Sonning CC – Protocol for Training during Covid-19
Updated with effect from 12 April 2021
Please see below the protocol that we will be adhering to at all of our sessions for the time being. Please make sure you have read it ahead of your session and comply with it. By attending the sessions we will assume you have agreed to follow the protocol. In particular, please do not attend any sessions should you be showing any signs of illness.
The ECB have provided guidance for organised outdoor recreational cricket activity, applicable to players, spectators, volunteers, clubs, coaches & officials in line with Step 2 of the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown which applies from 12 April 2021. This guidance only applies to organised sporting activity. The UK Government defines organised sport as: ‘sport which is formally organised by a qualified instructor, club, national governing body [in the case of cricket – the ECB], company or charity and follows sport specific guidance’.
We would like to provide a safe environment with government and ECB guidelines for our young players to get back some cricket related activity. Please note we have a separate protocol for adapted game play during Covid-19.
Under social distancing we have to carefully manage any sessions.
- Organised cricket and supervised children’s cricket can take place outdoors in safe numbers subject to a venue and activity COVID risk assessment and in line with ECB guidance on supervision and coaching ratios for supervised children’s activity.
- We will therefore split our training for each age group into smaller groups which are kept at a clear distance from each other, with each of these smaller groups not exceeding 30 participants. We will also limit mixing between groups.
- Spectators are not currently permitted at Step 2. This does not apply to carers for people with disabilities, adults needed to supervise under-18s in a safeguarding role (one parent per child) or patrons attending the venue for hospitality. Where it is necessary for them to be present, supervising adults should not mix with others from outside their household or support bubble.
- Where the sharing of cricket balls is essential (for example during fielding drills), the cricket balls must be cleaned every 20 minutes and players should practise hand hygiene every 20 minutes during the training session.
- Adjacent nets can now be used during training sessions, provided the 2 metre distancing rule is adhered to at all times. Accordingly no more than 8 players (1 batter and 3 bowlers per lane) and 1 coach are allowed to be inside the enclosed net at any one time. Additional players must wait outside of the nets, maintaining a 2 metre distance from others.
- We must maintain social distancing between players, coaches and parents.
- Close physical contact should be limited wherever possible.
- Where possible players should limit sharing of equipment. If they do, they must practise strict hand hygiene before and after use and the equipment must be cleaned before use by another person.
- Players must have their own water bottles – no sharing.
- Players must supply their own hand sanitiser and use regularly.
Transport and General Attendance
- Parents/players must not share lifts to or from training with anyone outside of their household.
- Parking on site may be restricted or not available, in particular the car park at King George's Field (KGF) may become full.
- There is alternative parking available at Berkshire County Sports ("BCS") which is within easy walking distance of KGF. Please note that when parking at BCS a parking permit should be displayed.
- Players attending the later training session on Friday should arrive on site no earlier than 5 minutes prior to the training start time to minimise crossover with previous training group.
- Parental attendance will be restricted to one adult per family and non-playing siblings will not be allowed on the field.
- Adults/parents to maintain a 2 metre distance at all times.
- Parents and players must leave promptly at the end of training to free up parking spaces for the next session.
- We will have toilet facilities available at/during the training sessions for players, but there will be a strict one-way system in operation and children will need to be supervised. To limit the need to use the facilities, please ensure players have been to the toilet prior to attending the cricket training sessions.
Equipment
- Players must keep all equipment and drinks separate from other players’.
- Players must bring their own hand sanitiser to every training session and wash their hands before leaving home.
- Players must provide all their own equipment. Spares cannot be provided.
- U7s - cricket bat (the club will provide wind balls and have a limited number of plastic bats).
- U9s - abdominal guard (box) and cricket bat (the club will provide incrediballs).
- U11s and above - abdominal guard (box), cricket bat, batting pads, batting gloves, batting helmet and a named hard ball for use at training.
First Aid / Illness
- 1 parent should stay to observe in case of injury as the preference is for the parent of a player to administer first aid response. Coaches will have PPE and can administer basic first aid but that would be after a parent’s involvement and with parental approval to go within 2m social distancing.
- If players or any member of their immediate household show any symptoms of COVID-19 then they MUST NOT attend a training session and should isolate in accordance with government guidelines.
- If during a training session a player feels unwell then please let the coach know immediately.
- If any player becomes unwell after a training session and shows symptoms of COVID-19 then please email [email protected] immediately so that all necessary parents and coaches can be made aware.
- If any player or any member of their immediate household are deemed as critically vulnerable or at heightened risk from COVID-19 then please do not risk attending training.
