As you may be aware, the FA have detailed a roadmap to to a return to competitive grassroots football. The proposed phased return is as follows:

Before sessions
As a parent or carer, please ensure your child understands what to expect and please support those who are trying to provide a safe re-introduction to youth football in accordance with Government guidelines.

Everyone should self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms before every training session or match. No-one should leave home to participate in football if they, or someone they live with, has any of the following;

• A high temperature (above 37.8°C);
• A new, continuous cough;
• A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste.

This check should be done before each training session and no training session will take place without this having been done, If any member of a team tests positive for Covid 19 training for that team will cease for a period of ten days.

Stay Alert –children must maintain good hygiene, hand washing and social distancing. Make yourself aware of the measures being taken to provide a safe environment

You may already be aware that the period of isolation may have resulted in your child becoming anxious or unsure whether to resume previous activities, such as football. Please only support their return to football activity when they feel confident to do so and you feel the activity is safe and right for them. If you choose for your child to take part, you will need to give your consent to the club and or coach for them to do so. You should check their revised safeguarding arrangements as part of this process.

As you will undoubtedly already know, young children are more likely to struggle to maintain social distancing. Please continue to do your best to help your child recognise what one metre looks and feels like – this could be related to several arm spans or standing jumps for example.

In line with Government guidance on travel, you or another adult from the family should travel with the child to the venue together, or via a socially-distant method (e.g. cycling). You should consider all other forms of transport before using public transport. There must be no car-sharing with anyone outside your household. Please arrive shortly before the session starts and leave when it finishes. You can watch from your car, or a safe distance away from the group and everyone else.

Your child must arrive changed and ready to exercise. If possible they should not bring any other clothing than what they are wearing and their drink’s bottle should be clearly labelled and placed away from others.

Bibs will not be used unless they can be washed between every session and will not be shared at any point during a session.

To operate safely, changing rooms and club rooms will all be closed. Access to a toilet will still be possible but try to use one at home.

Children should understand that they need to sanitize their hands before entering the toilet and again when they come out. They should also sanitize their hands on arrival at the ground and on leaving.

If your child has additional disability or medical needs, please ensure you have discussed this specifically with the club and coach. You can then agree how/if these needs can be met within current Government Covid-19 guidance.

At and during sessions

Children must be guided not to touch equipment e.g. cones and footballs. The focus should be on kicking the ball and limiting any touching of the ball with hands. If you have young children, please help them to understand this before they attend any sessions.

Parents/carers who are in attendance for the duration of a session, please maintain social distancing at all times,

If access to a facility is required, hand cleaning facilities will be provided. Children should understand that they need to sanitize their hands on arrival at the ground and then on leaving. They should wash their hands thoroughly on returning home.

If your child needs to sneeze or cough, encourage them to do so into a tissue or upper sleeve and advise them to avoid touching their face. The tissue should be disposed of immediately in the nearest waste bin.

Equipment should be handled as little as possible by as few people as possible. Where equipment is handled by more than one person, they should wash their hands immediately afterwards, taking care not to touch their mouth or face in the meantime. For goalkeepers, it might be sensible for players to have their own individual ball for the session, with the frequent wiping of the ball with disinfectant wipes if it is being handled by more than one person.

Ensure your child takes their own water bottle and, if possible, their own hand sanitiser, both clearly marked with their name. They must not share these with anyone else.

If your child gets injured, a member of their household can aid them but others will still need to socially distance unless a life or limb-threatening injury necessitates breaking guidelines to provide emergency care. If there is a first-aider or other medical personnel present, they should be equipped with the appropriate PPE to protect themselves and others if they need to break social-distancing guidelines to provide medical assistance.

If your child becomes symptomatic during the session, they should be immediately removed from the session and taken home as soon as possible. NHS guidance on further management of symptoms should be followed.

When the session is finished, children should be encouraged to leave the venue rather than congregate, avoiding congestion. All participants should wash hands at the earliest opportunity and personal equipment should be wiped down with a disinfectant.

Finally...
We want to thank you in advance for playing your vital part in helping our great game get going again. By observing Government guidance and the football-specific protocols, let’s work together to ensure the transition back to enjoying football is as smooth and safe as possible. But everyone’s circumstances are different, and if you don’t feel your child(ren) are ready to return to football, there’s no pressure. Everyone’s health, wellbeing and safety are the priorities.