Updated guidance on grassroots football during Covid 19 from 4 July
New Guidance Documents Issued for Re-starting Football Activity During Covid-19
The FA have today issued new guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators, parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity during Covid-19. (4th July)
Following recent Government updates to the Covid-19 guidance, we have updated guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators including clubs, parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity from the 4th July. These are available for download below, along with some practical tips for coaches working with individuals, pairs, and in threes.
These guidelines have been produced in line with the recent Government updates to the Covid-19 guidance. Specifically, these documents have been updated to reflect changes to social distancing guidelines which will come into effect from the 4th July and the introduction of support bubbles which came into effect on the 10th June. The Government guidance for the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation can be found here.
The FA continue to be in active discussions with other team sports, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about how we can secure a safe return to competitive grassroots football as soon as is reasonably possible. We will keep you updated as these discussions progress and provide amended guidance as and when we can.
Thank you for playing your vital part in helping our great game get going again and let’s continue to work together to ensure football’s return is as smooth and safe as possible.
Please visit our dedicated web portal on The FA website to access coronavirus information and updates here.
Download the Restart of Football Guidance (12 June)
Visit the FA.com for further guidance
A summary of the guidance from 1 June 2020 is below.
Consistent with Government advice, the following outdoor football activity is currently permitted:
• playing football individually. For example, practice of individual skills or fitness activities;
• playing football with your family or other people living in your household;
• football training or fitness activities in groups of no more than six, keeping two metres apart at all times.
Sharing of equipment should be kept to a minimum and strong hand hygiene practices should be in place before and after. Physical contact with anyone outside of your household is not permitted, therefore playing of any games (small-sided or full) is also not permitted at this time. Avoid meeting in groups of six in busy or overcrowded areas if it is so busy that it is not possible to maintain social distancing at all times.
Football coaches can now undertake small group sessions up to six people (including the coach) but are reminded to follow FA safeguarding policy when coaching/working with children. This must include risk assessing the activities, gaining consent from parents/carers and ensuring you are in sight of another adult. For example, a parent/carer or another coach and that the ratio of coach to different age-groups of children is appropriate – see download 5.5. For clarity, the additional parent/carer or coach is not included as part of the group of six but must remain in sight of the activity.
It is permissible for coaches to organise a training session that has two or more groups of six (including the coach) involved in the session, as long as the groups of six are kept separate, everyone is socially distancing and strict hygiene measures are in place with any equipment.
Football coaches working with people with impairments must ensure they can adequately cater for any additional needs whilst still avoiding physical contact and maintaining social distancing. Individuals should follow Government guidance relevant to their own impairment or health condition.
Please be reminded, if an individual is symptomatic, living in a household with a possible COVID-19 infection or if you're classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, the guidance is that you should remain at home.
The FA will continue to work closely with DCMS and Sport England in order to set out good practice guidance for those responsible for delivering different aspects of grassroots football and we will provide further updates to as guidance information is shared.