Our main priority is the safety of our members and coaches. Set out below are the guidelines that need to be followed when visiting Reading Hockey Club during this phased return to play. To keep our members and coaches safe, please read these guidelines carefully.

The guidelines below follow the latest Government Guidance for the public on the phased return of outdoor sport and recreations in England updated 17 July, Sport England Guidelines and England Hockey (EH) guidance on returning to play as safely as possible updated 7 August. EH has a 5 step Roadmap to Return to Play. Step 4 is Local Match Play – Intra club / local matches can happen but restrictions stop leagues / main competitions resuming. This Step also allows for Contact Training in groups of up to 30. EH will notify clubs when Step 5 Full Competitive Match Play can resume

You must maintain social distancing before and after the training session. All spectators etc must maintain social distancing at all times.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO NOW BEFORE RETURNING TO PLAY (Stage Four):
1. Register / Update your membership details on pitchero, ensuring you include your email and phone number
2. Pay your 2020/21 Membership Fees
3. Complete the England Hockey Participation Agreement Form making sure you list “Reading HC” as one of your organisations

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE EACH SESSION:
1. Mark and keep updated your availability for Training and Matches on pitchero
2. Perform a Self-Assessment for symptoms of Covid-19. No one should leave home to participate in any form of hockey if they, or someone they live with, has any of the following:
• A high temperature (above 37.8 C – some clubs may include on site temperature checking of participants as part of the SOP, this is more relevant to clubs who employ medical staff.
• A new continuous cough
• Shortness of breath
• A sore throat
• Loss of or change in normal sense of taste or smell
• Feeling generally unwell
• Been in close contact with / lining with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the previous 2 weeks
3. Pack your protective equipment, including:
• Hand Sanitiser
• Gum Shield
• Shin Pads
• Glove
• Water Bottle
• Face Masks

NB If you experience any Covid-19 symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 you must inform Reading Hockey Club’s Covid-19 officer Judith Barton immediately at covid@readinghockeyclub.org.uk or call 07710 019295

We will contact players you have been training with so they are aware and can follow government guidance on self-isolating. You must also contact NHS Track and Trace https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works. Reading Hockey Club will report any incidents of Covid-19 to England Hockey.

More Detailed Guidance is set out below and must be adhered to.

WHO CAN USE THE READING HOCKEY CLUB FACILITIES for TRAINING or Matches?

• Sessions are only available to Reading Hockey Club Members who have paid their 20/21 Membership Fees (including Summer Temporary Members), aged over 5 years old on 1st September 2020.
• Only those that have recorded their attendance in advance via Pitchero will be able to attend. This enables the Club to maintain sufficient and relevant records for Track and Trace purposes.
• U8 & U10 – minimum of one non-playing guardian/parent must supervise and remain on site at all times observing social distancing
• U12 to U16 – children can be dropped-off in the main car park. Please ensure your child know which pitch or zone they have been allocated.
• U18 (Sixth Formers) and older must read and adhere to these guidelines.
• ALL PLAYERS MUST REGISTER AT THE DESIGNATED REGISTRATION POINT for your hockey session.

• READING HOCKEY CLUB PITCHES CANNOT BE USED FOR PRIVATE
• Bookings for individual, Zone Play, or Coached sessions outside of ‘normal’ training/matches can continue to be booked via bookings@readinghockeyclub.org.uk

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE:
• Make sure your training session on pitchero is confirmed and that you have registered as attending. Do not travel to the Club unless you have done so.
• Bring your own hand sanitiser for your own use.
• Bring your own playing equipment/kit for your own use (see below). Label your kit.
• Bring your own water bottle. Label your water bottle. We are unable to refill water bottles.
• Players must arrive for their training session already changed, there are NO changing facilities available.
• Please note there is limited access to toilet facilities in the Clubhouse and you must follow the signs. One person is allowed in at a time however all children Under 10 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
• Dogs are not permitted on site during this time except in the car park area.

TRAVEL: Please follow the Government guidelines on Travel when making journeys to and from the Club.

ARRIVAL AT THE CLUB:
• Do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the start of your session. If you are early, please remain in your car until your session is ready to start. If you have been given a set sign in time, please stick to this.
• Follow all signs at the Club, and directions for drop-off.
• All drivers must park in the designated areas.
• Once parked or dropped off, follow route markers to the pitches and follow the coach’s instructions.
• Avoid congregating entrances to the pitches and maintain your 2 metre (2 stick lengths) distance at all times.
• ALL PLAYERS MUST REGISTER BEFORE ENTERING THE PLAYING AREA. For Seniors & Colts: via the pitchero training schedule. Minis U10 and U8: via manual registers. You will be notified of your designated groups.
• Use of Dug-Outs is at your own risk as it may not possible to maintain cleaning between sessions.
• NO PARENTS, GUARDIANS OR OTHER SPECTATORS ARE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE PLAYING AREA and must use the designated spectator areas outside of the pitches.
• Spectator groups must be restricted to discrete six person gathering limits and spread out, in line with wider Government Guidelines.
• You may bring your own fold-up chair, all other seating areas will be closed off.

DURING THE SESSION:
• Try to avoid touching metal surfaces including fencing and gates. Gates must remain open at all times.
• Follow guidelines on hand hygiene carefully. Please bring your own sanitiser.
• Do not share food and drink with others.
• Avoid shouting when in close proximity to other players or coaches. This is particularly important when in a face to face scenario.

EQUIPMENT (please prepare before you leave for the Club):
• Equipment must not be shared between players.
• Please bring your own playing equipment including stick, shin-pads, glove and gumshield.
• We recommend that you clean and wipe down your equipment including ball, sticks, shin pads etc before and after play.
• The Club will provide hockey balls, flat markers and cones.
• Please refrain from touching any club equipment except with your stick or feet. Club equipment will only be handled by the Coach.
• ALL LARGE GOALs must remain in situ. Smaller goals may be moved by the coach.
• Any kit or equipment left at the Club will be removed safely and disposed of.

SESSION CLOSE:
• Please vacate the playing area at the end of your session following the signs, regardless of whether there are players waiting.
• Collect all your own kit/equipment/rubbish and take it with you.
• Bins will be provided on site, but please take your rubbish with you.
• AT THE END OF THE SESSION YOU MUST LEAVE THE READING HOCKEY CLUB PREMISES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If this guidance is not adhered to coaches / supervisors have the authority to ask you to leave the premises for the safety of others and themselves.

PLEASE WORK WITH US
Please work with us to ensure that the guidelines are being followed so that we can all be safe. We will be reviewing the club usage daily and will make necessary changes if we feel the guidance is not being followed.
Additionally, we will continue to follow Government guidance and will be prepared to curtail or expand our activities at short notice should there be any changes to the Covid-19 situation.

Judith Barton – Covid Officer
10 August 2020

IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OR TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, ARE CURRENTLY SELF-ISOLATING, LIVING IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH A POSSIBLE COVID-19 INFECTION OR IF YOU ARE CLASSIFIED AS VULNERABLE ON HEALTH GROUNDS, PLEASE STAY AT HOME BUT YOU MUST INFORM YOU MUST INFORM READING HOCKEY CLUB’S COVID-19 OFFICER JUDITH BARTON IMMEDIATELY AT COVID@READINGHOCKEYCLUB.ORG.UK OR CALL 07710 019295