GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL UPDATE | COVID-19
The
Scottish
FA
has
been
encouraged
to
see
so
many
clubs
engaging
with
their
local
community,
enabling
people
to
return
safely
to
a
restricted
programme
of
football
training
and
activity.
As
we
continue
to
plan
ahead,
the
Grassroots
sub
group
of
the
Scottish
FA
Coronavirus
Joint
Response
Group
has
created
tentative
plans
providing
a
framework
to
inform
Affiliated
National
Associations
and
Leagues
of
the
steps
which could allow a return to competition to take place, given any future approval by the Scottish Government.
In
conjunction
with
the
Scottish
Government
and
Sportscotland,
the
Scottish
FA
are
working
on
a
staged
approach
which
may
allow
competition
to
return
by
late
Autumn,
with
mid-October
identified
as
the
earliest
possible
date.
It
must
be
stressed
that
the
return
to
competition
requires
many
factors
to
be
considered
and
will
be
predicated
on
the
continued
progress
being
made
in
Scotland
against
the
virus.
Therefore,
dates
are
only
indicative
and
are
subject
to
change
based
on
public
health
guidance.
Each
stage
will
also
be
based
upon
the
continued
easing
of restrictions and with approval of the Scottish Government.
The staged approach is as follows:
Stage 1
- Return to restricted contact training for adults
Stage 2
- Full return to contact training
Stage 3
- Local inter club match activity (including local friendly matches)
Stage 4
- Return to affiliated competitions
Whilst
there
are
no
specific
dates
available
at
this
point,
the
Scottish
FA
will
work
with
Affiliated
National
Associations
and
Leagues
via
the
Grassroots
Sub
Group
to
identify
how
the
stages
above
could
be
implemented
and
what
protocols
will
be
required.
The
Scottish
FA
would
like
to thank everyone involved in the game for continuing to support the phased return of football and for following the current guidelines in place.