Covid-19 Method Statement and Risk Assessment V3 20.08.20
Session/Game Location
Any location arranged by the club, managers or coaches and notified to the parents and/or players
Work Area
Training area as allocated to specific team and group – see attached schedule and plan teams to inform the club of the date, venue and time of any session or game
Prepared by
David Spencer, Shirebrook Town FC
Date
01.08.20
Review Date
1st September 2020 or before if required by revised government advice
Distribution
a) Copy to all Players
b) Copy to Parents of Players under the age of 18
c) Copy to all Managers/Coaches

I confirm that I understand and will train/play in accordance with the method statement and risk assessment:
Players name
Signature
Date

Telephone no
Address

Parents Name (if applicable)
Signature
Date

Coaches Name
Signature
Date

Following the changes to the FA’s guidelines released on 18th July Coaches, Players and Parents are asked to follow the Method statement and Risk Assessment for the return to contact training and games

Page one to be returned to the coaching staff and then kept on file by the club secretary

Page two onwards to be retained by the player.
COVID-19 Method statement.
Sequence of events/Description of Methods/stage of process
Prior to training or games
· Everyone should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19 before every training session or game. If you are symptomatic or live in a household with someone who is, you must not participate or attend.
· Participants should always follow the Government’s/FA’s guidelines .
· If in doubt, or you are not comfortable about returning to contact training then there is no pressure to do so.
· “Parents of players under the age of 18 years old” by signing and accepting this method statement are giving permission for their child to participate in training and games. No players can take part until a form has been completed.
· All players to ensure the player have appropriate equipment including hand sanitiser and any other personal protective equipment they choose to wear.
· Coaches to check for any visible symptoms of COVID-19 and not allow anyone who is unwell to train/play.
· The club will monitor any changes to the Government and FA advice and guidance and will continually monitor and change where necessary.
· The club will ensure compliance is been implemented by teams. This may include visits to training sessions/games by members of club’s management committee.
· Teams are to collect and document the name and contact number of participants for each session or game, Track and Trace. This information to be kept for 21 days by Managers before being destroyed. Upon request this information must be passed to NHS Track and Trace and/or the club.
· All teams are to inform the club of the day, time and venue of any scheduled training sessions/games.
· Teams should manage any risk around training venues, ensuring social distancing is being observed especially where members of the general public are likely to be. Before and during training sessions and games
Before and during training sessions and games
· Upon arrival at any venue participants should not have contact with other groups from different teams or clubs they will proceed straight to their designated area.
· Coaches to stay more than 2 metres away from all players during sessions and games.
· Players to have a designated area for their personal belongings all of which should not be shared

Before and during training sessions and games continued
· Changing rooms are not to be used at any venues, all players must come to all venues already changed into their playing kit and ready to play.
· Any toilets are to be used following any guidance provided at each individual venue.
· 2 metre social distancing should be observed during any warmup and cool down activities.
· Players to bring their own water bottles and their own hand sanitiser which must not be shared with anyone else.
· Any spectators (club officials) must be restricted to a six-person gathering in line with the wider government guidelines.
· During sessions coaches to limit the persistent close proximity of players by limiting activities where this maybe likely to happen.
· Coaches to provide regular hygiene breaks to participants.
· During coaching instructions/breaks in play players are to adhere to the general social distancing guidelines.
· Players are to avoid handling the ball during training sessions (no throw in’s) Players are to fetch any errant balls themselves. Spectators / Club officials should not handle any balls to return them to the group this should be left for the players/coaches
· No spitting
· If a participant is injured and a member of their household is in attendance, they should be encouraged to assist the player. If not, the coach can attend to the player but should wear a face covering if they need to compromise social distancing guidelines to provide medical assistance.
After session or game
· The coach will discuss and reflect on the session or game from a safe distance and the Players to follow the 2 metre social distancing guidelines.
· Players and officials should not have contact with other teams or groups and should disperse from the venue immediately at the end of the session/game.
· Equipment to be sanitised after each session, where possible balls to be sanitised during sessions and games.

Coaches Responsibilities
All coaches will have had discussions with the club and will have read the relevant FA guidance.
Coaches will sign the method statement and risk assessment confirming their understanding of the FA guidance.
Coaches will always ensure a safe system of working in line with the method statement.
Coaches will constantly review the in-play situation and that the relevant social distancing is been adhered to. If not, they must abandon the session or game.
Emergency procedure
Government guidelines will always be adhered to.
If this method statement and risk assessment is compromised at any time all sessions /games will be stopped immediately and a review undertaken.
Monitoring and compliance of the Method statement and Risk Assessment
Compliance with this method statement and Risk Assessment will be undertaken by the Officers of the club.
Assessment of significant risks
This method statement should be read in conjunction with the attached Risk Assessment

Updated - FA Statement

The Football Association [The FA] has today issued updated guidelines for the National League System [NLS] and Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP] that include a phased and limited return of spectators for clubs at Steps 3-6 and Tiers 3-4 respectively.
The FA worked continuously alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], the Sports Grounds Safety Authority [SGSA] and leagues to submit detailed proposals for a phased and limited return of spectators at these levels to the UK Government.
The DCMS has now clarified its guidance on the return to recreational team sport and clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP are permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators to fixtures. However, they must follow the UK Government’s guidance in relation to Covid-19 and The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS or WFP respectively.
In addition, Regional NLS Feeder League clubs and clubs at Tiers 5-6 of the WFP are permitted to accommodate socially-distanced spectators in line with The FA’s guidelines for grassroots football.
All clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP are required to have a designated Covid-19 Officer; complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans; and arrange support for Track and Trace efforts before implementing the following:
Stage One:
• From 22 August 2020 to 30 August 2020, spectators are permitted to attend fixtures at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP, providing that their number does not exceed 15% of the minimum ground grading capacity at these levels or respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines;
• If a club at these levels does not play any fixtures during this period, it must have played at least one pre-season or competitive fixture in accordance with its respective level of spectators before moving on to Stage Two.
Stage Two:
• From 31 August 2020, clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP will be permitted to allow spectators to attend fixtures provided that their number does not exceed 30% of the minimum ground grading capacity at their level or the respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines. However, they must be satisfied that they have been able to comply with the Government’s guidance on the return to recreational team sport and The FA’s updated guidelines.
The phased and limited return of spectators at these levels will be kept under constant review in line with the UK Government’s guidelines and will be amended accordingly as required.
Please see The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS, WFP and grassroots for further information

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