NWGFL News

The latest news from the Norfolk Women & Girls' Football League

Return of grassroots football

The UK Government have approved The FA’s plan for the return of outdoor competitive grassroots football.As a result of this exciting and much anticipated development, the grassroots football community now has the opportunity to return to football and prepare for the start of the new season. Please note that football activity can only take place with necessary modifications in place to mitigate the transmission risk of COVID-19. The FA are strongly recommending a phased return to competitive football as follows:Until 31 July – When ready, you can begin competitive training, with the overall group size (inclusive of coaches) being limited to 30 people;From August – Competitive matches to begin, for example pre-season fixtures, festivals and small sided football competitions;From September – Grassroots leagues, men’s National League System, Women’s Football Pyramid tiers 3 to 6 and FA Competitions can commence.Clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents/carers, spectators and football facility providers should read the full guidelines which can be found on our website here – http://www.norfolkfa.com/home/news/2020/jul/17/%20fa-guidance-issued-for-return-of-outdoor-competitive-grassroots-footballPlease be reminded that Norfolk FA are still running with significantly reduced staffing numbers and will do their best to deal as quickly as they can with any queries you may have from Monday.I am sure, like us, you are delighted that the return of #NorfolkFootball is almost upon us but we would encourage you to ensure that you continue to follow all of the relevant guidance at all time

Latest statement from The Football Association

The Football Association

Updated Guidance on permitted grassroots football activity during COVID-19 –1 June 2020

The FA has today issued further guidance to all grassroots football and informal football activity outside the professional game following The Government’s relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions from 1 June 2020.

Consistent with Government advice, published on Monday 1 June, 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;
  • football training or fitness activities in groups of no more than six, keeping two metres apart at all times. Sharing of equipment should be kept to a minimum and strong hand hygiene practices should be in place before and after. Physical contact with anyone outside of your household is not permitted, therefore, playing of any games (small-sided or full) is also not permitted at this time. Avoid meeting in groups of six in busy or overcrowded areas, if it is so busy that it is not possible to maintain social distancing at all times.
  • Football coaches can now undertake small group sessions up to six people (including the coach) but are reminded to follow The FA safeguarding policy when coaching/working with children. This must include risk assessing the activities, gaining consent from parents/carers and ensuring you are in sight of another adult e.g. parent/carer or another coach and that the ratio of coach to different age-groups of children is appropriate – see download 5.5 . For clarity, the additional parent/carer or coach is not included as part of the group of six but must remain in sight of the activity.
  • It is permissible for coaches to organise a training session that has two or more groups of six (including the coach) involved as long as the groups of six are kept separate, everyone is socially distancing, and strict hygiene measures are in place with any equipment.
  • Football coaches working with people with impairments must ensure they can adequately cater for any additional needs whilst still avoiding physical contact and maintaining social distancing. Individuals should follow Government guidance relevant to their own impairment or health condition.

Please be reminded, 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 FA continues to work closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Sport England in order to provide good practice guidance for those responsible for delivering different aspects of grassroots football and we will share further information as soon as possible.

2020 / 2021 Season Team Entries

To enable the constitution to be proposed to clubs and circulated two weeks prior to the AGM, which will be held online on the 23rd June 2020, we will need the remaining clubs who have yet to enter to ensure their team applications are with me by the end of May,
Entries can be via email using the forms on the league website or on the League website online form
The first week of June all documents will be circulated and information required for the AGM,
Confirmation of next seasons entry fees will be confirmed in due course.

League Season 2019-2020

Following on from the announcement made by The FA, the season 2019-20 has now ended. As a league committee, we have and will continue to discuss over the coming days our solution and end of season plans.

The league, as have all leagues been given the choice of nulling the season, or by using a points per game scenario. We will evaluate the options and decide what is suitable. Once confirmed, we will submit our decision to Norfolk FA, once ratified we will inform our member clubs.

NWGFL Cup and Plate competitions will be decided at a later date.

We will make no further updates until this time. Thank you all for your patience at this time, and stay safe.

COVID-19 Update

Following on from the statement released today from Norfolk FA as detailed below, Norfolk Womens and Girls Football League have made the decision to mirror this statement and will be suspending all fixtures both Adult and Youth until Friday 3rd April.

As detailed below it is highly recommended for clubs, to suspend all training during this period also.

Please note you will not need to send postponement forms for these fixtures.

At this stage it is still far too early to be able to answer any questions regarding the remainder of this season, but these matters  are under discussion and that updates will be provided in due course.

Most importantly look after yourselves and look after each other, this is a difficult time for everyone.

Kind regards

Netti Champion

League General Secretary

07733362601

NORFOLK FA STATEMENT: COVID-19 UPDATE 16 MARCH

After another Emergency Board Meeting taking place today, we are issuing the following update to all involved in Norfolk Football:

Today (Monday 16 March 2020) the Norfolk County FA Board of Directors has taken the decision to suspend all of its football activity in Norfolk with immediate effect until Friday 3 April.

After seeking the views of our sanctioned leagues across the County, this includes the recommendation that all league fixtures be postponed as well as organised team training throughout this period.

The County Cup fixtures including the Wensum Print Sunday Junior Cup Final and the Norfolk Primary Cup Final due to take place on Friday 20 March and Friday 27 March respectively, have also been postponed.

In addition, our Football Development Facilities (theFDC, Bowthorpe; theFDC@OpenAcademy and theFDC@Flegg) will cease operations from 3pm this afternoon for this period; resulting in the postponement of all bookings, activities and County 5IVES fixtures taking place at each of the FDC’s and other satellite facilities throughout the county, until Friday 3 April. All three FDC’s will however be staffed (not open to the public) from 9am-5pm each day this week for customer queries, unless further Government advice is issued that prevents this.

All of our Education Courses and Football Development activities will also be suspended during this time and will result in any courses, training or CPD events scheduled, being re-arranged for a later date.

County Headquarters & FDC Staffing

Moving forward, the County FA Headquarters will be operating with some members of staff in the office and some working from home. All staff that are working will be contactable via email and the County HQ phone lines remain open via 01603 704050 (Ext. 1).

Those needing to contact staff members working from home will be directed towards email communications or an alternative mobile number.

As mentioned previously, each of the Football Development Centres will be staffed from 9am-5pm every day this week in order to answer customer queries.

Government Advice

In the meantime, we wish the Norfolk Football community well and urge them to follow the latest advice which can be found here:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Chief Executive, Gavin Lemmon said: “In an ever-changing landscape and this unique situation we find ourselves in, the Board felt strongly that as a County FA it is our responsibility to not only act upon the guidance given to us by The FA and the UK Government, but also in the best interests of our participants, volunteers and staff. 

“Without doubt this has been the most difficult decision we’ve ever faced and one that we know will not meet the approval of everyone, however we do ask that everyone involved in the grassroots game looks out for one another and for our clubs and leagues to operate in a way that best serves their participants, maintaining the priority of welfare for all.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely at all times and should the need for updated advice or action occur, we will inform the Norfolk Football community as soon as possible.”

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RAINBOW LACES CAMPAIGN

FOOTBALL IS EVERYONE’S GAME

The FA and the County FA network are delighted to be a part of the 2019 Rainbow Laces Campaign. The campaign will take place from Friday 22 November to Sunday 8 December.

We hope you’ll show your support by engaging with the campaign throughout this period so that together, we can make football everyone’s game.

Participation from your clubs and other organisations shows support in your local community. The FA have created a toolkit to help you and those involved over the campaign period to make the most of your involvement in the campaign, by promoting your fixture dates, conveying key messages and statistics and some suggestions for how you can showcase your commitment to LGBT+ inclusion.To download the activation pack for clubs & leagues below or for a print version, view here.