Covid-19 Risk Assessment

Further to the FA’s first publication relating to Covid on 18^th July, every club must carry out a risk assessment specific to Covid-19. The potential risks to club members and the measures proposed to counter these risks are outlined below.

This is specifically aimed at managers, coaches, players & spectators (participants) of our adult and youth teams as we compete in outdoor competitive football matches/training sessions.

This risk assessment has been updated in line with the new regulations issued by the Government on 23 March 2021 with relation to the return to team sports and grassroots football and with the updated FA guidelines published on 24 March 2021.

As a general rule, all participants (managers, coaches and players) are asked to read the current FA guidelines thoroughly before attending any football activity.

At this point in time, all training and match activities are taking place outdoors; no changing facilities or showers are available (and will not be available until September 2021 at the earliest), our clubhouse will be open only for access to toilets.  No refreshments can be served indoors until after 12 April 2021.

As new guidelines are published, this risk assessment will be revised accordingly and re-published.

If you have any queries regarding this risk assessment, please contact either Caroline Davies (carolinejdavies@gmail.com) or Alan Black (alan_black48@hotmail.com), who are acting as our Covid-19 Officers.

Risk: Participants do not understand or have not read the current Covid-19 guidelines.

                Measures:

• Coaches are encouraged to reinforce the guidelines in person to the whole group before the first session and participants encouraged to ask questions of anything they are unsure of.
• This exercise may have to be repeated if the guidelines are not being followed.
• The Covid-19 Officers will be available to assist with any queries as and when required.

Risk: Someone either exhibits Covid-19 symptoms before football activity, has tested positive for Covid-19 or is asked to self-isolate due to potential contact with Covid-19

                Measures:

• Contact details are to be maintained for all participants and attendance at all training sessions or matches noted.
• All participants are encouraged to report any Covid-19 symptoms, positive Covid-19 test results or contact from the health services asking that they self-isolate to their manager/coach immediately. This also needs to be reported to the club Covid-19 Officers asap, who will contact the health services and take advice from them.
• Participants with either Covid-19 symptoms, having tested positive or advised to self-isolate should NOT attend any football activity.
• Youth players who have been excluded from School to self-isolate must do so for a minimum period of 10 days.  Players can only return to match play or training once that player has returned to School.  This may mean that exclusion from football is for a period of longer than 10 days.  Once the player has returned to attending School, the player can then return to football coaching/matches for Chipstead.

Risk: A participant exhibits Covid-19 symptoms during football activity

                Measures:

• The participant needs to immediately socially distance themselves from all others in line with government guidelines and report to the NHS test and trace system.
• The club Covid-19 Officers are also to be advised immediately to enable advice to be sought from the health services.

Risk: How do we contact participants to comply with the NHS Test & Trace

                Measures:

• "Match Participants" has now been expanded to include spectators. 
• All spectators are now requested to "scan" the NHS Test and Trace QR code upon arrival at the venue.  Anyone over the age of 16 should register their visit and individuals are encouraged to register (not just a family representative). Where the code is unable to be scanned, they MUST sign a manual register of attendance supplied by each team.  This information must be collected at each fixture/training session.
• Attendees at Chipstead Recreation Ground, Halstead Recreation Ground, Chipstead Common, New Beacon or Knole Academy, the QR Code has been provided by the relevant Parish Council/School and will be on display at these venues, usually by the entrance to the pitch or pavilion.
• Coaches using Brasted Recreation Ground and Chevening School will be issued with their own QR Code for that training/match venue which is to be used for any parent/spectator to scan on arrival at the venue.
• There is a QR code available at every Chipstead training or match venue.

Risk: Participants feel pressured into returning to football before they are ready

                Measures:

• Coaches are to make it quite clear that players are under no pressure to return to football if they do not feel it is safe. It is entirely their decision and that decision must be respected by the club.
• Equally, if a coach does not feel ready to return at this stage, they are under no pressure to do so and under no obligation to provide training sessions.

Risk: Participants may have health conditions that make them particularly at risk from Covid-19

                Measures:

• Participant must make the coach aware of any health conditions that may put them at higher risk of contracting Covid-19.
• The club Covid-19 Officers are also to be notified so that they can seek advice from the health services.

Risk: Transmission of Covid-19 through close contact with others, either during football activity or travel to/from the venue.

                Measures:

• Prior to entering any pitch at any venue for matches or training, every Coach & player must have a temperature check to enable them to participate.  Non-contact infrared body thermometers have been provided to every Head Coach by the Club. Any Amber or Red readings will mean that this person cannot continue with the session/match and must return home.
• All participants are asked to maintain social distancing, in line with the current FA and government guidance, when not on the field of play (ie. during warmups, drinks breaks, before and after training sessions or matches or observing play from within the technical area or touchline).
• Participants and officials should sanitise their hands before and after a game, as well as scheduled breaks throughout a game or training session.
• There should be no more than 6 people maximum in the technical area at any one time and a 2m social distance rule should always be observed. Therefore, if there are 2 coaches on the touchline there must be no more than 4 substitutes.  If you have more than 4 substitutes, they must be positioned away from the group of 6 further along the touchline.  Substitutes can be brought on at the regular hand sanitizer breaks.

• Participants must not spit and should avoid shouting or raising their voices when facing each other. Goal celebrations should be avoided.
• Participants and match officials should arrive changed and shower at home.
• Participants should follow best practice for travel, minimising the use of public transport and car sharing (unless from the same household or support bubble).
• First aiders are to be provided with the appropriate PPE (including face coverings and gloves) to protect themselves and others if they need to compromise social distancing guidelines to provide medical assistance. After contact with an injured participant, the first aider should clean their hands thoroughly with soap and water or apply hand sanitiser at the earliest opportunity.
• A one-way system is in operation within the clubhouse for using toilets. Signage is in place reminding participants of good hygiene and social distancing practices.
• Only 1 parent/carer is permitted to attend a training session or match per youth player until further notice. The only exemption is for Chipstead Club Officers (CWO or Covid Officers) and Coaches.
• Supporters and spectators are to remain socially distanced when attending events. Groups are restricted to no more than six and must be spread out, in line with government guidelines.
• Face coverings must be worn by any customer/parent/spectator in hospitality areas - i.e. the Social area at the Pavilion.  Exemptions are the Under 11s. 
• Staff must also wear a face covering.
• There is to be no congregating in the social area - all food and drinks must be consumed outside. 
• The Pavilion is open as a thoroughfare for toilet use and to purchase refreshments only.  There are 2 x one-way systems in place for these specific purposes.  

Risk: Transmission of Covid-19 through touching shared equipment.

                Measures:

• Ideally participants should bring their own hand sanitiser and drinks bottle. Coaches will have a separate supply of hand sanitisers and can apply where someone has forgotten to bring theirs.
• Coaches are to ensure equipment is not shared unnecessarily and that any shared equipment is sanitised before and after all football activity (ie. footballs, poles, cones and portable goals) as well as during activity if required (i.e. a ball prior to throw ins).
• Match day equipment, such as flagpoles, goal posts and pitch barriers, also have to be sanitised before and after matches and at half time.
• Participants are asked to store personal items, kit and drinks separately from other participants.
• If bibs or warm up tops are used, they must be washed before and after each session/match. Bibs and other kit must NOT be shared between players without being thoroughly washed in between.
• The team first aider has sole responsibility for handling the first aid bag, which must be sanitised before and after each session/match.
• Participants must regularly use hand sanitiser, especially before and after handling equipment.
• The clubhouse will be de-sanitised and cleaned after use by each team or group.