Lockdown FAQs - January 2021
What is the latest FA advice on Covid-19?
Our stance on non-elite football training and matches has been clarified in our statement here. It is also worth noting that FA Education have confirmed that formal coach education is suspended during lockdown.
We would refer anyone to the government guidance for outdoor exercise and meeting other people here.
Is 1-1 training allowed for under 18s?
To clarify, leaving an under 18 alone with one adult from another household to play football is a breach of safeguarding policy and, as you can’t have another adult in attendance due to Covid-19 regulations, then it is not permissible.
Is mental health football allowed during lockdown?
Yes mental health specific football is allowed outdoors as The FA uses the Equality Act definition to define eligibility for the disability football pathway which states that you’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. Long term means 12 months or more and substantial is more than minor or trivial.
What does ‘organised’ mean?
Organised outdoor disability football is permitted during lockdown. ‘Organised’ means structured sessions which are following all appropriate Covid-19 protocols and guidance.
What is the latest safeguarding advice?
Any clubs organising outdoor football for disabled children or adults (as permitted under the current Covid-19 restrictions) are reminded to ensure that a Covid-19 and Safeguarding Risk Assessment must be in place and reviewed regularly. The FAs Safeguarding Children and Adults Policies must be adhered to.
If you are working or volunteering in open age adult disability football we’d strongly encourage you to complete the free online course ‘Safeguarding Adults’. This will support you to recognise, respond and refer adult safeguarding concerns. Follow this link to enrol on the course https://falearning.thefa.com/course/view.php?id=31