England Hockey Facilitators Guidance.

This summary is aimed at helping individuals understand their responsibilities as a facility operator when getting back on a hockey pitch safely. This is an extract of the full England Hockey Getting Back on the Pitch – Step 4 Guidance, which is available here. We recommend reading the full guidance if you have wider responsibilities or would like to gain a greater understanding of the requirements and measures in place.

Facility Operators summary guidance
Facilities must ensure that every hockey club or organisation using the venue has a named Covid Officer.
It is worth noting that some facility operators may have their own guidelines and standards in place. Facility operators and hockey clubs/organisations should cooperate to ensure best practice is followed. Any hockey bookings must comply with the guidance issued by England Hockey.

Preparation
• Facilities should carefully follow government advice on facility opening. This should include a Covid-19 Risk Assessment.
• Cleaning – suitable cleaning and hygiene arrangements should be put in place.
• Bookings should be made online or over the phone.
• Indoor facilities:
o Clubhouses – Should only open in line with government advice relating to the opening of indoor facilities and hospitality guidelines.
o Toilets – should be opened in line with guidance and, between sessions, should be cleaned, with appropriate cleaning fluids and water available.
• Outdoor facilities:
o Prepare for sessions with equipment ready and in the right place so that, wherever possible, players/coaches/officials have no contact with doors, gates, fencing, goals.
o First aid equipment accessible and facility operator or St John’s ambulance advice followed. See here.
o Hand sanitisers should be made available and facility operators should clean all common use areas in between sessions.

Running the activity
• If more than one group is using the pitch, think about how you divide the pitch to ensure there is sufficient space between groups. The aim should be to ensure groups have significant space at all times including at the start and end of sessions. Groups should not mix but coaches can move across groups.
• It is recommended that time is left between bookings (10 mins) or bookings staggered to allow for minimal opportunity for bottlenecks to occur.
• Leave gates / doors open and consider a one-way system if possible (in / out).
• Consider parking arrangements and maintaining social distancing wherever possible, including marking 2m distancing if you can.
• Standard England Hockey safety advice should be followed here.

Communication
• Facility operators should provide clear signage and regular reminders of Covid-19 guidelines.
• Facility operators should ensure that there is clear and regular communication with coaches reminding them of standards required.

After the activity
• Facility operators should disinfect equipment and areas that have been used.
Important notes
• If any users of the venue, or venue staff, show symptoms of Covid-19 they should phone NHS Track and Trace immediately. The facility operator should contact the hockey clubs/organisations Covid Officer immediately and inform any other recent users of the facility