Dorset FA Statement on COVID 19
Dorset County Football Association
Statement on COVID-19
(Updated 2nd April)
Statement from Dorset FA CEO
Dorset FA CEO, Sue Hough has provided a statement on the current COVID-19 situation confirming the actions that have been taken to safeguard football within Dorset.
Read the full statement below.
FA Statement on DBS Checks during COVID-19
The FA is implementing temporary changes to DBS checks in football for the period that football is suspended due to coronavirus, up to and including the start of the 2020-2021 season. These changes are outlined below and will apply to all roles in football.
Read the FA statement below.
Charter Standard FAQ's
The FA have produced an FAQ document to help those clubs with questions regarding their Charter Standard status during the current coronavirus crisis.
Updated 26th March (3pm)
Full FA Statement - 2019-20 Season
The Football Association [The FA] has been working collaboratively with the National League System [NLS], the Women’s Football Pyramid and the wider grassroots game since the outbreak of COVID-19 on how to conclude the 2019/20 season in the most appropriate way possible.
These are challenging circumstances for English football and all decisions taken are in the best interests of the game and in consultation across key stakeholders. Our primary concern will always be for the safety and welfare of clubs, players, staff, officials, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time.
Today’s steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, whilst considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided, with the integrity of the Leagues in mind.
The NLS and the Women’s Football Pyramid were able to build a consensus amongst their leagues and, where possible, aimed to create a consistent approach across all leagues, whilst taking into account the unique characteristics of each individual league.
As a result, The FA and NLS Steps 3 to 6 have reached a consensus that their 2019/20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged. This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS Steps 3 to 6, and no promotion to NLS Step 2.
Updated 25th March (10.30am)
Statement from UK GLOBAL
Following the announcement that all grassroots football has been suspended by The FA for the foreseeable future, UK Global have provided CFA's with a statement regarding the current situation in relation to insurance cover.
To confirm this includes ALL football activities (training; tournaments; festivals; matches, small sided etc). We are in an ever changing situation and should the Government/FA change their guidance, the response of the policy would also change.
Club Communication
Player Registration Email Addresses - From the commencement of Season 2021-22 all Players registered online will need an email address attached to their FAN (Parental Email address for players under 16). The Dorset FA are working to increase the numbers of players registered Online in the Blackmore Vale League and Weymouth Football League.
It would be very worthwhile that if Officers of Football Clubs are at home with free time on their hands they could work towards their club achieving 100% email addresses on all players registered online, rather than wait a further 12 months. Any problems please email Colin.Chainey@dorsetfa.com
De-duplication of FAN Numbers - If any clubs know of any FAN Numbers that require de-duplication please send details to Colin Chainey and he will have them scheduled for de-duplication.
Updated 17th March (2.30pm)
Following yesterday's Government announcement for people to avoid social contact and gatherings where possible due to the ongoing Corona virus and the subsequent FA postponement of ALL grassroots football with immediate effect and for the foreseeable future, the Dorset County Football Association would like to assure people that throughout this period of uncertainty we will look to follow all Government advice with the priority being the health and wellbeing of everybody.
The Dorset FA are working to ensure that everyone involved in football in Dorset are kept up to date with all the latest information relating to the corona virus and its impact to football in Dorset.
For clarification the operations of the Dorset FA will be impacted as follows:
Leagues and Cups
All Dorset FA sanctioned Leagues and Dorset County Cups have been postponed.
This includes:
- Girls Youth Cup Finals
- Minor Cup
- Senior Plate
- Youth Under 18 Cup
- Junior Cup
- Women's Cup
- Sunday Challenge Cup
- Intermediate Cup
- Senior Trophy
- Youth Cup Finals
- Dorset Women's League
- Dorset Mini Soccer League
- Dorset Ability Counts League
- Dorset Flexi League
Education Courses
ALL Dorset FA coach education programmes have been suspended until further notice. Candidates who are booked on to a course in the next week will be contacted in the first instance.
Events and Festivals
The following events have been postponed or cancelled until further notice;
- Referees Celebration Evening
- Representative Team Fixtures
- FA Futsal Cup (Schools, Youth & Adults Strands)
- All Advanced Coaching Centre Activities
- Referee Development Activities
- The FA Fives Competition
Facility Bookings
ALL bookings on the 3G at the Specsavers County Ground will be cancelled with immediate effect. Users who have paid in advance for pitch hire fees will have
fees held in credit for future bookings.
Discipline
Any outstanding disciplinary cases and fines will remain in place and be acknowledged and paid by the due date.
Match-based suspensions will also remain in place until football restarts.
We do realise that any Club/Team or individual suspensions will be of little consequence at the present time, however please be aware that any late fees and suspensions arising during this time will remain in place until settled. We will contact any Clubs that this involves at a later date, once it is known when football will be restarting.
Any ongoing disciplinary actions will still continue, and misconduct charges will still be processed. For correspondence hearings we will look to hear cases via telephone or video conference.
Charged clubs or individuals may still request a personal hearing, however no hearings in person will be taking place until further notice.
Dorset FA Office
The Dorset FA Office will remain closed until at least 2nd April, although staff will still be available to deal with business activities.
From Thursday 19th March all staff will be working remotely and can be contacted by email or mobile.
Please be aware that all non-essential meetings planned will be cancelled or re-arranged to be made via an online medium, so if you were due to meet a member of staff then please ensure that you speak with them for confirmation.
A further update will be provided from 2nd April once further clarification is known.
STAFF WORKING HOURS DURING CORONA VIRUS
Please be advised that from Thursday 19th March the Dorset FA Office in Hamworthy will remain closed until at least 2nd April, when we will then review the situation. During this time all staff will be working remotely and available to deal with business activities.
Staff working hours during this time will remain unchanged and are Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Please note that staff will be unavailable from 12.30pm - 1.30pm for lunch.
All staff can be contacted by email or mobile.
Please be aware that all non-essential meetings planned will be cancelled or re-arranged to be made via an online medium, so if you were due to meet a member of staff then please ensure that you speak with them for confirmation.
Updated 13th March (4.27pm)
FA Spokesperson: “The FA is fully aware that there are questions about whether grassroots football in England should be played because of the Covid-19 virus."
“Consistent with Government advice, The FA is recommending that grassroots football is able to continue as usual for now, with each league or centre making its own individual decision based on its local situation and the availability of players and officials. However, we would fully respect and support any leagues, centres or teams that wish to postpone fixtures in light of the Covid-19 virus.
The decision to postpone all professional football in England has been taken with the integrity of the competitions in mind, considering the availability of players, staff and facilities.
We will continue to monitor all Government advice and keep the situation under constant review, with the priority being the health and wellbeing of all. Further updates will follow as needed."
Updated 13th March (11.15am)
Following the recent statement from the The FA, Premier League, EFL and FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship all have collectively agreed to postpone the professional game in England until Friday 3 April at the earliest.
Please be advised that all grassroots football adult and youth will continue as normal. Dorset FA will be operating as usual which includes all bookings at the Specsavers County Ground and educational courses. We would remind individuals of basic hand hygiene protocols and cough etiquette and to follow the advice issued by the government.
Following advice from The FA’s medical department please see the below advice with regards to COVID-19 and our Coach Education Courses.
If you have travelled to and from the affected areas (Click Here), in the past 14 days, have been in contact with anyone affected by the virus or are showing symptoms we ask that you do not travel to Dorset FA’s Coaching Courses and advise us accordingly. The recommendation is for you to seek advice from NHS 111.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE INFORMATION
This page will be updated accordingly if advice from PHE changes.