes place (in fact the laws of the game permit games starting with 7 players – rule 20D);

– If a team does not have the minimum number of players available, no fixture may be postponed without prior communication and agreement from ESBFL. In this case the fixture will be postponed and the points awarded to the opposition, but no fine will be levied;

– If a team cannot fulfil the fixture and does not get the postponement agreed by ESBFL, the team will be invited to concede the game without penalty. Should the team not opt to withdraw, it will be charged with failure to fulfil the fixture, as per the rules. The club will have the opportunity to respond to the charge detailing individual circumstances and each case will be looked at on an individual basis by the league disciplinary committee;

– Where a club has 2 teams in playing in the competition the available players will be 22;

– The league is aware through the Whole Game System of all players registered for a club and whilst we would not expect 100% of players to ordinarily be available, we would expect the numbers of players available to have a correlation to the number registered;

This guidance has been agreed in order to minimise the impact on the completion of the league and cup fixtures for the 2021/22 season.

Any club who believes it cannot fulfil a fixture due to Covid-19 isolations must detail all its available and unavailable players and contact the secretary or fixtures secretary prior to the match on 01255 433737 or for Alison 07375 394773 or Mick 07975 871230.