Phase 1 Guidance 28th May 2020

Phase 1 Guidance 28th May 2020

This guidance can be downloaded as a PDF HERE

 

Introduction

Some sporting activities can now be undertaken outdoors, providing all activity is consistent with current Scottish Government guidance on health, physical distancing and hygiene – you will also need to make sure that your club, facility and participants are made aware and can adapt to changes in guidance at short notice.  Information on Scottish Governments approach to managing covid-19 is available at www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ .

People who are shielding should not visit venues or undertake activities. People who are symptomatic should self-isolate for 7 days; household members for 14 days as per info on NHS guidance. No one who is self-isolating should attend an outdoor sports facility/activity.

IMPORTANT: Do not leave your home to undertake exercise or outdoor activity if Scottish Government advice means you should stay at home because you, or someone you live with, has or has had symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to shield from the coronavirus.

 

Updated exercise guidelines

No organised hockey activity should be undertaken at the present time although people who wish to informally practice with members of one other household, or members of their own household, should follow Scottish Government guidance on health, physical distancing and hygiene – you will also need to make sure you can adapt to changes of guidance in short notice.  Information on the Scottish Government’s approach to managing covid-19 is available at www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ .

This document provides some general guidelines to be followed alongside government advice for exercise with family members from the same household, and for exercise with members of one other household.

The updated Scottish government advice means from 29/05/2020 it is possible for hockey to be played:

  • By up to 8 players from a maximum of two different households under social distancing guidelines.
  • Between one household group (where social distancing is not required).

While there is a natural desire for organised coaching activity to resume, the current easing of restrictions from government concentrates on extension of exercise rather than all aspects of each sport, and therefore organised coaching is not part of these guidelines. Separate guidelines will be published if and when organised coaching one-to-one sessions are allowed.

Please be aware that this guidance may change as the circumstances change.

A common sense approach to training in the current climate is required and should be adopted.

Scottish Hockey will continue to follow government advice. Timings of any changes to the circumstances for hockey will always be led by government advice during the Covid-19 restrictions. Whilst these are the first steps in an extension to exercise, we would encourage everyone to firstly consider the health and themselves and others.

 

Common sense recommendations

Before Exercise:

  • Stay home, if you feel sick, even with mild symptoms.
  • Check for COVID-19 symptoms every day.
  • Check body temperature daily.
  • Stay home, if you are in the high risk or shielding categories.
  • Stay home, if anybody in your household presents with symptoms.
  • Stay home, if anybody in your household has been tested positive (at least 14 days).
  • Risk assessments should be carried out and documented for all activities and facilities. Consider safety first, particularly minimising the risk of infection/transmission. Appropriate measures must be put in place to ensure participants are protected.
  • Check travel guidelines and plan your journey accordingly.
  • Come dressed for exercise and bring all of your own equipment.
  • Clean all equipment prior to use.

 

During Exercise:

  • Keep distance of 2 metres to persons from outside of your household.
  • Do not shake hands with anyone.
  • Cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
  • Perform adequate personal hygiene such as washing your hands regularly.
  • Spitting is not allowed at any point.

 

After Exercise:

  • Leave immediately after the activity has finished.
  • Change and shower at home
  • Clean all of your equipment thoroughly after each activity

* We encourage parents to ensure their children adhere to the above guidance before returning to any one-to-one or family training sessions.

 

Facilities

  • All outdoor & indoor hockey facilities should remain closed to the public including club buildings, toilets, changing rooms, and retail outlets during this phase. While we understand this delays the ability of our facilities to reopen, as a sport our main concern is the safety of our members and the wider public. To this end we will follow Government advice and ask that our facilities remain closed during this phase.
  • We would encourage you to be creative, does your activity need to be done on a hockey pitch? Consider other surfaces and environments such as grass; concrete; or the beach.
  • Prepare for activity with equipment ready and in the right place aiming for there to be no contact for participants with doors, gates, fencing, and goals wherever possible.
  • Any unnecessary equipment (such as corner flags) should be removed and dugouts closed off.
  • Hand sanitisers should be made available and facility operators clean all common use areas in between sessions.
  • At all times, participants and facility operators should adhere to the Scottish Government’s social distancing guidelines of staying at least 2m away from others. Scottish Government guidelines are available at: gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/ .
  • A maximum of 8 participants from two households are permitted to ensure appropriate social distancing can be maintained and referenced within your risk assessments
  • Health, Safety & Hygiene
  • Cleaning of equipment, hand and respiratory hygiene are core measures to be implemented and provision should be made for these.
  • Clear guidance and plans are needed for cleaning of facilities and equipment, and waste disposal. For instance, common touchpoint surfaces (gates, door handles, handrails etc) should where possible be left open but if not possible, regular cleaning with disposable gloves should be undertaken.

Detailed guidance is available at;

www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/covid-19-guidance-for-non-healthcare-settings/

www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/hand-hygiene/

Personal training/coaching

Informal one-on-one personal training or coaching is permitted if it is:

  • outdoors;
  • physical distancing can be maintained;
  • and is with members of your household and/or members of one other household.

A coach or personal trainer should not deliver training to more than one household at any one time or provide training to more than one household per day.

When participating in training or coaching, where possible, avoid touching surfaces and sharing equipment and touching your mouth and face.

 

Communication with members/customers

  • Clubs and operators should communicate clearly and regularly with members and participants setting out what they are doing to manage risk, and what advice they are giving to individuals before, during and after visits to the venue/activity.
  • Bookings should be made online or over the phone to facilitate track and trace and retained for 6 weeks by the club/facility.

 

Travel

 

Hockey Activity

  • Maintain a distance from other people of at least 2 metres at all times, including before, during and after the activity or when taking breaks.
  • Ensure the activity area is clearly marked out, in line with social distancing guidelines.
  • Wash / sanitise your hands regularly. Participants should bring their own hand sanitiser.
  • Be aware that all onsite indoor facilities including toilets will be closed.
  • Use your own equipment at all times, do not share any equipment with others.
  • Leave straight after the activity.

Safeguarding

  • All activities should take place in line with the club’s safeguarding Policy.

Workforce

  • Clubs and venue operators must ensure that relevant workplace guidance is followed for contractors and staff and ensure existing health and safety advice is maintained and aligned. This should be detailed in the risk assessment.

Insurance

  • We strongly advise that any club activity should be in line with these guidelines and should be risk assessed prior to their undertaking.
  • Failure to meet these guidelines may invalidate any insurance claim if a member becomes injured or unwell during club activity during the phased return of sport.
  • Under these extension of exercise guidelines, coaching is not currently allowed. We have prepared separate coaching guidance for those that want to coach one-to-one sessions and will be issued if and when it is allowed. As a reminder, any coach who delivers a session separate from club activity must have their own public liability insurance as this will not be covered under Scottish Hockey’s policy.

 

Scottish Hockey is currently working in partnership with sportscotland and Scottish Government to provide up to date and relevant guidelines to all of our members. When we receive new or updated information we will ensure this document is updated and our members are notified promptly.

 

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