Kid’s team sport training

[lozster]

My DS is primary school age in a year group not allowed back at school yet. Last week I got a mail from the sports team he plays for inviting everyone back to normal training. Cue lots of jolly responses from parents welcoming this and saying looking forward to seeing you all in a few days.

I am . There are 30 kids train normally and all the parents gather whilst this goes on. I’ve asked for further advice on the safety and legality of this as the professional body of this sport says that government advice should be followed and government advice at the moment is that sport can be participated in if groups are less than 6 and 2 metre rule is followed.

I’m obviously out of step with the other parents here (lots of comments @me saying ‘I’m sure they have thought this through’) but I’m concerned that the club insurance will be invalid if the activity is illegal, also I want my child to get consistent messages on following rules and what the rules are.

What’s the broader experience of sports clubs? Are they back training now?

My son is back training but he can train in a small group with his coach in the general vicinity.

You are right - insurance will be invalid unless they divide up the group and keep them away from each other. England Athletics says a coach can have two consecutive groups so can effectively coach 10 athletes, but you obviously need a gap between them of 5-10 minutes to make sure the first group has departed. But 30 only works if there are 6 coaches or they can train on different days.

(and parents have to stay in cars or disappear! I go for a run by myself while ds is training, so keep out of the way. Or I stay in the car).

3 coaches not 6.

We were hoping to restart football training next weekend our doors but it’s been put back to early July now 😢 DS misses it so much!!!

I think you are right to ask questions.
I am involved in 2 youth sports clubs (different sports). One is allowing socially distanced small group coaching of up to 6 ie 1 coach and 5 players and the other is yet to sanction a restart, though we expect an update this week. Both governing bodies have made it very clear that activities will not be insured or covered by their legal protection if they are outside government guidelines or not sanctioned by the sports' governing bodies
The club committees that I belong to are finding it all very difficult. The more you think about it the more potential difficulties there are. We all want to get back to our sports but we need to do it as safely and responsibly as possible. I think part of that involves communicating the plans effectively to participants and parents, so that they can make an informed decision about returning and can abide by whatever mitigating steps are being put in place if they do come back. If you've not had that information you have every right to ask.

It's possible to have all 30 and be in the same park/ facility as long as it's 6 distict seperate groups.

Well, I have some clarification now from the club. After saying that the training would be ‘normal’, and me pointing out the max numbers, they are now saying that the ratio will be 1:5. This said with a comment to me that ‘you don’t have to come if you’re not happy’ ) This ratio can’t accommodate all the kids. There is no further advice to parents. I may be cynical but I read this as being ‘1:5’ nudge nudge wink wink, say no more. Not one other parent has questioned this.

Are you sure training is "back to normal", or just training is restarting but with a different set up? My DS's team is restarting training in a couple of weeks but as per the government guidelines. The coach sent out the relevant FA guidance to reassure the parents that it's legal.
Children really really need to get back to sport. The risk is minimal and is far outweighed by the benefits.

My husband manages our child's football team. He has had guidance from the league that training can restart in groups of 5 with an FA Level 1 (or above) coach. There can be more than one group of five, but they must not mix, respect social distancing and wash / sanitise hands etc. He had decided to do a small group each week with different kids.

I agree with you getoff, can't wait for them to get back to sport and having fun!

My DCs are restarting cricket training but only in groups of six.

OP who did you question this with?

One of our dc’s coaches has suggested doing similar with 6 kids at a time. We’re in Wales where we’re only supposed to meet one other household at a time so how can a coach with 6 kids (no siblings in the team) do this.

I’m conflicted between the fact that the kids will love it, but knowing that it’s against the current guidance and so insurance won’t be valid.

I’ve said no. DC is fuming.

If parents are happy to breach the guidelines will they also disregard any advice to self isolate for 14 days should someone test positive for Covid19?

I’ve just about decided that I’m going to contact the head of the junior section to ask for clarification but I am worried that I’ll be identified and our dc will be disadvantaged in the future as a result.

By six I mean 5 children and one coach.

@Muchtoomuch, I questioned this with the club coach after we were advised of the next training date with no mention of small groups

@getoffthatbloodytablet the risk may well be minimal but personal opinions on that are neither here nor there. if the guidelines are not followed, then the insurance won’t be valid.

@DustyD2 your husbands plan to rotate groups across weeks sounds good. My unease concerns every child being asked back when I know there are not sufficient coaches. I don’t want to end up arriving then finding the club are playing fast and loose with numbers because there are not enough coaches to support the 1:5 ratio.

OP I don't disagree with you. As I said, our coach is going to follow the guidelines. We're lucky that we have 3 coaches for 15 children. My older DC isn't restarting yet as they only have one coach so can't keep the ratios.

Our football has been pushed back till at least September and from the conversation on the whatsapp group most parents dont want them back until January.

My child does trampolining and gymanstics. I really can't imagine when they'll go back :(

I'd heard outside sport could if distanced.

Certainly at school my yr 6 is playing outdoors pe every day in her bubble - kicking rounders/skills/ bizaree covid versions of things.

My son is back at football, but it is definitely
not training as normal. Strict entrance and exits gates with one way systems. Each child must stay in their allocated area and social distancing must be observed at all time. Hands must be washed on entry and no touching the ball with their hands.

One of my sons teams started back last week. FA guidelines are being followed. I stayed and watched at the weekend (training takes place in a large park) and was really impressed how well organised it was. The children are in a group of 5 plus the coach. The coach runs three 45 min sessions back to back so to fit everyone in. With every task they were reminded to keep 2m apart from each other, not allowed to touch ball with hands. At the end of each session balls were wiped down ready for the next group. Boys had to wash hands at start and end of session.

My children have/are restarting 3 different clubs between them this week. All are operating outside in groups of 5 children with 1 trainer/coach per group of children. All children in each group kept 2m apart throughout.

I think you are right to question them too!

Also parents were allowed to stay but are reminded to stay 2m away from each other and the other children. All takes place on a big field so easily done.

Lots of cones and other other floor markings are used to help the children to remember to social distancing too.