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Jersey FA provides guidance on club training sessions and confirms cup cancellations

"This is a step in the right direction, however we want to be clear that this should not be seen as a full return to football"

The Jersey Football Association has today (12th June 2020) released updated guidance for local football clubs and their coaches about permitted outdoor training activity, as the island enters Level 2 of the Lockdown Safe Exit Strategy.

The guidance, produced in conjunction with the FA, Jersey Sport and the Government of Jersey allows structured, organised club sessions to have up to 40 people in attendance at one time.

There are however a series of measures which clubs and coaches must take before, during and after training sessions. These include creating detailed risk assessments, implementing cleaning regimes and ensuring equipment sharing is kept to a minimum.

Matches are not permitted as everyone must stay at least two metres away from those they don’t live with, in line with Government of Jersey policy.

Changing rooms should not be used, unless for toilet access or emergency first aid. Showers should not be accessible, and players and coaches should arrive already in their kit.

In clubhouses, only designated social areas such as bars and lounges should be used, and with strict physical distancing in place.

“It is great news for local football that clubs can now start preparing for next season,” said Jersey FA CEO David Kennedy. “Everyone has been desperate to get back playing and this is a step in the right direction, however we want to be clear that this should not be seen as a full return to football and playing matches is still not allowed.

“We realise that many people are missing the game hugely and will be keen to get their boots on again, but it must be done in the right, controlled way with the relevant measures.

“We need all clubs, coaches and players to follow the guidelines carefully. Any breaching of the rules will potentially endanger health, delay the full resumption of football and prolong the wait until the start of next season.”

Coaches and club officials should read the guidance on the Jersey FA and Jersey Sport websites before running any sessions.

The Jersey FA is also today confirming that the remaining 2019-20 domestic cup competition matches will not be played and are cancelled.

It had originally been hoped to play the fixtures if it was safe to do so by the 1st July deadline. However, it is increasingly clear that physical distancing requirements mean that will not be possible, and the JFA Board has voted to cancel all the remaining fixtures.

David Kennedy added: “We understand this will be particularly disappointing for those teams who’d worked hard to reach the finals and latter stages of the cups. It is inevitable though that contact sports such as football will be amongst the last to resume.

“During the early stages of the COVID-19 breakout, we deferred the decision on cup competitions in the hope that if it was safe to resume football by the start of July we would try to complete them. However, with the latest Government of Jersey guidelines requiring continued physical distancing, it will not be possible to stage these games and any further delays will impact the start date of the already condensed 2020-21 season.

“We’ve already seen a busy start to player registration for next season, including a number of individuals switching clubs. In the junior competitions’ players will potentially move into different age brackets and some managers have also moved on to different teams.”

Clubs with further questions about the training guidelines should contact Jersey FA CEO David Kennedy

Read the Level 2 Guidelines for football in Jersey

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