Covid19 Risk Assessments

1. Purpose

The purpose of this risk assessment is to understand and limit the possible risk of Covid-19 infection with persons attending Port of Bristol Youth FC in a competitive match or training situation. Controls are stated to mitigate potential risks and are grouped and explained in relevant sections. This risk assessment has been produced in-line with the Gloucestershire FA & National FA's latest Covid-19 Guidance on re-starting outdoor competitive grassroots football.

2. Scope

The scope of this risk assessment applies to use of facilities by Participants (managers, coaches, players, match officials and spectators) connected to teams playing under the Port of Bristol banner and in both competitive football and training scenarios. Use of the term The Club refers to the administration of all Port of Bristol teams. This risk assessment is cascaded to all Participants connected with The Club as far as reasonably possible and is shared in advance with visitors such as opposition teams and officials ahead of their visit to our ground.

3. Controls by Area

The following sections explain the various controls, measures and considerations that have been made in respect of this risk assessment.

Prevention

All Participants are informed to self-assess for Covid-19 symptoms before every training session or match. Anyone who is symptomatic or living in a household with possible or actual Covid-19 infection or instructed by government requirements to self-quarantine (e.g. after returning from abroad) MUST NOT participate or attend training sessions or matches.

Covid-19 symptoms:

A high temperature (above 37.8 degrees Celsius)
A new, continuous cough
A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell and taste
Participants who have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they are a contact
Once 14 days have lapsed, Participants may return to training and/or matches.
Participants who have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace because they are a contact of a known Covid-19 case, must not exercise outside their home or garden or with others.

Participant Requires First Aid or Displays

If a Participant begins to feel unwell with Covid-19 symptoms, they should leave the site as soon as possible. This may mean parents/guardians/carers need to be contacted immediately to collect participants under the age of 18. Any unwell Participant must isolate away from other Participants until they have left the site.

In the unlikely event emergency first aid needs to be administered, the first aider must wear PPE equipment to include face covering and disposable gloves. All managers are expected to be in possession of these items. Where applicable, if a player under the age of 18 was to sustain an injury that required first aid intervention, it may be preferred if a parent/guardian or other adult from the player household that is in attendance assesses the child in the first instance, with an FA Level 1 certified First Aider available to provide guidance at a safe distance. If this scenario were to occur during a competitive match, those attending the injured player may only enter the field of play with the permission of the referee.

Hand sanitiser must be used immediately before and after any contact with a Participant who requires hands on first aid treatment.

Travel to Training and Matches

All Participants and other attendees should follow best practice for travel:

Walk or cycle, where possible
Household or support bubbles can travel together in a vehicle.

Number of Teams On-Site

Teams have been allocated training sessions in a rota which aims to control the number of concurrent teams at the facility. Similarly, a rota is in place to manage the number of matches taking place at any one time.

Pick Up and Drop Off

We have implemented suggested arrival times for training sessions & matches; Participants must vacate the playing area/training space and surrounding area as quickly as possible, including when applicable, the changing room facility.

Changing Room Facilities

Where possible players and officials are encouraged to arrive in competitive match or training kit and leave the facility to shower and change at home.

Only managers/coaches and match officials, may enter changing rooms.

Users of the changing rooms must ensure hands are sanitised on entry and exit using the dispenser available at the main doorway.

Spectators

The club works to uphold the latest Gloucestershire FA and National FA guidance with the attendance of spectators at matches and training. Guidelines for spectators are communicated to players through respective team managers prior to competitive matches and training. For awareness spectator guidelines are also communicated more generally by the club via its social media channels.

These guidelines include:

Where possible limiting numbers of spectators from each household, per player for junior/youth football
Informing spectators that they must not congregate in groups larger than 6 people with such groups distanced at least 2 metres apart.
Spectators are advised not to return the ball if it leaves the field of play or the allocated training area
Spectators are encouraged not to touch any pitch railings and respect barriers.
Unannounced spectators or those with no direct relationship to Participants at competitive matches (e.g. scouts) are discouraged from attending. Such spectators may be asked to leave

Test and Trace

The Club works to the government's and NHS Test and Trace requirements and will enforce the following:

For each training session or match, managers MUST create an attendance sheet capturing information of all Participants in attendance of behalf of the home team. This register/ team sheet should be completed and handed in to the Covid 19 Officer after completion of the training session or match.

4. Review Process

Spot checks will be regularly carried out by the Club Covid-19 Officer & Committee members to ensure that teams are adhering to the guidance. If a team is not adhering to the guidelines, the training session or match will be stopped immediately. This risk assessment will be regularly reviewed in line with the Gloucestershire and national FA guidance. Any changes will be communicated to all managers, coaches, players & parents as well as The Club committee members.

5. Safeguarding

Normal safeguarding measures are in operation. All managers and coaches hold a valid and current CRC (Criminal Records Check) and where possible will have obtained the FA Level 1 Safeguarding Certification. There will be at least one FA Level 1 trained First Aider at every training session and competitive match. Parent helpers or other volunteers are not permitted to assist until they have undergone the necessary CRC check and safeguarding training. Parent(s)/guardian(s) of players under the age of 18 will be aware that the period of isolation may have resulted in their child/children becoming anxious or unsure as to whether to resume football. Parents should only support their child/children's return to football when they feel confident to do so. If parents have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Child Welfare Officers on the following numbers or email address:

Chris George
cjgeorge3485@hotmail.com
07879 291339