The Government has now removed all remaining Covid-19 protocols. From Thursday 24th February:

* People will not be legally required to self-isolate if they test positive for Covid-19. However, the Government advises that they should stay at home if possible and avoid contact with other people.

* People will not have to take daily tests or be legally required to self-isolate following contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Government has also confirmed that sport-specific Covid-19 guidance is no longer required. There are still steps you can take to reduce the risk of catching and spreading Covid-19:

1. Get vaccinated
2. Let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside
3. Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces
4. Get tested if you have Covid-19 symptoms, and stay at home if positive

The FA urges all participants to continue to follow this Government advice to protect themselves and others.

The FA and the Essex County FA want to take this opportunity to thank all of our football family for their hard work and support over the last two years, through the pandemic and a number of lockdowns. It is down to the tireless work of volunteers, coaches and officials that the game has been able to come back as strongly as it has.

You can find further information on Covid-19 in the Government’s plan for Living with Covid.

The FA’s guidance has been updated to reflect the Government’s removal of 'Plan B' restrictions which were put in place in December 2021, in response to the risks of the Omicron variant. Please note that there is no material impact on the playing of grassroots football at this time and we want to thank you in advance for continuing to play a vital role in helping our great game to stay safe.

By observing Government guidance and the football-specific protocols, let’s work together to ensure we can all continue to enjoy football while keeping as safe as possible. The FA continue to work closely with Government to monitor the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and will update the guidance documents with any further changes, as and when necessary. You can download The FA's guidance documents below.

The FA has updated its Covid-19 guidance to reflect the Government’s move to Plan B of its Covid Autumn/Winter Plan, in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

There is no material impact on the playing of grassroots football at this stage, and we want to thank you in advance for playing a vital role in helping our great game to stay safe.

By observing Government guidance and the football-specific protocols set out in the documents below, let’s work together to ensure we can all continue to enjoy football while keeping as safe as possible.

The FA continues to work closely with Government to monitor the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and will update guidance documents with any further changes, as and when necessary. This will be reflected by Essex FA on this page, as well as being available on The FA's website here.

The FA have updated the summary guide and grassroots return to football guidance to reflect changes to the rules on self-isolation, which came into effect on Monday 16th August.

The changes mean that under 18s and those who are 'double-jabbed' no longer need to self-isolate if they come into close contact with someone with Covid-19, although they are advised to do a PCR test immediately. The updated guidance can be found below, and also on The FA's website here.

The FA have provided an update on ‘non-elite’ football in advance of Step 4 of the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap.

On Monday 19th July, England will move to Step 4 of its roadmap in easing Covid-19 restrictions. This means that almost all legal restrictions of social contact will be removed. However, the Government is encouraging people to act with caution. The FA’s guidance has, therefore, been updated to reflect this.

This updated guidance, which covers Steps 3-6 of the National League System (NLS), Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid and grassroots football (including Regional NLS Feeder Leagues), comes into effect on Monday 19th July and, until then, all participants should follow The FA’s guidance for Step 3 which can be found here. You can also read the Government guidance here.

The full guidance document can be downloaded below, and should be referred to for further details. The summary key points are:

1. On-field adaptions for playing football are no longer required
2. No limits of how many people can meet
3. 1m plus rule removed
4. The definition of close contact remains the same. However, the rules on self-isolation will be changing from Monday 16th August
5. Face coverings no longer required by law, but recommended in crowded indoor settings and may be mandated by some clubs or facility providers
6. Changing rooms can be used. However, participants should use their own judgement and minimise use where possible to avoid close contact in a crowded area for a prolonged time
7. No capacity limits for spectators, but good practice is encouraged
8. Hospitality is permitted without restrictions
9. NHS Test and Trace QR codes not required by law, but encouraged
10. Free NHS lateral flow testing is available to clubs, and The FA encourage clubs to take this up
11. No domestic travel restrictions. Participants should continue to follow Government advice on international travel for any fixtures/ tournaments

This guidance document applies to all youth and adult football and Futsal, including all formats of the game, both indoors and outdoors.

The FA and the Essex County FA would like to thank you once again for playing your part in helping to get our game going again. By observing Government guidance and the football-specific protocols, we can look forward to ensuring the transition back to enjoying football is as smooth and safe as possible.

The Football Association have provided an update on ‘non-elite’ football in advance of Step 3 of the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap.

On Monday 17th May, as part of the next step of the Government’s roadmap out of national lockdown, there will be further changes to the restrictions on ‘non-elite’ football. The FA’s guidance has, therefore, been updated to reflect this. The key changes to note are in relation to spectators, indoor hospitality and indoor football and Futsal.

The updated guidance comes into effect on Monday 17th May and, until then, all participants should follow The FA’s guidance for Step 2 which can be found here. You can read the Government guidance here. The key changes to be aware of are:

Spectators

From Step 3, spectators will be permitted to view events on both public and private land but need to adhere to social distancing rules and social gathering limits set at groups of 30 outdoors and six people/two households indoors. Please note that multiple numbers of these group sizes are permitted as long as social distancing rules are followed.

Spectators are allowed indoors, but the total number of all participants, coaches, officials and spectators must comply with the ventilation rates permitted by the particular venue. You can find more information about this here.

At larger events, capacity limits for spectators, set by the Government will apply. For indoor events, this is 1,000 or 50% of capacity and, for outdoor events, this is 4,000 or 50% of capacity (whichever is lower in both cases).

Indoor Hospitality

As part of Step 3 of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, both outdoor and indoor hospitality at ‘non-elite’ football is permitted. All participants must follow Government guidance on hospitality settings and specific advice for sport facility operators, available on the Government’s website. People using clubhouses and hospitality facilities must adhere to legal gathering limits and wider Government guidance.

Indoor Football and Futsal

From Step 3, indoor gatherings of either six people (the ‘rule of six’) or two households can take place. This means that organised indoor adults’ and children’s football can return.

For organised indoor sport and physical activity, there is no limit on group numbers so long as people adhere to capacity restrictions on indoor facilities. The maximum occupancy of each indoor facility should be limited by providing a minimum of 100 square ft per person.

This guidance applies to all youth and adult football and Futsal, including all formats of the game. If there are any further updates from the Government, The FA will communicate these in due course and will continue to update their guidance as we move through the different steps of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance should be reported to the local County Football Association.

Please find below a Covid-19 update from our Safeguarding Department:

How does The FA's guidance affect safeguarding?

Following the recent announcements and guidance issued by The FA on the resumption of grassroots football, please see below some of the factors in the Covid-19 Safeguarding Risk Assessment Guidance published on 18th July 2020. For more details, please refer to Update 24 on this Covid-19 web page.

* consent document for parent/carers (must be filled in for children aged 15 and under. The FA supports informed, written self-consent form those aged 16 and 17. In these unusual times, clubs may wish to gain consent from parents/carers as well
* template risk assessment
* water bottles/sanitiser etc should all be named and taken to the football activity and left in a certain place only for that child
* players should arrive in kit, where possible
* a screen document is available
* registers should be taken, enabling track and trace

Face-to-Face Identity (ID) Document Verification for DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Checks

Verification of FA DBSs may now resume, and guidance is available for clubs to consider. Club committee members may be verifiers of checks and, if you wish to add a new verifier, please send your club details and the name of the new verifier to fachecks@gbgplc.com (please remember to state whether this is a new or additional verifier for the club).

We are working to support applications where we need to be the verifier, and further details will be shared.  Details for appointments have recently been shared here.

What if I have a safeguarding concern for an under-18 or adult at risk?

The normal processes still apply. If you have an immediate concern outside of office hours, the police or another agency should be notified. The department is fully functioning, and can be reached via E-Mail or telephone. We stress that all normal reporting processes must continue, and that contact should be made immediately (or as soon as possible) to the department.

Guidance for Engaging with Children Aged Under 18 in Football - Virtual Interactions

We encourage all leagues and clubs to familiarise themselves with the most up-to-date guidance notes to keep abreast of best practice when engaging with children aged under 18 in football.

Online Procedures for Coaches/Managers
Online Tips for Parents/Carers

I’ve booked onto a Safeguarding Children Workshop or a Welfare Officer Workshop. What is happening regarding my workshop?

The Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Workshops are now available via The FA Boot Room. The Welfare Officer Workshop can be booked directly, as can the recertification for the Safeguarding Children Workshop, by following this link. The initial Safeguarding Children Workshop will be released shortly.

Workshops: How will this affect my/the club’s position for re-affiliation?

As all workshops are accessible, the criteria for affiliation will remain the same as for previous seasons. N.B. If you have a new Club Welfare Officer who does not hold a Safeguarding Children Workshop qualification, please liaise with the Safeguarding Department, who will be able to assist until the publication of the workshop.

Safeguarding Children Workshop - three years
Welfare Officer Workshop - does not have to be renewed after completion
Safeguarding for Committee Members - extended five years
DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) - three years (Please Note: FA DBSs which had an extension for a year during the first lockdown will not qualify for a further extension and must be renewed by the end date of the extension)

If you have previously completed a Safeguarding Children Workshop in person (three hours), for renewal purposes you will now complete the new online two-hour Safeguarding Children Workshop as the three-yearly renewal.

FA DBS

During the periods of lockdowns, The FA made some temporary changes to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks in football for the period for which football was suspended due to Covid-19, up to and including the start of the 2020/21 season. These changes are outlined below, and apply to all roles in football.

1. All volunteers carrying out regulated activity with under 18s (in accordance with DBS guidance) require an Enhanced DBS with a check of the Children’s Barring List before they commence their role within football. This is current practice, and will remain in place. For the avoidance of doubt, volunteers will not be permitted to carry out regulated activity with under 18s until they have obtained a FA DBS check.

2. FA DBS checks due for renewal between 1st October 2020 and 31st May 2021 will have a one-year extension. N.B. Any FA DBS which was awarded a one-year extension in the previous lockdown do not qualify for this further extension. The FA currently requires DBS checks to be renewed every three years, in accordance with industry standards and best practice. However, an informed decision has been made to extend that to four years, in these limited circumstances, on the basis of the current health crisis, associated difficulties in DBS check renewal and the fact that these individuals already hold a DBS check which has been accepted by The FA.

A. The FA’s proposals outlined above are applicable to all DBS checks completed through The FA.
B. The FA’s Whole Game System will be updated to reflect these changes.

Please note that the changes outlined above are temporary, and The FA reserves the right to review and amend the position, including to reflect changes in legislation and/or statutory guidance with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic. The above changes are made to support the footballing family in the immediate term and to support a return to football activity in the longer term whilst ensuring The FA’s commitment to safeguarding remains in place.

Can I arrange a face-to-face DBS verification?

Following The Football Association’s re-introduction of face-to-face FA DBS verification sessions, we are now able to support certain individuals needing to have their FA DBS verified.

These appointments are available at the County Office in Chelmsford for referees, Club Welfare Officers and, in certain cases, coaches. Any coach who is looking to renew or apply for their first check must approach the Club Welfare Officer of their club initially.

It is important to remember that the application form must be completed online prior to the verification appointment, and the correct identification documents are produced on the day (original documents only). Due to ongoing health and safety requirements, and in-line with Covid-19 guidelines, these appointments are for DBS verification only.

Once you’ve completed your DBS application, please follow this link to book a verification slot. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the contents, included in the booking. If you have any questions, contact the relevant member of Essex County FA staff. Should Government policy or guidance change, affecting these arrangements, any updates will be posted on our website.

What if my DBS expires?

As it is now possible for face-to-face verifications to take place, the FA DBS process may resume. We are in regular communication with The FA, and have received guidance on this process. We are aware that individuals will be receiving notifications of their DBS expiry date and will be looking to renew.

We are mindful that not all Welfare Officers may feel comfortable, at this stage, to conduct verifications and we would ask you for your understanding. For Welfare Officers who do not have another committee member to verify their FA DBS, the Essex County FA will look to support this.

How do I commence new, or renew an existing, DBS application?

You may already notice that, if your DBS is due to expire between 1st October 2020 and 31st May 2021, the expiry date on your FAN made have been updated. Please read the above section on FA DBS. We will continue to share all updates as well as the processes which will be put into place for DBS checks upon the return to football.

The FA has provided an update on grassroots football in advance of step two of the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap.

The Government has confirmed that, on Monday 12th April, we will enter Step Two of the roadmap. The FA’s guidance has, therefore, been updated to reflect the changes to national restrictions. The key changes to note are in relation to spectators, the use of changing rooms and outdoor hospitality.

Please note that this updated guidance comes into effect on Monday 12th April and, until then, all participants should follow The FA’s guidance for step one which can be found here, apart from the updated position on spectators (below), which the Government confirmed yesterday (Wednesday), and is effective immediately. You can read the Government guidance here.

Travel

As organised sport can resume, all participants may travel to games but should avoid travel at the busiest times and routes, as well as minimising any unnecessary journeys where possible. All participants must follow the Government’s guidance on safer travel.

Participants should note that this guidance will be updated as we move through the different steps of the Government’s roadmap. All participants should, therefore, regularly review this guidance to make sure they are following up-to-date information.

Changing Rooms

Changing rooms can be used as part of step two of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. However, participants should minimise their use of changing facilities where possible. Toilets will be allowed to open, 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after training and/or matches.

Spectators

On 7th April, the Government updated its guidance in relation to spectators, which can be found here. This confirms that, at step two and step one b, spectators are not permitted to attend sporting events taking place on private land, other than adults needed to supervise under 18s who they have a responsibility for or providing care or assistance to a person with disabilities.

They should maintain social distance and not mix with other households. This does not prevent people from viewing recreational or organised sport which is taking place in a public space (e.g. a park) at step one b or step two, in groups of up to six people, or two households.

However, sporting events which are intended to attract spectators (including ticketed football matches), or events which are likely to attract a significant number of spectators (e.g. matches which would attract a large crowd) should not take place in a public space, or on private land, until step three.

Parents/Carers

Where clubs and facilities can accommodate this safely, parents and carers are permitted to be present at football activities, although they must observe the relevant Government Covid-19 guidance, including those on gathering limits for spectators.

Indoor Football

As part of step two of the Government’s roadmap, indoor football for under 18s can take place in-line with Department for Education and Out of School Setting guidance. All participants should read and follow this guidance for all indoor football activities.

Disabled people can take part in organised outdoor and indoor football without being subject to social contact limits.

Indoor football for adults is not currently allowed. This is planned to return no earlier than Monday 17th May for adults, as part of step three of the Government’s roadmap.

Outdoor Hospitality

As part of step two of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, outdoor hospitality at grassroots football is permitted. All participants must follow Government guidance on hospitality settings and the specific advice for sport facility operators available on the Government’s website.

People using clubhouses and hospitality facilities must adhere to legal gathering limits and wider Government guidance. Please note that, while outdoor hospitality is permitted, spectators are not allowed at games unless on public land.

This guidance applies to all youth and adult football and Futsal, including all formats of the game. If there are any further updates from the Government, The FA will communicate these in due course and will continue to update their guidance as we move through the different steps of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance should be reported to the local County Football Association.

The FA have provided an update on the return of outdoor grassroots football and the support available to clubs across the grassroots football community.

On Monday 29th March, as part of the next stage of the Government’s roadmap out of national lockdown, outdoor sports facilities can open, and organised outdoor football can take place. The FA have now published their updated guidance, based on the latest Government advice available, which applies to all outdoor youth and adult football and Futsal, including all formats of the game.

If there are any further updates from the Government, The FA will communicate these in due course, and will also update their guidance as we move through the different steps of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Travel

The Government guidance on travel is that the ‘stay at home’ rule will end on Monday 29th March, but many restrictions will remain in place. As organised sport can resume, all participants may travel to games but should avoid travel at the busiest times and routes, as well as minimising unnecessary journeys where possible. All participants must follow the Government’s guidance on safer travel.

Changing Rooms

Changing rooms cannot be used as part of step one in the roadmap out of lockdown, and must remain shut. Toilets will be allowed to open, 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after training and/or matches. All Government guidance on hygiene and social distancing measures must be followed.

Spectators

No spectators are allowed at grassroots football as part of step one of the Government’s roadmap. One parent or guardian per child is permitted, where clubs and facilities can safely accommodate this, and following all appropriate guidance.

Indoor Football

Indoor sport is not currently allowed. This is planned to return no earlier than Monday 17th May, as part of step three of the Government’s roadmap, apart from disability football, which is currently allowed to take place indoors.

It's extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance will be reported to the local County Football Association.

Further FA Financial Support for the Game

With the assistance of Sport England, we're pleased to confirm we will be offering funding to County FAs to provide discounted 2021/22 season affiliation.

This will be available across the whole of affiliated football, assisting everyone with getting back to the game they love, and especially those from under-represented areas of the game such as women and girls, lower socio-economic groups, minority groups and those with a disability.

The FA, alongside Sport England, strongly encourage all of those restarting in the weeks ahead to ensure that everyone is able to benefit, no matter their age or gender, from fair and equal access to playing opportunities.

In addition to this, The FA’s ‘Return to Football Fund’, made possible with Sport England funding from the National Lottery, will provide £2.1 million targeted at supporting people in low-participation groups to start playing again. It will also fund initiatives aimed at bringing new players into the game and cover the cost of adapting to Covid-19 rules.

Finally, alongside FA partners at the Football Foundation, The FA also recently announced two other new funds to provide further financial support to clubs over the longer term.

The £14 million Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund is providing six-year tapered grants to improve the quality of grass pitches, while the Small Grants Fund is available to help clubs pay for the essential equipment and machinery they need to start playing again.

Clubs can apply for up to £25k to refurbish their changing rooms, pay for grass pitch drainage, new goalposts, pitch maintenance equipment and portable floodlights. For more information about the funds and how to apply, visit the Football Foundation website.

Clubs and leagues can access The FA’s online support hub (and podcasts), which includes up-to-date information, guidance and signposts as well as other useful information relating to funding and support services. The full return to grassroots football guidance document can be downloaded below.

The FA have provided the following update in relation to the conclusion of the season at Steps 3-6 of the National League System.

The Alliance and Leagues Committees have now considered the large amount of data and information submitted by clubs across Steps 3-6 as part of a survey to gather views on the continuation or conclusion of the 2020-21 league season, in addition to the information set out in the Government’s roadmap this week. 

Submissions were made by 99.1 per cent of clubs at Steps 3 and 4, and 95.8 per cent of clubs at Steps 5 and 6. The FA would like to thank the clubs for submitting their views and the time taken in providing responses during an incredibly challenging period for everyone.

The results of the survey showed that over 76 per cent of all clubs across Steps 3-6 indicated a preference to curtail the 2020-21 league season if it could not be restarted with limited spectator numbers and hospitality before 1st April 2021. 

During this process, taking into account views of clubs and leagues, it was decided that extending the 2020-21 league season beyond the end of May 2021 would not be a viable option. This was due to various considerations, including the financial implications for many clubs, player contracts and the extent of the fixture scheduling issues caused by the national lockdown and various postponements which had resulted in there being 81 per cent of matches left to complete for Steps 3 and 4, and 75 per cent at Steps 5 and 6. 

Taking into account the survey results and the ongoing impact of Covid-19, which continues to adversely affect incomes for clubs due to restrictions on both spectators and hospitality, the Alliance and Leagues Committees have reached a consensus that, subject to the approval of FA Council, the 2020-21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the NLS should be curtailed with immediate effect, with no further league matches taking place this season. 

The Committees will now present their collective recommendations to the FA Council for ratification.

It has also been decided that, subject to FA Council’s decision regarding the curtailment of the season at Steps 3 to 6, both Committees will revisit discussions around a potential restructure at Steps 4-6 of the NLS, which was previously agreed and has been on hold since the 2019-20 season. A further update on this will be provided in due course.

The FA welcome the UK Government’s update today (Monday 22nd February) regarding the Covid-19 roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions, which means we can look forward to the safe return of grassroots football from 29th March for both adults and children.

The FA can also confirm that the 2020/21 grassroots season has been extended until the end of June in order to provide additional flexibility and time for leagues to complete their fixtures this season if they wish to do so.

With this new clarity around timings, The FA will continue to work with Government on plans for a safe return for grassroots football across England and will communicate updated guidance as soon as they can, which will also be shared on our website and social media feeds.

Please Note: The season extension does not apply to the National League System (NLS) Steps 3-6, Regional NLS Feeder Leagues and the Women’s Football Pyramid from Tier 3 and below, including County Leagues at Tier 7, as the process to determine the preferred route forward for these competitions is currently ongoing. The FA will provide a further update on this in due course.

Following today's announcement by the Prime Minister regarding the resumption of outdoor sports, we're now awaiting guidance from The FA and Government, as has been the case throughout Covid-19. We will update you with this as soon as we receive it. Thank you.

All of 2020/21’s Essex County Cup competitions have been concluded with immediate effect, supporting leagues and competitions to best consider how they can continue to provide participation opportunities this season.

Following a period of very careful consideration of all factors involved, and in consultation with local leagues, the Essex County FA Board of Directors have made the exceptionally difficult decision that there will be no further matches played in the County Cups this season. Click here to read more, or click here to see an accessible version of the current page.

In response to the current national position due to the pandemic, The FA have provided an update on DBS checks. Any DBS Checks which are due to expire between 1st October 2020 and 31st May 2021 will be extended by one calendar year. Only checks falling within this time frame will receive an extension. The FA are in the process of updating online FA Whole Game System records, which should reflect the extension over the next few weeks.

Due to the current Covid-19-related situation, we have placed a number of staff on furlough and, as a result, there may be a delay in responding to some queries. All staff remain operational, but with a reduced number of working days per week. Please try to direct contact via E-Mail in the normal way and staff will reply as soon as possible on their respective working days.

Please see additional respective guidance for department-related queries below:

Governance Department: The department remains operational, but with a reduced number of staff working days per week. For any urgent queries, please direct to discipline@essexfa.com.

Development Department: The department remains operational, but with a reduced number of staff working days per week. In the first instance, please continue to contact your local Football Development Officer, who will respond as soon as possible. For any urgent development-related queries, please contact nick.emery@essexfa.com.

Safeguarding: The department remains operational, but with a reduced number of staff working days per week. For any urgent safeguarding matters, please contact helen.hever@essexfa.com and safeguarding@essexfa.com.

Referees: The department remains operational, but with a reduced number of staff working days per week. For any urgent referee-related queries, please contact lukas.wood@essexfa.com.

Coach Education: The department remains operational, but with a reduced number of staff working days per week. For any urgent queries, please contact both andrew.crowl@essexfa.com and lawrence.gower@essexfa.com.

We apologise for any resulting delays, and thank you in advance for your patience during this challenging time.

The FA note the UK Government’s announcement today (Monday 4th January) with regards to the new national Covid-19 restrictions and lockdown.

As a result, the impact on ‘non-elite’ football in England will include the suspension of fixtures and training across the following with immediate effect:

* Steps three to six of the National League System (NLS)
* Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid
* Regional NLS feeder leagues
* Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite status)
* FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs (unless under elite status)
* All indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football, including under-18s (except organised outdoor football for disabled people, which is allowed to continue)
* Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the Government’s new national Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and The FA implore everyone to follow these.

The FA's dialogue will continue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), leagues, competitions and County Football Associations and they will provide further updates for the 2020/21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Vase and ‘non-elite’ football when relevant.

The FA would like to thank the football community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period for both the game and wider society.

We acknowledge the Government's announcements on the Covid-19 Tier System on Wednesday 30th December, and that Essex remains in Tier 4. The relevant Tier 4 guidance can be found in 'Update 47' below.

The FA have issued an updated statement reinforcing the 'non-elite' football information in Update 47, which can be found by following this link.

We have noted the Government's announcement today (Wednesday 23rd December) that the Colchester, Tendring and Uttlesford council areas will come under Tier 4 Covid-19 restrictions from 12:01am on Boxing Day.

Football for adult participants across ‘non-elite’ football in Tier 4 areas is not permitted, including all training and fixtures. The Government’s Tier 4 guidance states organised outdoor sport for under 18s and disabled people will be allowed, while there are exemptions for FA Girls' Regional Talent Clubs. The Government’s guidelines on travel between tiers should be adhered to. These players cannot move in or out of Tier 4 to train or play.

Further information and guidance on this can be found in 'Update 47' below.

Further to the Government’s announcement today (Saturday 19th December) with regards to the introduction of Tier 4 areas and the latest information on Covid-19, The FA have issued the following update.

Football for adult participants across ‘non-elite’ football in Tier 4 areas is not permitted, including all training and fixtures. This immediate advice in place from 20 December applies to the following aspects of ‘non-elite’ football in England in Tier 4 areas:

* Steps three to six of the National League System (NLS)
* Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid
* Regional NLS feeder leagues
* Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite guidance)
* Indoor and outdoor adult grassroots football
* Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)

The Government’s Tier 4 guidance states organised outdoor sport for under-18s and disabled people will be allowed, while there are exemptions for FA Girls' Regional Talent Clubs. The Government’s guidelines on travel between tiers should be adhered to. These players cannot move in or out of Tier 4 to train or play. Although all areas covered by the Essex County FA are under Tier 4 restrictions, it is our understanding the Essex local authorities and London Boroughs are treated as separate local restriction tier areas under the Government’s full list of local restriction tier areas, with each bullet point being treated as a separate local restriction tier. In addition, other areas located outside of Essex and the London Boroughs covered by the Essex County FA (e.g. Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, etc), also constitute separate local restriction tier areas and you should not travel between neighbouring Tier 4 areas, even if they share a border. Each Tier 4 area is seen as separate - they are not one continuous area. So, as an example, as per the full list of local restriction tier areas, Essex-based under-18 players can move anywhere within Essex but cannot move in or out of Essex to train and play. They cannot travel to another Tier 4 area (e.g. London Boroughs, Suffolk, Hertfordshire etc) and vice-versa.

The Government’s Tier 4 guidance confirms that elite sportspeople (and their coaches if necessary, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) are able to compete and train.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers in Tiers 1 to 3 (and permitted football in Tier 4) continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA. Any incidents of non-compliance will be reported to the local County Football Association.

If there are any further updates from Government, The FA will communicate these in due course.

FAQs for organised U18 and disability football in Tier 4 
  
Can teams in an Essex Tier 4 area play against other Tier 4 areas like London or Suffolk? 
No, you must not travel between Tier 4 areas. 
  
I live in a London borough but play for an Essex Club. Can I still play/train with them? 
No, you must not travel outside of your Tier area. 
 
If my club has multiple match/training venues that may cross the Tier areas can I still participate? 
As above you will only be able to play or train at the venues that sit within your tiered area. You will not be able to train or play in other tier 4 areas.  
   
Is there any restriction on how far I can travel within a Tier 4 area?  
No, there is no limit on distance, but we would recommend that travelling distance is kept to a minimum where possible.

Are coaches and safeguarding officers able to travel across Tier 4 areas to facilitate organised U18 football?
Coaches and safeguarding officers are covered within the volunteering exemption guidance, which states that you may leave home to provide voluntary or charitable services.

We are aware of today's Government announcement that London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will move into Tier 3 of Covid-19 restrictions from 12:01am on Wednesday 16th December.

Details of Tier 3 restrictions are in the FA guidance below. Frequently Asked Questions relating to the FA guidance can be viewed here. Social media assets and printable signage to support a safe return to football can be downloaded here.

The FA have received approval from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) for a limited return of home spectators to be permitted at clubs competing in the National League System (NLS), Women’s Football Pyramid (WFP) and Buildbase FA Vase if they are situated in Tier 3 areas (documents below).

They have worked continuously alongside the DCMS, Sports Grounds Safety Authority and leagues to gain approval and clubs competing in Steps 3-6 of the NLS, Tiers 3-6 of the WFP and Buildbase FA Vase who are situated in Tier 3 areas are now permitted to accommodate home spectators up to 15% of their ground grading capacity in line with Stage 1 of their respective guidelines for the NLS or WFP. Read more by following this link.

The FA have today published responses to a number of frequently asked questions related to their updated 'non-elite' football guidance following the new Local Restriction Tiers announced by Government, which came into effect on Wednesday 2nd December. The FAQs can be found via this link.

Also, following the publication of The FA's updated guidance, they've made social media assets and printable signage available for leagues and clubs to download and use across their channels and facilities to support a safe return. You can access the assets via this link.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA.

The FA have today issued updated guidance for ‘non-elite’ football in England following confirmation from the UK Government that organised sports can return from Wednesday 2nd December.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] has, this evening, issued updated guidelines on the return to recreational team sport which permits the return of ‘non-elite’ football in England from Wednesday 2nd December, and includes all fixtures and training. Click here for the full news article on our website.

An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

The FA note the Government’s further update today (Thursday 26th November) on the three-tiered system, and continue their ongoing dialogue with Government to clarify the details and next steps, including travel between tiers. The FA will publish detailed guidance once they've clarified these details.

The FA welcome the UK Government’s announcement today and are very pleased that organised sports, which include Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS], Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP] and competitive grassroots football, can look forward to resuming from 2nd December.

The FA are also delighted to see the beginning of the safe return of fans in stadiums for elite sports events and confirmation that spectators at non-elite sports will be able to attend events in-line with Covid-secure guidance for each tier. They will continue their ongoing dialogue with Government to clarify the details and next steps, and provide further updates in due course.

We've noted this afternoon's Government announcement about plans for the commencement of grassroots sport once 'Lockdown 2' has ceased on 2nd December.

We'll provide an update on grassroots football in Essex as soon as we've received information and clarification from The FA, in conjunction with the DCMS. We appreciate your patience during this time.

The FA have provided clarification for ‘non-elite’ football in England – including school, further and higher education football activities – relating to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions that are now in place until Wednesday 2 December 2020.

As a result of the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions, which have been voted in favour of by Members of Parliament, The FA can confirm that the following aspects of ‘non-elite’ football in England are to be suspended during this period:

* All fixtures and training for Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS];
* All fixtures and training for Tiers 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP];
* All fixtures and training for the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues;
* All fixtures and training for the Barclays FA WSL Academy League [see below];
* All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs;
* All fixtures and training for indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

The FA is liaising with the relevant leagues in the NLS and WFP and the County Football Associations [CFAs] with the aim to establish appropriate options to complete the 2020/21 season at these levels.

The UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions permit ‘school sport’ to continue as an exemption during this period and its Department for Education [DfE] has provided bespoke guidance to further outline their impact on education. As a result, The FA can confirm the following for school, further and higher education football activities during this period:

* All school and further education college football activities are required to follow The FA’s latest guidance on indoor and outdoor grassroots football;
* Where schools are offering extra-curricular football activities, such as pre and after-school clubs, they should only do so in a school setting during the school day where it is reasonably necessary to support parents to work, search for work, or undertake training or education, or where the provision is being used for the purposes of respite care;
* All schools and further education colleges can work with external coaches, clubs and organisations for their football activities where they are satisfied that it is safe to do so;
* All schools and further education colleges can also use external facilities for their football activities in line with the DfE’s guidance for the use of, and travel to and from, them;
* All football fixtures or competitions between different schools and further education colleges are to be suspended;
* All Universities should follow the DfE’s guidance for higher education which provides further information on sports training and teaching.

In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that ‘elite’ football academies can continue during this period and has specified the following:

* Aged 15 and above within the ‘elite’ sport exemption;
* Other age groups if in an overarching education setting i.e. full-time educational provision, or blended training and education provision;
* Ofsted FA/PL/EFL recognised: Category 1 and Category 2 academies.

As a result, fixtures in the First and Second Round Proper of the 2020/21 FA Youth Cup involving two ‘elite’ clubs during this period can continue to be played under the relevant ‘elite’ club protocol. However, any fixtures involving one ‘non-elite’ club should not be scheduled during this period.

The FA can also confirm that the Barclays FA WSL Academies and FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs are to be suspended during this period as their resources – including finances and personnel – do not meet the necessary ‘elite’ protocols required and a number of their facilities are now closed due to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions. Academy players within the Barclays FA Women’s Super League can continue training within either an education setting or blended training and education provision.

The FA would like to thank the football community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period for both the game and wider society and implores everyone to strictly follow the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions.

Dialogue will continue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, leagues, competitions and CFAs and The FA will provide further updates for the 2020/21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy, Buildbase FA Vase and ‘non-elite’ football in due course.

The FA have provided an update for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the UK Government’s announcement on new national Covid-19 restrictions that will be in place from Thursday 5th November 2020 until Wednesday 2nd December 2020.

As a result of the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions, and subject to Members of Parliament voting tomorrow (Wednesday 4th November 2020) and the publication of bespoke guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the impact on ‘non-elite’ football in England will include the suspension of the following during this period:

* All fixtures and training for Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS];
* All fixtures and training for Tiers 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP];
* All fixtures and training for the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues;
* All fixtures and training for The Barclays FA WSL Academy League;
* All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs;
* All fixtures and training for indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

The FA’s aim is to ensure that the 2020/21 season is completed at these levels and will liaise with the relevant leagues in the NLS and WFP and the County Football Associations [CFAs] to provide support and establish appropriate options to do so if required. The UK Government has confirmed that school sport can continue as an exemption during this period. 

In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that all Emirates FA Cup First Round fixtures will go ahead as planned this weekend between Friday 6th and Monday 9th November 2020. The ten ‘non-elite’ clubs that remain in the competition will be able to play their fixtures under ‘elite’ protocols. In-line with the new national Covid-19 restrictions, these ‘non-elite’ teams are only permitted to train together until Wednesday 4th November 2020.

Further updates on fixtures and dates for the 2020/21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, The FA Youth Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase will follow in due course.

Re-starting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and The FA would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions. However, health and wellbeing remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national Covid-19 restrictions during this period.

The FA remains in dialogue with the DCMS, leagues, competitions and CFAs and will provide further clarification for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the debate in the House of Commons tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions from The FA can be found below. An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

Online Learning

During Covid-19 and beyond, there are plenty of ways to keep involved in the game we love through YouTube while we wait for it to return in the fashion we know.

As well as The FA's FA Learning YouTube channel, we're also sharing a wider range of online learning, featuring club, referee, safeguarding and coach content.

Club development webinars, coaching and referee interviews, as well as referee CPDs (Continuing Professional Development), are just some of the features on our channel, as well as longer-running features. Subscribe to make sure you never miss an upload!

Following tonight's Government announcement, we'll provide an update on grassroots football in Essex as soon as we've received information and clarification from The FA. Please continue to operate in-line with existing FA Covid-19 guidelines until updated information is received (see below).

Following the UK Government’s latest announcement regarding the introduction of local Covid-19 alert levels, The FA's guidance for grassroots football, which includes NLS Feeder Leagues (Step 7) and below of the Men’s Football Pyramid and Tier 7 and below of the Women’s Football Pyramid, remains the same.

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow this guidance as well as the UK Government’s latest guidance on Covid-19.

County Football Associations continue to work closely with local authorities to determine their regional situation and, if necessary, they will issue updated information in-line with respective local Covid-19 alert levels.

The FA have requested clarity from the UK Government on travel into or out of areas with ‘very high’ local Covid-19 alert levels by clubs in Steps 3-6 of the National League System and Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid for fixtures and will provide a further update as soon as possible.

Throughout this period, The FA have taken UK Government advice, with their priority being the health and wellbeing of all. They will also continue to work closely with the grassroots game during this time. The FA's latest guidance on grassroots football and updated FAQs can be downloaded below:

The FA have confirmed that some indoor formats of the game may continue from 24th September 2020 with certain restrictions – such as groups of six strictly being adhered to - following the UK Government’s latest measures in relation to Covid-19.

The rule of six will apply to all indoor organised football for anyone over the age of 18. As a result, indoor training and 3v3 games can continue for adults but they must be limited to groups of no more than six people and follow The FA's updated guidance on re-starting football.

If groups of six adults are likely to mix during either indoor training or games, they must not go ahead.

Everyone under the age of 18 or living with disabilities will be exempt from the rule of six. However, while indoor training and games will not be limited for these people, they must also follow The FA’s updated guidance on re-starting football.

All participants and staff involved in indoor football must also follow the UK Government’s latest Covid-19 measures in relation to face coverings, facility closing times and NHS Test and Trace:

* Face coverings must be worn by staff at all times and by participants when they are not taking part in training, games or seated at a table to eat or drink
* All indoor facilities, including those with clubhouse bars, must close at 10:00pm
* All indoor facilities must also support the UK Government’s guidance on NHS Test and Trace and implement the use of QR codes from 24th September 2020

The UK Government’s latest Covid-19 measures are legal requirements and failure to follow them could result in fines.

The FA’s updated guidance on re-starting football can be downloaded below.

Yesterday The FA E-Mailed all clubs to highlight the requirement (by Thursday 24th September) to create and display a Government poster with a QR Code at home venues linked to an NHS Covid-19 Test and Trace system app. The app:

* can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play and used from 24th September;
* enables visitors to scan the QR code on arrival (or via some smartphone cameras) for Test and Trace purposes;
* registers where you have been (via Bluetooth) and alerts you if you’ve been in contact, for 15 minutes or more, with someone who has Covid-19;
* is being rolling out by the Government on a mass scale - this is not an Essex County FA or FA app.

Please create and display the poster and QR code for your club straight away, enabling football to continue to be played. As with any new system, this has generated queries which are being noted and fed into The FA, who are also aware and are continually updating and publishing guidance.

We'd like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we all aim to keep Essex football safe.

The FA have today sent an E-Mail to clubs to draw attention to the Government’s recently-updated guidance on NHS Test and Trace and, specifically, a new section on the use of QR codes. This has important implications for clubs, and requires action. Details from The FA's E-Mail can be found below:

By maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors, and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you will help NHS Test and Trace to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the virus. You must register for an official NHS QR code and display the official NHS QR poster from Thursday 24th September 2020.

The NHS Covid-19 app has a feature which allows users to quickly and easily ‘check-in’ to a venue by scanning the code. The information stays on the user’s phone. In England, you do not have to ask people who choose to ‘check-in’ using the official NHS QR code to provide their contact details. If there is an outbreak associated with a venue, a message will be sent to the relevant app users with the necessary public health advice.

This will help to avoid the reintroduction of lockdown measures and support the country to return to, and maintain, a more normal way of life. In addition to maintaining and sharing records, where requested, and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you must also continue to follow other Government guidance to minimise the transmission of COVID-19. This includes maintaining a safe working environment and following social distancing guidelines. The relevant settings this applies to are:

* clubs providing team sporting activities
* facilities for use by elite and professional sportspeople (including sports stadia)
* indoor sport and leisure centres
* cafes, including workplace canteens
* bars, including bars in hotels or members’ clubs

Please note this updated guidance comes into effect from Thursday 24th September and failure to comply will result in Government-issued fines. Full information on test and trace can be found here. Full FA guidance can be found here. An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

The FA can today confirm that the UK Government has now approved their plan for the return of indoor competitive recreational grassroots football and Futsal. The FA's return to football guidance documents have, therefore, been updated to reflect this. Please note, guidance for outdoor competitive recreational grassroots football remains the same and has not changed.

Clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents/carers, spectators and football facility providers should read the full guidelines, which are accessible below, in addition to the latest Government guidance on Covid-19. A return to competitive football should only happen once clubs and facility providers have completed the necessary risk assessments and comprehensive plans are in place. Find out more on The FA's website.

An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

The UK Government has confirmed that organised sports, which include Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS], Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP] and outdoor grassroots football, can continue as an exemption to its latest planned measures in response to Covid-19.

Organised football activity is currently permitted at these levels but it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Governments’ latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidelines from The FA. Read more on The FA's website here.

An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

Today The FA have issued updated guidelines for the National League System (NLS) and Women’s Football Pyramid (WFP) which include a phased and limited return of spectators for clubs at steps three to six and tiers three to four respectively.

The FA have worked continuously alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and leagues to submit detailed proposals for a phased and limited return of spectators at these levels to the UK Government.

The DCMS have now clarified their guidance on the return to recreational team sport and clubs at steps three to six of the NLS and tiers three to four of the WFP are permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators to fixtures. However, they must follow the UK Government’s guidance in relation to Covid-19 and The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS or WFP respectively.

In addition, regional NLS feeder league clubs and clubs at tiers five to six of the WFP are permitted to accommodate socially-distanced spectators in line with The FA's guidelines for grassroots football. Please follow this link, and view the 'National League System Pyramid Guidance' below, to find out more.

An accessible version of this web page can be found via this link.

Following very careful consideration of all factors involved, the Essex County FA Board of Directors have made the exceptionally difficult decision to conclude all of the 2019/20 season’s County Cup competitions with immediate effect. Therefore, there will be no further matches played in these competitions.

The County Cup Finals are an integral part of the football calendar each year, delivering showpiece occasions enjoyed by players, family members, spectators, coaches, match officials, club and league officials, partners and wider stakeholders across the Essex football community. The decision was extremely difficult to make. However, the following factors were amongst those considered:

* nine finals did not have two finalists, with multiple rounds still to play in some competitions
* many teams were unable to fulfil the remaining fixtures
* no spectators are currently permitted to attend
* no changing facility use is currently permitted
* due to social distancing, no pre or post-match formalities, hospitality and presentations are allowed
* there are issues regarding the registration and eligibility of players
* the 2020/21 season has already been delayed and the 2019/20 finals could, potentially, impact the 2020/21 season further
* lessening the burden on early-season 2020/21 league fixtures
* the experience, particularly for the players, teams and match officials, would be significantly impacted and not in keeping with the County Cup Final occasions we aim to provide

You can read more by following this link. An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

We've created a new Version 2 of our ‘Covid-19 Club Resource Guide’ containing information, tips, tools and ideas to help keep clubs functioning and working as best they can during the coming weeks and months.

The guide features Covid-19-specific information, such as funding support which clubs can explore. Click here to view/download the PDF document.

An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

Following UK Government approval for outdoor competitive grassroots football to re-start, support and information has been provided by The FA to all referees. Ahead of matches restarting, referee-specific guidance has been produced and is available below.

The FA have confirmed that the UK Government approved their plan for the return of outdoor competitive grassroots football late last night, Friday 17th July 2020. As a result, the grassroots football community now has the opportunity to return to football and prepare for the start of the new season.

The FA have been working hard over recent weeks to prepare guidelines for the safe return of grassroots football and, following Government approval, these are now ready for publication. Football activity can take place with necessary modifications in place to mitigate the transmission risk of Covid-19. The FA would strongly recommend a phased return to competitive football activity as follows:

Until 31st July: when ready, you can begin competitive training, with the overall group size (inclusive of coaches) being limited to 30 people.

From August: competitive matches to begin, for example pre-season fixtures, festivals and small-sided football competitions.

From September: grassroots leagues, men’s National League System, Women’s Football Pyramid tiers 3 to 6, and FA Competitions can commence.

Clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents/carers, spectators and football facility providers should read the full FA guidelines, which are accessible via this link, in addition to the latest Government guidance on Covid-19.

An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

The Football Association have welcomed the announcement and publication of the Government’s return to recreational sport framework today, which means we can look forward to the safe return of competitive grassroots football.

The FA are now working to submit a comprehensive action plan and related guidance for Government approval as outlined in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport's (DCMS) publication. Once approved, new guidance for the grassroots football community will be published, with timings confirmed as soon as possible. In the meantime, competitive grassroots football can prepare to return, and look forward to the start of the new season.

Please continue to refer to the latest guidance documents, below, for adult players, coaches, facility operators, parents and carers involved in restarting grassroots football activity - which came into effect from 4th July - until a further update is provided, in addition to the latest Government guidance on Covid-19.

Please also note that guidance is being developed by The FA for clubs with teams competing in the National League System (NLS) and will be shared with those clubs directly in due course.

Guidance Documents (4th July)

Adult Players
Coaches
Facility Operators
Parents

Following recent Government updates to the Covid-19 guidance, The FA have updated guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators (including clubs), parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity from 4th July. These are available for download via the FA website, along with some practical tips for coaches working with individuals, working in pairs and working in threes.

These guidelines have been produced in-line with the recent Government updates to the Covid-19 guidance. Specifically, these documents have been updated to reflect changes to social distancing guidelines which will come into effect from 4th July and the introduction of support bubbles which came into effect on 10th June. Government guidance for the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation can be found here.

The FA continue to be in active discussions with other team sports, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about how we can secure a safe return to competitive grassroots football as soon as is reasonably possible. The FA will keep you updated as these discussions progress and provide amended guidance as and when they can.

Thank you for playing your vital part in helping our great game get going again and let’s continue to work together to ensure football’s return is as smooth and safe as possible. You can also visit The FA's dedicated web portal to access Coronavirus information and updates via TheFA.com. The four updated guidance documents (Versions 1.1 supersede previous editions) can be downloaded below:

Adult Players
Coaches
Facility Operators
Parents

An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

We would like to provide a reminder of the current FA guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators, parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity during Covid-19.

Emphasis is placed upon the points that physical contact and matches are not permitted.

Documents have been produced (see Update 22) in-line with Government guidance issued on Monday 1st June, which saw the easing of lockdown restrictions on gatherings, public spaces and outdoor activities and the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation.

The return of grassroots football is something we know many are keen to see but, at this stage of the nation’s response to Covid-19, it must be done with careful consideration for everyone’s safety, especially vulnerable groups.

The FA continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Sport England in order to set out good practice guidance for those responsible for delivering different aspects of grassroots football.

As the weeks progress, Government restrictions may or may not be eased further. If they are, the guidance will be updated accordingly. It’s essential everyone is clear about the restrictions and works together to manage social distancing and strong hand hygiene. The four guidance documents can be downloaded in Update 22 above.

An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

Following Government announcements on the easing of social distancing restrictions on Tuesday 23rd June, The FA have detailed that they are in active discussions with other team sports, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport about how we can secure a safe return to competitive grassroots football as soon as is reasonably possible:

"We will continue to keep you updated as these discussions progress and provide amended guidance as and when we can. In the meantime, please do continue to refer to the guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators, parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity issued on 12 June until a further update is provided."

In addition, important updates have been made to DBS processes this week which will affect safeguarding, referees and club affiliation. These can be found in our FAQs section on this page. An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

Following the release of The FA’s guidance on permitted grassroots football activities on Monday 1st June, Bluefin Insurance wanted to confirm the position with regard to insurance under the National Game Insurance Scheme (NGIS) for clubs/teams wishing to resume their footballing activities.

When The FA suspended all grassroots football in March, the personal accident and legal liability insurances provided via the NGIS for the 2019/20 season remained in force, and hence, these insurances are still operative for any clubs/teams who now wish to resume club/team organised footballing activities, in adherence with The FA’s guidelines and Government protocols.

Personal Accident Insurance

The 2019/20 period of insurance expires on 30th June 2020, but clubs can now renew/purchase their personal accident insurance for the 2020/21 season. Renewal invitations have been sent to all clubs who purchased personal accident insurance via the NGIS last season. In the event that a club purchases a personal accident policy after 1st July 2020, a pro-rata premium will automatically be calculated, based on the period of insurance up to 30th June 2021.

Legal Liability Insurance

The 2019/20 period of insurance, in respect of the liability insurance provided via the NGIS, also expires on 30th June 2020, and Bluefin have confirmed that the liability insurance will continue, with effect from 1st July 2020, for all clubs, even if it is not possible for all clubs to complete their affiliation by 1st July 2020. This ensures clubs will continue to be protected in the event of a liability claim, and there are no gaps in cover. Again, the liability insurance will be subject to adherence to The FA’s guidelines and Government protocols.

Both insurances are also subject to the standard policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Bluefin have provided further guidance to assist clubs via a PDF which you can view below or download here.

The FA have today issued new guidance documents for adult players, coaches, facility operators, parents and carers involved in re-starting grassroots football activity during Covid-19.

The documents have been produced in-line with Government guidance issued on Monday 1st June, which saw the easing of lockdown restrictions on gatherings, public spaces and outdoor activities and the phased return of outdoor sport and recreation.

The return of grassroots football is something we know many are keen to see but, at this stage of the nation’s response to Covid-19, it must be done with careful consideration for everyone’s safety, especially vulnerable groups.

The FA continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Sport England in order to set out good practice guidance for those responsible for delivering different aspects of grassroots football.

As the weeks progress, Government restrictions may or may not be eased further. If they are, the guidance will be updated accordingly. It’s essential everyone is clear about the restrictions and works together to manage social distancing and strong hand hygiene.

We want to thank you all in advance for playing your vital part in helping our great game get going again. By observing Government guidance and these documents, let’s work together to ensure the transition back to enjoying football is as smooth and safe as possible.

Please note that guidance is being developed for clubs with teams competing in the National League System (NLS) and will be shared with clubs directly in due course. NLS clubs with grassroots teams should be able to use the guidance provided today. The four guidance documents can be downloaded in Update 22 above).

An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

Following The FA’s recent announcement regarding the ability for small group training to commence there has, understandably, been a desire from a number of clubs and individuals to re-commence sessions, in line with The FA's guidance.

As a County FA, we understand this eagerness as we recognise this is seen as the first cautious and positive step towards the return of the grassroots game.

At the same time, we have also received a number of queries and questions regarding this announcement as clubs and individuals, like ourselves, are considering how the guidance can be implemented within clubs. This due diligence is essential as Sport England themselves have stated they encourage all organisations with a role in this to take time to look at how they can operate effectively and safely within the six-person limit, whilst strictly adhering to public health guidance around hygiene and social distancing.

We would urge all clubs to give this appropriate consideration whilst stressing that the decision to re-commence with these small-group training sessions is one for clubs and organisations to take and, if clubs/organisations feel the risk is too great, or it is too soon to commence with these sessions, then that is fine and understandable.

For those clubs/organisations who feel they are in a position to recommence, then steps should be taken to strictly adhere to the FA guidance, giving due consideration for the operational implementation of the guidance based on the club’s individual circumstances (e.g. own ground, public park etc.) to ensure a safe environment is created for all involved.

The FA are currently working on further detailed guidance to assist in this process and we will continue to communicate and share this with you as this is released.

In the interim period, as well as the FA guidance, we have also reviewed Sports England and Government advice and would ask that clubs also consider the following areas:

GUIDANCE ON PERMITTED GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL ACTIVITY
Latest Guidelines During Covid-19 from 1st June

The Football Association have issued further guidance to all grassroots football and informal football activity outside the professional game following the Government’s relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions from 1st June 2020.

Consistent with Government advice published on Monday 1st June, the following outdoor football activity is currently permitted:

* playing football individually. For example, practice of individual skills or fitness activities;
* playing football with your family or other people living in your household;
* football training or fitness activities in groups of no more than six, keeping two metres apart at all times.

Sharing of equipment should be kept to a minimum and strong hand hygiene practices should be in place before and after. Physical contact with anyone outside of your household is not permitted. Therefore, playing of any games (small-sided or full) is also not permitted at this time.

Avoid meeting in groups of six in busy or overcrowded areas if it is so busy that it is not possible to maintain social distancing at all times.

Football coaches can now undertake small group sessions up to six people (including the coach) but are reminded to follow FA safeguarding policy when coaching/working with children. This must include risk assessing the activities, gaining consent from parents/carers and ensuring you are in sight of another adult.

For example, a parent/carer or another coach and that the ratio of coach to different age groups of children is appropriate (see download 5.5). For clarity, the additional parent/carer or coach is not included as part of the group of six but must remain in sight of the activity.

It is permissible for coaches to organise a training session which has two or more groups of six (including the coach) involved in the session, as long as the groups of six are kept separate, everyone is socially distancing and strict hygiene measures are in place with any equipment.

Football coaches working with people with impairments must ensure they can adequately cater for any additional needs whilst still avoiding physical contact and maintaining social distancing. Individuals should follow Government guidance relevant to their own impairment or health condition.

Please be reminded, if an individual is symptomatic, living in a household with a possible Covid-19 infection or if you're classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, the guidance is that you should remain at home.

The FA continue to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Sport England in order to set out good practice guidance for those responsible for delivering different aspects of grassroots football and will provide further updates as guidance information is shared.

FA GUIDANCE ON PERMITTED GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL ACTIVITY DURING COVID-19
Social Distancing Guidelines Must be Followed

The FA has today issued guidance to all grassroots football and informal football activity outside the professional game.

Consistent with Government advice, published on Wednesday 13th May, the following outdoor football activity is currently permitted:

* playing football individually (e.g. practice of individual skills or fitness activities)
* playing football with your family or other people living in your household
* an individual can play football with one other person who is not from their household
* coaching an adult player one-to-one

All social distancing guidelines must be followed. Additionally, maintaining a grass or artificial football pitch is permitted, as long as social distancing and appropriate hygiene practices are adopted.

If an individual is symptomatic, living in a household with a possible Covid-19 infection, or if you are classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, the guidance is that you should remain at home. The following football activity is not permitted at this time, consistent with Government guidelines:

* coaching a child (under 18) from a different household one-to-one. In order to comply with The FA’s safeguarding policy, a child must have a parent/carer with them, which doesn’t comply with Government social distancing requirements
* two or more people from one household playing with one person or more from outside their household

The FA will continue to work with the Government and Sport England in order to provide guidance to grassroots football as the Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy moves to the next phase. Government advice can be accessed at www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation.

New and existing football clubs and competitions in Essex who register for the 2020/21 campaign will be able to do so at no cost as the Essex County FA Board have confirmed affiliation will be provided free of charge, offering financial support during the extra challenges faced as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

To complete affiliation, clubs require Legal (Public) Liability and Personal Accident Insurance. We will also continue to pay 100% of the Public Liability costs for all eligible grassroots clubs as part of their affiliation and, in addition, will contribute 50% towards Personal Accident cover up to the minimum requirements. The overall pledge amounts to around £160,000. Click here to read the full news article.

We've created a new ‘Covid-19 Club Resource Guide’ containing information, tips, tools and ideas to help keep clubs functioning and working as best they can during the coming weeks and months.

The guide features Covid-19-specific information, such as funding support which clubs can explore. Click here to view/download the PDF document.

This morning we've added further updates to our Frequently Asked Questions section on this page, relating specifically to the 'Football Development' section where we have new club development guidance and webinars.

We'd recommend returning to this page on a regular basis for the most up-to-date details. We're committed to keeping Essex grassroots football fully informed during this difficult time. An accessible version of this web page can also be found via this link.

Recently we detailed that the Thurrock Association Sunday League, who operate the Lakeside Sports Ground, have been working hard on exploring the opportunities of Government funding.

The league have been keeping us updated with their progress, and they’ve provided us with the following positive update: “I can now confirm that Lakeside Sports Ground has received the £10,000 grant under the Government’s extended retail scheme. I am also told that the “furloughed” worker scheme will be up and running at the end of this week.”

The FA have today released a statement confirming the FA Council has ratified the decision to end the 2019/20 season at grassroots level.

Read the full statement from The FA here: www.thefa.com/news/2020/apr/09/fa-council-statement-090420.

The FA has today released a statement to bring clarity to the conclusion of this season’s competitions.

Furthermore, we can now confirm that The FA has decided that all grassroots football is concluded for the 2019/20 season. Read the full statement from The FA here: www.thefa.com/news/2020/mar/26/national-league-system-womens-football-pyramid-grassroots-covid-19-update-260320.

The Prime Minister has reinforced the single most important action we can now all take, in fighting Coronavirus, is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

The campaign to raise awareness of this message has launched across TV, radio as well as digital and social channels. You can visit the Public Health England website to download materials and help amplify the message or, alternatively, you can share the posts from the Essex County FA Twitter and Facebook feeds: 

Public Health England Website
@EssexCountyFA on Twitter
EssexFootball on Facebook

Every Mind Matters have also released expert advice and top tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak. It includes guidance if you’re feeling worried or anxious. Again, you can visit the Every Mind Matters website to access this information or, alternatively, you can share the posts from the Essex County FA Twitter and Facebook feeds: 

Every Mind Matters Website
@EssexCountyFA on Twitter
EssexFootball on Facebook

In-line with the Government’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 outbreak and FA and Essex County FA guidance for all grassroots football in Essex to be postponed for the foreseeable future, we intend to provide timely updates, as well as answers to a number of FAQs across all aspects of the game.

If your query is not covered on this page, please contact one of our team. We will be encouraging our stakeholders to read through our FAQ section to see if their query is covered here. To keep you informed throughout this period of uncertainty, we have provided department updates.

The FA has today released a statement confirming an extension of the 2019/20 season indefinitely in relation to professional football.

In addition, the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than Thursday 30th April 2020. Click here to read the full statement from The FA.

CORONAVIRUS: LOCAL ESSEX FOOTBALL PLAYS ITS PART
Grassroots Thanked for Commitment and Dedication

During these unprecedented times, both locally and globally, we wish to say thank you for the commitment, dedication and patience members of the grassroots community have collectively shown, and we wish everyone across football good health.

This is a fast-moving scenario, which started with us putting our own competitions on hold and allowing leagues and competitions to follow suit and postpone their own games. This has since developed into an overall suspension of grassroots Essex football.

The focus has to be on public health, and football continues to play its part. The FA and the Essex County FA will continue to work closely with the grassroots game during this time. The FA are in regular communication with the Government and the situation within English football at all levels remains under regular review.

We’re aware that clubs will be suffering many financial troubles due to Coronavirus, County Cup Finals will need to be rescheduled and it’s going to be a challenge to fit matches in. We must all work together to get to a point where things are back to normal again as soon as possible.

County Office and Remote Working

Throughout this recent period since COVID-19 has affected England, The FA and the Essex County FA have taken Government advice, with the priority being the health and wellbeing of all. Current advice is that organisations should ‘work from home’ where possible.

For the foreseeable future, staff at the County Office in Chelmsford will be working remotely from home in the interests of safety, and to play our part in reducing the potential spread of the virus. Staff can still be contacted as normal, though E-Mail is the preferred method at present.

There are a number of ‘unknowns’ in football at the moment, but the staff at the Essex County FA are committed to supporting you. We will issue a weekly update to keep you informed of the latest developments in local grassroots football.

Coronavirus: The Facts

COVID-19 is a new illness which can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called Coronavirus. People with either of the following symptoms are advised to stay at home:

* a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
* a new, continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly

Current advice is not to go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home. Individuals are asked to keep up-to-date with, and follow, Government and Public Health England guidance, which includes:

* promote best practice for hygiene, ensuring cleaning is effective and soaps are provided (plus sanitiser, where possible)
* anyone with flu-like symptoms should avoid the risk of spreading their infection, whatever that infection may be, by staying at home and recovering

GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL IN ESSEX SUSPENDED
All Essex-Affiliated Competitions Postponed

Following the Government’s announcement today (Monday) about the Coronavirus outbreak, recommending for people to avoid social contact and gatherings where possible, and in-line with Football Association advice, the Essex County FA are suspending all affiliated football in Essex for the foreseeable future.

This suspension includes all matches (including friendlies) and training sessions until further notice. Throughout this recent period since COVID-19 has affected England, The FA and the Essex County FA have taken Government advice, with the priority being the health and wellbeing of all.

Both will continue to work closely with the grassroots game during this time. The FA are in regular communication with the Government and the situation within English football at all levels remains under regular review.

ESSEX COUNTY FA COMPETITIONS POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER 3RD APRIL
Safety Precautions in Place following Coronavirus Outbreak

All Essex County FA Cup fixtures and coach education courses have been postponed until after Friday 3rd April in alignment with the professional game, following the Football Association’s statement regarding the Coronavirus outbreak.

In Essex grassroots football, it is a league/competition’s decision, at this time, if they wish to continue playing or to postpone their respective competitions as autonomous bodies within the game. This is in-line with Government advice at this time.

It is not felt that grassroots fixtures need to be cancelled as a matter of course at the present time, although some may need to be if teams are self-isolating and are unable to play, or if teams are concerned about playing and the league/competition agrees to postpone. Sports are asked to keep up-to-date with, and follow, Government and Public Health England guidance.