Coronavirus Update: Return to Training

Sunday 28th June 2020

Royal Wootton Bassett Town is pleased to announce that some form of training for its teams will commence from Saturday 4 July.

While this is great news that the club is delighted to deliver, it must be stressed that the return to training is subject to strict conditions. It is vital that these are adhered to for the sake of all our members and the local community. Football activities will also be limited and will take place according to The FA and Government guidelines.

Risk Assessment and Method Statement (RAMS) – essential to read

Together with the Royal Wootton Bassett Sports Association, the club has put together a Covid-19 'Risk Assessment and Method Statement' (RAMS).

This can be found here.

It is essential that all coaches, players and parents/guardians/carers take time to read this document. No coach or player must attend any training session unless they have read and understood the controls that are required. It is also necessary for coaches, players and parents/guardians/carers to have signed the RAMS form.

The RAMS document includes vital information, which outlines:

  • An assessment of risks related to maintaining social distancing, the site and buildings, equipment, health and wellbeing, and travelling, and the measures put in place to mitigate against these;
  • How training sessions will be delivered safely in a way that reduces and minimises the risk of Covid-19 transmission;
  • What is expected of coaches;
  • What is expected of parents / guardians / carers;
  • Procedures that will be in place should a person become unwell with Covid-19 symptoms;
  • Maps outlining drop-off zones, collection zones, Covid-19 action zones and one-way routes that will be put in place at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground

    Control measures will be monitored and audited on a regular basis.

    Training Schedule

    In order to enable close monitoring of the protocols put in place, training sessions for youth teams will be held on Saturdays or Sundays. Sessions for the club's senior men's and women's teams will be held on Wednesday evenings.

    All sessions will take place on the AGP pitch.

    At this current time, the club's Community Football sessions will not be resuming.

    Sessions for teams will take place at the following times (youth section age groups refer to those for the 2020-21 season):

    Saturdays

    09.30 - 10.30: Under 7 and Under 8
    11.00 - 12.00: Under 9 Blue and Under 9 Yellow
    12.30 - 13.30: Under 10 Blue and Under 10 Yellow
    14.00 - 15.00: Under 11 Blue and Under 11 Yellow
    15.30 - 16.30: Under 12 Blue and Under 12 Yellow

    Sundays

    09.30 - 10.30: Under 13 Blue and Under 13 Yellow
    11.00 - 12.00: Under 14 Blue and Under 14 Yellow
    12.30 - 13.30: Under 15 Blue and Under 15 Yellow
    14.00 - 15.00: Under 16 Blue and Under 16 Yellow
    15.30 - 16.30: Under 18

    Wednesdays

    19.00 - 20.00: Senior Men's (First and Development teams)
    20.30 - 21.30: Ladies

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    Questions and Answers for Parents/Guardians

    Below are a number of potential questions that parents and guardians may have, with respective answers.

    Q: What if my child is in a vulnerable group with a higher risk of infection / has been instructed to shield?

    A: Parents/guardians should follow current medical/government advice if their child is in this category. Unfortunately, this means that at present they should not participate in training.

    Q: What if I am unable to provide transport for my child to training?

    A: No player should travel with or accept lifts from others who are outside of their defined 'support bubble'.

    If you or somebody else from your 'support bubble' is unable to provide transport, the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground can be safely accessed by foot or bicycle. If it is not possible for your child to travel by foot or bicycle, then unfortunately at present they should not participate in training.

    Q: Am I allowed to stay and watch my child train?

    A: No – at this time no parent/guardian will be permitted to watch training. We advise those who need to stay on site to either return to their vehicles where possible or make use of the clubhouse which is reopening with social distancing measures in place.

    Q: What if my child, or someone within their support bubble, is experiencing Covid-19 symptoms?

    A: Your child should not attend training. Please inform your team's manager that this is the case. You and your child should then follow government advice to self-isolate for 14-days or until testing has confirmed their status.

    Q: What happens if my child, or another member of their team, experiences Covid-19 symptoms at training?

    A: The player / coach experiencing symptoms will be moved the Covid-19 action zone to the left-hand side of the clubhouse. If this is a player, they will be supervised by an adult wearing PPE. Parents will be contacted immediately to collect their child and testing is required before they can return to training.

    All adults and children in contact with the player / coach will be asked to follow government advice and self-isolate for 14 days or until testing has confirmed status. Other players will only be allowed to return to training after this period or self-isolation or once a negative test has been received.

    Q: What happens if my child experiences Covid-19 symptoms having attended a training session?

    A: Inform the club's relevant Section Head and age group manager immediately so that all other attendees can be notified. You should then follow government advice regarding testing and isolation.

    Your child should not return to training until either a negative test has been received or have isolated for 14 days.

    All players, parents and coaches present in that age group will also be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

    Q: We have been advised that somebody we have been in contact with has developed Covid-19 symptoms. Can my child still attend training?

    A: If your contact with this person was more than 14 days ago, you have not displayed any symptoms and have been self-isolating for 14 days, then they can attend training. If not, then your child can only attend training once a 14-day period of self-isolation has ended.

    Q: Can my child bring their own football to training with them?

    A: No. All training kit and equipment will be supplied, kept and maintained by the coach.

    Q: My child is unable to attend training at their team's allocated time. Are they allowed to attend another team's session?

    A: No.

    Q: My child has a friend who would like to join the club and participate in training. Can they attend?

    A: At present, new players are unable to participate in training. We anticipate this will change as government and FA guidelines are relaxed.

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    If you feel anything has not been sufficiently covered and there is anything you are unsure about, please contact Chairman Andy Walduck, Vice-Chairman Pete Yeardley or Head of Youth Section Mari Green by email.

    Last modified on Thursday 2nd July 2020 at 11:05.