The FA have recently issued updated guidance for ‘Grassroots’ football in England following confirmation from the UK Government that organised sports can return.

From Monday 29th March, as part of the next stage of the Government’s roadmap out of national lockdown, outdoor sports facilities can open, and organised outdoor football can take place. As a club we plan to restart the remainder of the season from this date.

The FA have now updated their guidance, based on the latest Government advice available. If there are any further updates from the Government, we will communicate these in due course. We will also update our guidance as we move through the different steps of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown but it is extremely important that our club, 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.

With that news we have be discussing preparations as a club with our members, as to what this will look like for our club.

Following Wednesday nights committee meeting and feedback from our teams and parents, we have decided to have a mixed return based on this feedback and some current situations regarding isolation, positions with other clubs and our leagues etc.
The individual team details will be communicated out to you all via the team managers. We will also be updating our website to reflect these decisions on training and match restarting, all of which could be subject to change, so keep an eye on Pitchero App and the club website.

To ensure that everyone is fully briefed on what a return means at this time EVERYONE must review and familiarise themselves and discuss with their children the guidelines laid out by Government, The FA & The Club.
Each parent MUST also confirm they are happy for their Child to Return by contacting the team manager and responding to the updated Pitchero membership forms within your profiles.

The FA guidelines can be found on the Somerset FA website & our club guide and Risk Assessments have been updated to reflect Restart 3.0 and can be found in our COVID-19 & Return to Football page.

There are some key points and changes in this restart and these are laid out in these documents or via linked documents and information on our website.

Travel 
The Government guidance on travel is that the ‘stay at home’ rule will end on Monday 29 March, but many restrictions will remain in place. As organised sport can resume, all participants may travel to games but should avoid travel at the busiest times and routes, as well as minimising any unnecessary journeys where possible. All participants must follow the government’s guidance on safer travel .

Changing rooms 
Changing rooms cannot be used as part of step one in the roadmap out of lockdown and must remain shut. Toilets, where applicable will be allowed to open, 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after training and/or matches. All government guidance on hygiene and social distancing measures must be followed.

Spectators 
No spectators are allowed at grassroots football as part of step one of the Government’s roadmap. One parent or guardian per child is permitted, where clubs and facilities can safely accommodate this and following all appropriate guidance.

Indoor football 
Indoor sport is not currently allowed. This is planned to return no earlier than the 17th May, as part of step three of the Government’s roadmap, apart from disability football, which is currently allowed to take place indoors.

All clubs are required to have a designated COVID-19 officer; which for us is Darrel Conibeer; complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans; and continue to support Test and Trace efforts, all of which, as a club we still have in place.

We implore everyone to continue to strictly follow the UK Government’s national COVID-19 restrictions. Any incidents of non-compliance will be reported in accordance with our guidelines.

We would like to thank everyone in our Club community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period for both the game and wider society.

As always if ANYONE has a question or query please contact the club, team manager, our Chairman Ben Adams, Welfare Officer Dan Jefferies or Darrel Conibeer & COVID-19 team directly via Pitchero App or the Website Contacts Page.

#StaySafe

Kind Regards

Burnbridge Wanderers JFC

#BWJFC #youublues.