Return to Football.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) have recently confirmed football activity can restart for 5–17-year-olds. Dunbar United Colts FC (DUCFC) are pleased to announce the return of training for all age groups whilst following the relevant restrictions for age groups. The club aim to be able to deliver the return to football W/C 15th of March.
- 12–17-year-old participants must follow non-contact training.
- U12 participants are permitted for contact training.
The DUCFC committee and growth and development officer (GDO) wish to deliver the return to football as safely as possible. We understand all our players are eager to return, however it is important the process is done correctly. The safe return to football is everyone’s responsibility.
What do coaches, players and parents need to do?
It is not just the DUCFC committee and GDO that has a responsibility to ensure the club’s return to football is safe. Coaches, parents and carers must also ensure they are following current government and governing body guidelines (SFA and SYFA). We expect coaches, parents and carers to read through all sections provided. We also expect head coaches and every covid officer to relay the relevant information to the different club members they are responsible for.
Players and Parents / Carers
Players – what do they need to do?
- Ensure they feel comfortable enough returning to training.
- Read the issued ‘player guidance’ and ensure they understand.
- Read and understand the relevant player infographic issued.
- Identify and understand pitch set-up. This includes entrance and exit points and the one-way system.
- Identify their age group’s training times.
- Check their understanding of contact (under-12s) non-contact (12-17 years) training.
Parents – what do they need to do?
- Ensure you feel comfortable with your child returning to football.
- Ensure you read and understand the SFA’s latest return to football guidance.
- Ensure you have signed and understood the DUCFC Covid-19 declaration. This must be returned to your child’s head coach.
- This should have been completed during our first return to football (August 2020).
- Read and ensure you understand the club’s Covid-19 risk assessment.
- Read and understand the parent infographic issued.
- Identify and understand our pitch set-up. This includes entrance and exit points and the one-way system.
- Identify your child’s age group training times.
- Check your understanding of contact (under-12s) non-contact (12-17 years) training. Please ensure your child has an understanding.
Pitch Set ups
3G
Please ENTER (blue arrow) the 3G through the gates closest to Hallhill Healthy Living Centre. Please observe social distancing measures and arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your session.
There is a ONE-WAY SYSTEM (yellow arrows) in operation. Please follow the system whilst moving to your training pitch and leaving the facility.
Please EXIT (red arrow) using the gates closest to the Dunbar Primary School gates. Please ensure you observe social distancing measures when leaving the facility.
2G
Please ENTER (blue arrow) the 2G through the gates closest to Hallhill Healthy Living Centre. Please observe social distancing measures and arrive no earlier than 10 minutes prior to your session.
There is a ONE-WAY SYSTEM (yellow arrows) in operation. Please follow the system whilst moving to your training pitch and leaving the facility.
Please EXIT (red arrow) using the gates closest to the 3G/rugby pitches. Please ensure you observe social distancing measures when leaving the facility.
Pitch Rota
Please ensure your child does not arrive earlier than 10 minutes prior to your age group’s start time. The club has implemented a 15-minute gap between training times. (Up to 30 minutes for 12–17-year groups).
3G
12-17 years
Training duration is currently a maximum of 60 minutes per session. The below rota displays ALL bookings as 90-minute slots. This is a reflection on how the DUCFC training rota will look when restrictions ease for 12–17-year-olds.
In the meantime, all 12- to 17-year-old age group bookings will be shortened to 1 hour.
Under-12s
There are no restrictions to training duration. Training session duration for under-12s is permitted to run for 90 minutes.
2G
Under-12s
There are no restrictions to training duration. Training session duration for under-12s is permitted to run for 90 minutes.
Infographics – Players Guide and Parent / Carers Guide
Training content
12-17 years
Non-contact training
- Maximum of 13 players and 2 coaches (per 1/4 of pitch).
- Social distancing must be adhered to on arrival, throughout and on departure from training session.
- Age groups with 2x training sessions per week are requested to split their squad training between the two sessions.
- e.g 10 players on Tuesday evening. Remaining 10 players on Thursday evening.
- Age groups with 1x training session per week are requested to split their training time in half.
- e.g 10 players for first 45 minutes. Remaining 10 players for remaining 45 minutes*.
*Earlier and therefore longer session required to build in 15 buffer between session/players.
What is non-contact training?
Non-contact training is any form of exercise or training practice that does not include the physical contact from other players i.e, tackling and forms of physical close contact.
What can we not do?
Conditioned games, small-sided games and all forms of activity where opposition and physical contact may be involved are not permitted. Non-contact training exercises will commonly be unopposed (no opposition) and essentially include social distancing between players.
What can we do?
Training content will consist of training practices with no physical contact. Content delivered will likely be in the form of drills or blocked practices. There will be no opposition or physical contact. This type of practice is excellent for the player’s technical development.
Coaches should refer to the DUCFC non-contact document that has been circulated. This document contains links to ready to deliver training content. This has been designed with the SFA Coach Education materials. More material is available to view by logging into your SFA Live account.
Under-12s
- Maximum of 26 players and 4 coaches (per 1/3 of pitch).
- Social distancing must be adhered to on arrival and on departure from training session i.e player zones.
There are no restrictions on training activity and contact training is permitted.
Parents spectating
Parents and carers should not spectate any training sessions unless your child has an exceptional circumstance where you are required to attend. Please contact your age group head coach if this is applicable to your child. If you require any further assistance or have any questions on spectating, please contact:
Cleaning protocol
On arrival hand sanitiser will be supplied to your child. We would recommend your child to bring their own hand sanitiser to use during stoppages during the session.
DUCFC are required to sanitise all equipment prior to the session being delivered. All equipment will be sanitised again post session. This includes:
- Footballs
- Cones
- Goals
- Bibs
- Any further equipment and touch points throughout the facility.
General Update
We look forward to welcoming your child back to training. We understand restrictions are likely to change as time goes on. DUCFC will ensure they keep everyone updated as restrictions are updated or changed by the relevant governing bodies.
Please direct any queries to the below email address:
info@dunbarcolts.com or secretary@dunbarcolts.com.
See you soon!
DUCFC committee
Coaches
Coaches – what do you need to do?
Teams must be registered.
- Every age group should have a named ‘Covid Officer’.
- Amongst age group coaches, the ‘ready to start document’ must be discussed.
- Covid-19 declaration forms must be signed and sent to GDO. (Previously completed in August 2020).
- Coach infographics must be circulated and read.
- Player register must be taken every session and sent to GDO.
- Club risk assessment must be read and understood.
- Identify and understand pitch set-up. This includes entrance and exit points and the one-way system.
- Identify and understand your age group’s training slot amongst the rota.
- Check your understanding of contact (under-12s) and non-contact (12-17 years) training and ensure you are comfortable delivering such content.
Infographics – Coaches Guide
