Return to training

When we return to training from the 9th June, we will have to change some of our usual training practices to adhere to new social distancing guidelines.

Below are details of the new guidelines, if you have any questions, please contact the club.

Most importantly, please do not attend training if you have:
• been unwell or had any flu-like symptoms, or
• been in contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19, or
• any sudden loss of smell or loss of taste, or
• are at a high risk from a health perspective, including the elderly and those with pre-existing medical heath conditions.

What is permitted
• Training to be conducted in small groups (no more than 10 players and/or other personnel in total).
• Social distancing of 1.5m between players.
• Spacing so that there is no more than 1 person per 4m².
• Non-contact skill training drills - passing, shooting, headers.
• Some sharing of sporting equipment such as kicking a football, use of a skipping rope, weights, agility equipment.

What is not permitted
• Contact to contact playing skills such as tackling.
• Activities involving more than 10 people.

Responsibilities of players and parents
• Players must not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to training commencing, and if arriving by car, remain in the car until 5 minutes before training to avoid gatherings.
• Players are to come already prepared to train – changing rooms will not be in use.
• Players are to bring their own drink bottles and they are to be clearly labelled. No sharing of drink bottles is to be permitted.
• Players are to leave the venue immediately once their training session has concluded.
• Parents are encouraged to drop off players then leave and return for the completion of training. If parents wish to stay, they are encouraged to wait in their car, however if they are around the field, they must not be within the allocated training area, and must practice social distancing

Behaviour
• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash hands with soap and water often.
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
• No spitting at any time.
• Wipe down all surfaces and objects with appropriate anti-bacterial/disinfectant wipes or soap, particularly those frequently touched. This includes door handles, light switches, kitchen surfaces, bathroom surface, phones, remote controls and any other high touch areas.
• Do not share drink bottles.
• Practice social distancing. If someone comes and stand next to you, move around the field and ensure you implement social distancing requirements.

The club will also be undertaking measures to adhere to the new guidelines including
• Recording of attendance at training
• No person to person contact training drills to be conducted.
• No more than 10 people to be involved in the drill. For example, one coach, nine players.
• Social distancing to be implemented – 1.5m.
• 10 people to be in a spacing so that there is no more than 1 person per 4m².
• Any handling of equipment is to be kept to a minimum.
• Heading of a ball may occur during the natural process of a drill, for example a ball being crossed. However, practising of heading by picking up the ball and throwing should be discouraged.
• Throw ins are to be discouraged.
• No usage of changerooms, gym, wet or inside areas.
• Only essential people are to attend training sessions (i.e. players, coaches, and volunteers involved in operations and one parents/carer of participants).
• Spectators are not permitted. One Parents/caregivers is permitted for supervision purposes and if feasible they are encouraged to wait in car / outside venue to avoid gatherings.
• If training bibs are used, each individual player is to be allocated a bib and each player is required to take the bib home and wash.
• Regular breaks are to be provided for the purpose of rehydrating and hand sanitising.
• Players are to enter and leave the pitch and venue in a coordinated manner minimising contact with others and not gathering in large groups.
• No social activity is to occur once training has concluded.