Please find below all documents relevant for restarting and maintaining schools’ football activity
A summary of key points to consider from our guidelines are listed for ease below:
- 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;
- Associations, schools and facility providers should ensure that their facility is compliant with current Government legislation and guidance related to COVID-19;
- 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 staff 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;
- Football coaches and teachers 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, teachers and coaches should only handle equipment in training;
- Associations: 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. Schools should follow approved guidelines relating to changing facilities regarding PE lessons and inter-school matches
- 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. If mini-bus or coach travel is absolutely necessary please follow advice contained within the guidance document below
- Associations and schools should keep a record of attendees at a match or training session, including contact details, to support NHS Test and Trace
The FA’s live Q&A transcript post “rule of 6” announcement (September 2020)
ESFA Guidance Document:
Summary of FA Guidance:
The FA’s Risk Assessment:
The FA’s First Aid Guidance:
The FA’s FAQ Document:
The FA’s Guidance for Outdoor Facilities:
The FA’s Guidance for Referees
*Please note: you should also be completing the ESFA standard risk assessment document as well as COVID-19 risk assessments for all activity. These documents are available to download here.