Wembley

The Football Association - Guidance on Permitted Grassroots Football Activity During COVID-19

Guidance today (15 May 2020) issued by The FA in relation to permitted football activity.

The FA has today issued guidance to all grassroots football and informal football activity outside the professional game.
Consistent with Government advice, published on Wednesday 13 May, the following outdoor football activity is currently permitted:

  • playing football individually e.g. practice of individual skills or fitness activities; 
  • playing football with your family or other people living in your household; 
  • an individual can play football with one other person who is not from their household. 
  • coaching an adult player one to one. 

All social distancing guidelines must be followed.

Additionally, maintaining a grass or artificial football pitch is permitted, as long as social distancing and appropriate hygiene practices are adopted. 

If an individual is symptomatic, living in a household with a possible COVID-19 infection or if you are classified as extremely vulnerable on health grounds, the guidance is that you should remain at home. 

The following football activity is not permitted at this time, consistent with Government guidelines:

  • coaching a child (U18) from a different household one to one. In order to comply with The FA’s safeguarding policy, a child must have a parent/carer with them, which doesn’t comply with Government social distancing requirements; 
  • two or more people from one household playing with one person or more from outside their household. 

The FA will continue to work with the Government and Sport England in order to provide guidance to grassroots football as the Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy moves to the next phase.