Full set of FA guides for clubs returning from Covid-19 to play outdoor grassroots football is here.

Some of the key points from these guidelines are :

• 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;

• Clubs 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 officials 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;

• Youth football coaches 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, coaches should only handle equipment in training;

• 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;

• 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

• Clubs should keep a record of attendees at a match or training session, including contact details, to support NHS Test and Trace;

• Clubs should ensure they are affiliated with their County Football Association.

The playing season is due to start on 13th September 2020 and 49 clubs are expected to be fielding teams. As usual, most of these clubs will have multiple teams to cover several age groups.

We are still open for team affiliations for 2020/2021 season. Although we would have expected next season’s teams to have affiliated by now, we are keeping the door open. So if you think you’ll have a team able to play next season please ask your club secretary to contact the SBMSC League secretary in the normal way.

The SBMSC AGM was delayed from its normal slot in June due to Coronavirus, but it went ahead in August.

SBMSC will not be running Fairplay this season and fixtures will be published on FA Full Time. Communication between secretaries will be carried out by email so this website will be mothballed as time progresses.

We welcome the Premier League, The FA and the Government through Sport England, making a second wave of funding available through their Football Foundation. Our member clubs should apply before the 19 July deadline. (Yes, that’s three days longer than I tweeted on our twitter feed earlier -sorry).

This time the funding is to enable clubs to satisfy extra hygiene measures that Government guidance requires to exit the Covid-19 lockdown and return to playing football. This includes:

• The installation of hygiene facilities such as hand sanitiser dispensers, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and waste bins
• Modifications such as safety screening, contactless payment systems and signage
• Facility maintenance work, such as repairing hand basins and hot water provision
• Professional inspections that may be necessary due to the prolonged period of closure resulting from the pandemic – including inspections of water quality, gas and ventilation.

Apply online directly to FootballFoundation

Existing eligible Pitch Preparation Fund and Enhanced Grass Pitch Maintenance applicants can apply for their £500 grant directly from their current Football Foundation Account.
If you haven’t received Pitch Preparation funding or applied to the Enhanced Grass Pitch Maintenance scheme, you can start a new application.

In an advisory capacity the SBMSC wishes to state that in the interests of health and safety and for the foreseeable future the normal Respect handshakes are not to be done at any time in SBMSC games. This would apply to coaching staff, players and parents.