Return to Football – Update from ECFA to all Club and League Chairs and Secretaries

Following The FA’s recent announcement regarding re-starting competitive grassroots football, and a pathway for the commencement of the 2020/21 season, there has been a natural enthusiasm and desire from clubs and individuals across grassroots football to re-commence contact sessions, in-line with FA Guidance: Essex FA Coronavirus Guidance Updates

As a County FA, we were delighted to see the Government approve the FA Plan for the return of the grassroots game, which came much sooner than could have initially been envisaged and allows for the 2020/21 season to potentially begin again in September.

The landscape over the last few weeks has changed rapidly and, with the return of competitive grassroots football, comes new guidance. It is important that the appropriate time in considering how this updated guidance can be implemented is taken, and we would encourage all organisations with a role in grassroots football to take time to look at how they can operate effectively and safely when re-starting competitive grassroots football, while strictly adhering to public health guidance around hygiene and maintaining social distancing, as required.

The decision to re-commence with competitive grassroots football is one for clubs and organisations to take based on their individual circumstances and situations and, if clubs/organisations feel that the risk is too great, or it is too soon to commence, then that is fine and understandable.

For those clubs/organisations that feel they are in a position to re-start competitive grassroots football, then steps should be taken to strictly adhere to the FA guidance, giving due consideration for the operational implementation of the guidance based on the club’s individual circumstances (e.g. own ground, public park etc.) to ensure a safe environment is created for all involved.

When considering this, The FA would strongly recommend a phased return to competitive football activity as follows:  

Until 31st July: when ready, you can begin competitive training, with the overall group size (inclusive of coaches) being limited to 30 people

From August: competitive matches can begin, for example pre-season fixtures, festivals and small sided competitions

From September: grassroots leagues, men’s National league System, Women’s Football Pyramid tiers 3 to 6, and FA competitions can commence

Clubs and organisations should also ensure the following:

Before Activity Commences:

·       Clubs should ensure they are affiliated with the Essex County Football Association, along with the appropriate Insurances. The process can be found here: Essex FA Affiliation Guidance and Essex FA Insurance Requirements

·       Clubs need to undertake a Risk Assessment before restarting competitive grassroots football activity, a template document and guidance can be found here: Covid-19 Risk Assessment Guidance and Template. Once completed the document should be communicated with all members of the club

·       Must continue to comply with FA Safeguarding Policies and Procedures 

·       Consent must be gained from parents/carers

·       Clubs and facility providers should ensure that their facility is compliant with current Government legislation and guidance related to COVID-19 and should reference the Football Activity Guidance for Facility Providers document which can be found here: Football Activity Guidance for Facility Providers (18th July 2020)

·       Everyone should self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms before every training session or match. If you are symptomatic or living in a household with possible or actual COVID-19 infection you must not participate or attend

·       Clubs and facility providers should keep a record of attendees at a match or training session, including contact details, to support NHS Test and Trace;

·       Ensure everyone is aware of The FA Code of Behaviour: Detailed Guidance on Restarting Competitive Grassroots Football (page 12). 

During Training and Match Play:

·       Competitive training is now permitted, with groups limited to a maximum of 30 people, including coaches;

·       Competitive match play is permitted, with social distancing in place before and after the match, and in any breaks in play; 

·       Players and officials should sanitise hands before and after a game as well as scheduled breaks throughout a game or training session; 

·       Ball handling should be kept to a minimum with most contact via a boot and the ball disinfected in breaks of play; 

·       Youth football coaches are encouraged to limit persistent close proximity of participants during match play and training; 

·       Goal celebrations should be avoided; 

·       Equipment should not be shared, and goalkeepers should ensure they disinfect their gloves regularly in breaks in training or matches and thoroughly afterwards. Where possible, coaches should only handle equipment in training;

·       Where possible, players, coaches and officials should arrive changed and shower at home. Use of changing and shower facilities must follow government advice on the use of indoor facilities; 

·       Participants should follow best practice for travel including minimising use of public transport and walking or cycling if possible. People from a household or support bubble can travel together in a vehicle

After Activity:

·       Hands should be washed at the earliest opportunity and personal equipment should be wiped down with a disinfectant

·       Unless absolutely necessary participants should take their kit home and wash it themselves or by family members. Post activity showers should be taken at home.

·       Everyone must continue to maintain social distancing including in any facilities where groups of people congregate

·       Everyone should leave following the traffic flow system the club or facility provider has put in place

·       Anyone who becomes infected after training / matches should report this to NHS Test and Trace system   

Separate guidance has been developed for clubs with teams competing in the men’s National League System (NLS Club Guidance for Returning to Football (18th July 2020)) and the Women’s Football Pyramid Tiers 3 to 6 (Women’s Football Pyramid Guidance for Returning to Football (18th July 2020)). This will support these clubs on the safe return of paying spectators and also the applicability of the guidance to facilities under ground grading conditions, to ensure the safe return of competitive matches.  

Please note that, at this stage, indoor football and Futsal are not permitted. The FA will look to work with indoor facility providers to develop appropriate guidance for indoor formats as soon as possible.

A further FA FAQ document can be accessed here: Guidance on Restarting Outdoor Competitive Grassroots Football FAQs

It is important that the above considerations are discussed at club level to ensure that a collective decision is made to restart competitive grassroots football and to ensure that these can be done in a safe manner. 

If you wish to discuss any of the above in more detail then please contact the Essex FA Development, Coach Education, Safeguarding or Governance Teams via E-Mail or telephone.

I would like to thank all of our members for their support and patience to date and, as we can now see a pathway to a return of competitive grassroots football, we would strongly encourage everyone to collectively embrace The FA’s phased return.

Brendan Walshe Chief Executive