Coronavirus

COVID-19 - Updated Information for Clubs

Updated information for Jersey clubs relating to COVID-19.

As we enter the second half of the season and after the festive break, there has been an increase to the number of enquiries received relating to COVID-19.
 
The Jersey FA (JFA) continue to monitor, adapt and fall into line to with the Government of Jersey (GOJ) Winter strategy regarding COVID-19. Following the continued good work completed in Clubs, this has allowed the league programme to be in the best possible position to manage any disruptions. 

The Competition Committee (CC) are keen to ensure that matches are completed as per the schedule, to ensure we avoid another prolonged season and a congested pre-season for the 2022-23 season. The committee do acknowledge that there has been an increase in active cases within the island, which will have a knock on effect with players potentially having to isolate. Public Health continues to be a priority for the JFA, along with the safety of our members. With that in mind, I have detailed below some updated guidance and also the process for requesting a match to be postponed.

Positive Cases & Direct Contacts

1. If an individual has received any of the following, they should not be attending any football related activities, until the relevant process has been followed/completed as per GOJ guidance.

Positive PCR test result

Positive lateral flow test is confirmed as positive

Direct Contact with symptoms

Anyone with symptoms (as listed on the GOJ website)

2. If an individual has received confirmation or are anticipating they are a direct contact, with no symptoms, you are not required to legally isolate and based on the current GOJ process, can attend outdoor sporting events.

Full details can be found at the GOJ website below and I would encourage Clubs to review the guidance on a regular basis:

Positive cases, direct contacts and isolating with COVID-19 (gov.je)

Procedure to Postpone a Match

U11-U14 Group Matches:

• The relevant Club should touch base with the opposition and send their request to postpone the match, along with rationale based on point 1 above, to Steve Landick (stevelandick@gmail.com) and Mark Le Cornu (marksunwaye@gmail.com). Assuming the postponement is agreed, any re-arrangement of the fixture can be agreed with the Clubs directly, at a mutually convenient time, date and venue.

U15, U16, U18, Open Age + O35s League Matches and All Cups (All Age Groups):

• If a team has 4 or more players that meet the criteria detailed in point 1 above, please send your request to postpone the match, along with rationale to Steve Landick and Mark Le Cornu. A decision will be made by the CC, taking into account, the number of players affected, the rationale provided, the number of registered players within that club and that would qualify to play in the highlighted match(es), in addition to the amount of matches being played by that clubs on match day.

Please note that the CC would not normally take into account players that are injured or unavailable for alternative reasons. There is a separate process for any school/education trips.

If the Club Secretary is not making the request, please can you ensure they are copied into any communication sent to the CC.

Updated Guidance

Please see below the latest update from the Government of Jersey and I have listed below some highlights:

• Masks are a legal requirement in indoor/changing room facilities for anyone aged over 12 – please refer to the Government of Jersey website for specifics and exemptions.
• Collection of Contact Tracing details of anyone using indoor facilities are now a legal requirement.

Please refer to the guidance and you can reach out to the COVID Safe Team if you need any support - covidteam@gov.je

Advice for businesses (gov.je)

“Indoor and outdoor sport, fitness and physical activity

An updated risk assessment should be completed detailing how to safely operate. Risk assessments should include the general principles outlined in the above Advice to All Businesses section to ensure appropriate steps are taken to mitigate identified risks and comply with relevant legislation.

From Tuesday 4 January, under the COVID-19 (Workplace Restrictions) (Jersey) Regulations 2020, staff must wear a mask except for when they are working in a part of the facility being used for sport, dance or exercise.

There is a legal requirement to collect contact tracing details of customers using indoor physical activity and sport facilities.”


In order to mitigate any risk during football activities, Clubs may wish to recommend their members to:

• subscribe to the GOJ Lateral Flow Testing scheme and complete a test prior to training/matchday.
• review their risk assessments for club house and changing room usage, to manage any potential contact tracing requirements.

Any questions from a football perspective, please can these be routed via yourself as Club Secretary to info@jerseyfa.com