THE FA HAS ISSUED GUIDANCE TO ALL GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL AND INFORMAL FOOTBALL ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF THE PROFESSIONAL GAME

Consistent with Government advice, published on Wednesday 13 May, the following outdoor football activity is currently permitted:

• playing football individually e.g. practice of individual skills or fitness activities
• playing football with your family or other people living in your household
• an individual can play football with one other person who is not from their household
• coaching an adult player one to one

All social distancing guidelines must be followed.

Additionally, maintaining a grass or artificial football pitch is permitted, as long as social distancing and appropriate hygiene practices are adopted.

If an individual is symptomatic, living in a household with a possible COVID-19 infection or if you are classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, the guidance is that you should remain at home.

The following football activity is NOT permitted at this time, consistent with Government guidelines:

• Coaching a child (U18) from a different household one to one. In order to comply with The FA’s safeguarding policy, a child must have a parent/carer with them, which doesn’t comply with Government social distancing requirements
• Two or more people from one household playing with one person or more from outside their household.

The FA will continue to work with the Government and Sport England in order to provide guidance to grassroots football as the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy moves to the next phase.

County and League Cup Competitions

With the current uncertainty as to how the coronavirus situation will evolve and with “lockdown” ongoing and social gathering restrictions still in place, the Weetabix League has reviewed the 2019/20 League Cup and Plate competitions and have unanimously come to the decision that all competitions be closed, with no further fixtures be played. The League appreciate the disappointment this will mean for all associated with the teams still involved and the decision was not taken lightly and has been delayed as long as possible so that the latest situation could be assessed, but it was felt that there is no viable alternative.

A lot of local County FAs have closed their Cup competitions but, as yet, we have had no update on the status of Northamptonshire FA competitions.

Details above have come directly from the Weetabix league and Northamptonshire FA News Feed