Children’s football indoors - coaches not wearing masks

[Redolent]

I’ve been taking my three year old to these football sessions once a week. Throughout the summer they’ve been outdoors, but we’ve just had our first indoor session due to the weather. Beforehand we received an email saying ‘one adult per child’ and ‘no mask, no play’ (for adults), etc. But there were four coaches running the session, and not one of them was wearing a mask. I could understand maybe the head coach, for communication purposes, but the other three were mainly picking up balls and facilitating, and did little talking. The sessions last 45 mins.

Would you say something or is this fine?

I think this is ok, my DS plays for a team and has indoor coaching once a week, our coaches don’t wear masks and it didn’t cross my mind they should be under those circumstances. I find mask wearing makes it harder when walking upstairs (although I am fat and unfit and smoke) so I couldn’t imagine wearing one running about at footie training. If you are uneasy about it of course it’s your choice not to go until things settle down but personally I m ok with it.

Will they be any closer to the children than their schoolteachers who probably won't be wearing masks?

Would you say something or is this fine?

I think your choice is take it or leave it tbh. Presumably they are acting within the law?

Sorry nursery teachers that should say

In our organisation, rule is an adult delivering an activity does not have to wear a mask. Children under 12 do not need to wear a mask (although for simplicity, it's done on group, so the 10+ group is masks)

@Letshavesometea

Will they be any closer to the children than their schoolteachers who probably won't be wearing masks?

It’s not so much how close they are to other children, but to the other adults in the gym (probably about 15 in total once you include the coaches...children aren’t left unaccompanied). So it’s quite a busy indoor area with adults often in close proximity. All the parents wear masks and run around constantly with their toddlers so they’re doing just as much physical exertion.

I did assume they would be technically exempt because they’re organising the activity. Yeah I guess that’s just a decision for us now.

The WHO do not advise masks when undertaking fitness activity. He doesn’t need to wear one, neither do I when I am teaching fitness.