COVID-19 Support and Guidance
The FA have today (Tues 1st December) issued updated guidance for ‘non-elite’ football in England following confirmation from the UK Government that organised sports can return from Wednesday 2 December.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] has this evening issued updated guidelines on the return to recreational team sport which permits the return of ‘non-elite’ football in England from Wednesday 2 December, and includes all fixtures and training for:-
Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS];
Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP];
Regional NLS Feeder Leagues;
Barclays FA WSL Academy League;
FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs;
Outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.
Organised outdoor football activity is permitted at these levels across all three tiers from Wednesday 2 December but it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on COVID-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA.
Organised indoor football and Futsal is permitted in Tier 1 areas if the rule of six is followed and in Tier 2 areas if the rule of six is followed and it is possible for people to avoid mixing with others that they do not live or share a support bubble with. Indoor football is not permitted in Tier 3 areas.
In all three tiers there are exceptions for indoor disability football, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for U18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing.
Training for teams in Tier 3 must have minimal contact.
Travel
Adults can travel to play grassroots football in between Tier 1 and Tier 2. However, adults cannot travel in and out of Tier 3 to play grassroots football. There are exemptions for travel in and out of Tier 3 for U18s, disability teams, volunteers, elite players and for those travelling for work.
Players and essential club staff at steps 3-6 of the NLS, tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid, the Barclays FA WSL Academy and Regional Talent Clubs can travel into and out of tier 3 areas.
Spectators
Clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-6 of the WFP remain permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators in Tier 1 and 2 areas if they follow the UK Governments’ latest guidance on COVID-19 and The FA’s guidelines for the NLS or WFP. There are no spectators permitted in Tier 3, as set out in Government guidance.
Regional NLS Feeder Leagues, Tier 7 of the WFP and outdoor grassroots football also remain permitted to accommodate socially-distanced spectators but must follow the rule of six and Government guidance on restrictions in certain tiers.
Hospitality
Clubhouses can operate in Tier 1 but must do so by table service (ordered and consumed at the table) only and observing the rule of six. In Tier 2, Clubhouses must close unless they operate as if they were a restaurant. This means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal. They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal and all food and drink to be ordered and consumed at the table. Tables can only be same household and takeaway must be eaten or drunk off the club premises. Under UK Government guidelines, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants in Tier 3 areas must be closed except to sell by takeaway or click-and-collect.
All clubs are required to have a designated COVID-19 officer; complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans; and continue to support Test and Trace efforts.
The 2020-21 FA Youth Cup will continue to be played under the relevant ‘elite’ club protocol and the Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase are set to resume in December, along with the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.
We implore everyone to strictly follow the UK Government’s national COVID-19 restrictions. Any incidents of non-compliance will be reported to the local County Football Association.
We would like to thank the football community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period for both the game and wider society.
The latest changes and our updated documents can be downloaded below.
SUMMARY OF THE THREE TIER GUIDANCE- ISSUED 1ST DECEMBER 2020
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR PLAYERS, COACHES, OFFICIALS, VOLUNTEERS, CLUBS, LEAGUES, PARENTS/CARERS AND FACILITY PROVIDERS UNDERTAKING OUTDOOR COMPETITIVE GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL ACTIVITY IN ENGLAND.
Football is leading the way in trying to ensure all players, spectators, volunteers and their families are safe and that the game can be played at all levels.
Nottinghamshire FA is working very closely with the FA nationally to support the game in our county to adapt to the many guidelines and requirements from the UK government
Following the new COVID-19 regulations and advice issued by the UK government this week, we have set out below an easy-to-digest summary of the main changes. A link to the full guidance and the latest FAQs is also included.
It has become clear that the resurgence of Covid-19 infections are strongly related to social gatherings that do not abide by guidance provided, especially regarding travel, social distance, washing of hands and face coverings.
This is particularly the case in hospitality areas and so it is recommended that spectators attending games do so in groups of no more than six people, all of whom should be socially distancing from each other. The focus at this stage is keeping participants actively playing football on the pitch wherever we can.
It is imperative that you do not attend or participate if you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, are awaiting a test result or are part of a household which is self-isolating. Please remember to consider Government messaging regarding ‘Hands. Face. Space.’
More detail on the NHS QR code requirements is contained in the updated FAQs, which can be viewed by clicking on the box below.
CLICK HERE FOR MUCKLE'S ADVICE TO CHARTER STANDARD CLUBS IMPACTED BY COVID-19
For full FA COVID-19 Guidance
