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FAI Safe Return to Training & Play Protocol

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FAI Safe Return to Training & Play Protocol

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FAI Updates COVID-19 Guidelines & Return to Indoor Training

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FAI Updates COVID-19 Guidelines & Return to Indoor Training

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As Ireland continues to emerge from the effects of the current pandemic, the FAI has reminded all players, coaches, officials and volunteers to continue to practice mask wearing indoors, practice good hand sanitation, engage in appropriate cough and sneezing etiquette and respect 2 metre social distancing.

New protocols will also come into effect on indoor training from September 21, in pods of six players with a maximum of two coaches.

The Association has also informed stakeholders that the new Government plan will feature a significant shift from regulation and guideline to one of personal responsibility and urges abidance with this policy.

All protocol updates are in line with the latest Government guidelines and the FAI again thanks all stakeholders for their ongoing diligence in the fight against COVID-19. The FAI will update these protocols before the transition period expires on October 22.
Key measures to note from September 21 to October 22 include:
General
Indoor Training

Do not show up to participate, coach, manage, referee, or work at a venue/workplace if you are unwell - check with your GP first and get tested if in any doubt.

Only team players, match officials and support staff are allowed in dressing rooms for a maximum period of 15 minutes.

Wear face mask in all indoor settings.

Sanitize your hands regularly.

Observe 2 metre social distancing in dressing rooms and all indoor facilities at all times.

Clear signage is to be displayed on capacities and spacing in dressing rooms.

Hand sanitization stations to be placed at each dressing room entrance.

A clear flow management plan for dressing rooms to be in use.

Practice good coughing and sneezing etiquette.

Showers are best avoided if possible in the transition period.

If shower use is unavoidable, only use every second cubicle/shower head with a maximum of 5 minutes allowed in the shower.

A COVID-19 Risk Assessmentmust be carried out by all clubs in advance of any resumption of training/matches and/or facility reopening.

FAI Risk Assessment Template can be found here - FAI Risk Assessment Template

The Risk Assessment must be reviewed in advance of training/matches returning, dressing rooms reopening and kept up to date at all times.

Additional Guidance

Indoor training is permitted in pods of six players and maximum two coaches up to October 22.

Indoor training areas for each pod must measure a minimum of 96 square metres.

A buffer zone two metres wide must exist between each pod where multiple pods of six players are training.

All indoor training areas must be suitably ventilated at all times.

Multiple training sessions can take place concurrently once venue is big enough.

Players and coaches do not have to be vaccinated to train indoors.

Hand sanitizer must be available at all indoor training areas.

Spectator numbers are limited to the venue's social distancing guidelines.

All spectators must adhere to 2 metre social distancing.

In relation to Gyms and Training Facilities within clubs, these may operate in line with the broader permissions for indoor facilities.

Appropriate protective measures and COVID protocols should be in place.

Transport To and From Activities & Events

Since the emergence of COVID 19 football has developed and implemented a wide range of protocols and protective measures to limit the transmission of COVID 19 and ensure the safety of participants, volunteers, staff and spectators.

As mandatory restrictions unwind football should continue to manage COVID-19 on the basis that it will likely continue to be constantly present into the foreseeable future.

Football should seek to maintain overarching structures and basic protective measures throughout the Winter season.

These include the use of COVID 19 Officers, recommending symptomatic individuals do not participate in or attend sporting activities, the ongoing promotion of good respiratory & hand hygiene along with the wearing a face coverings in relevant settings and considering indoor space densities and duration of indoor activities.

The guidlines can be viewed and downloaded below:

While Public transport is operating at full capacity, Private Coach Tour activity is limited at 75% capacity with protective measures.

Football clubs/league organising transport to/from events should implement private Coach Tour capacities (75%).

Protective measures such as physical distancing, mask wearing etc. should also be implemented.

In line with the return of public and private transport participants may wish to return to the use of carpooling.

Private transport carrying those not yet vaccinated or of mixed immunity should be aware of the higher risk. The use of appropriate face coverings is recommended.

If carpooling consider use of a pod system in which the same participants pool together for all activities.

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FAI Updates COVID-19 Guidelines & Return to Indoor Training

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As Ireland continues to emerge from the effects of the current pandemic, the FAI has reminded all players, coaches, officials and volunteers to continue to practice mask wearing indoors, practice good hand sanitation, engage in appropriate cough and sneezing etiquette and respect 2 metre social distancing.

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FAI Coach Education | Grassroots Coach Education Programme

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FAI Coach Education | Grassroots Coach Education Programme

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FAI Grassroots Region 5 - Club Mark Awards

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FAI Grassroots Region 5 - Club Mark Awards

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Well done to all clubs across Region 5 who were recently presented with their Entry Level or One Star Club Mark Awards.

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FAI Safer Return to Training & Playing Protocols

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FAI Safer Return to Training & Playing Protocols

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FAI Safer Return to Training & Play Protocol

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Mungret Regional Football Club was established in 1971 and they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year. The club which is situated at Rathmale, Mungret, Co. Limerick has over 450 registered players, 60 coaches and numerous committees. Over the next 10-15 years, the club plans to develop their newly purchased 8.5 acres of land into playing pitches.

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FAI Launch Videos to Assist with Return to Play Protocol

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FAI Launch Videos to Assist with Return to Play Protocol

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The Football Association of Ireland has today launched a series of animated videos to assist players, coaches, club officials and parents/guardians with the updated Return to Training and Play protocols.

The series of six animated videos covers all aspects of the Return to Play protocols for adult amateur, youth and underage grassroots football in line with the latest FAI and Government guidelines.

The videos are broken down into six titles - Coaches, Compliance, Matchday, Players/Parents/Guardians, Training and Venues. The animated videos explain the Protocols around each of these areas in a simple manner that is now accessible via the FAI's social media and YouTube channels.

Welcoming the launch of the video series, FAI Head of Grassroots Ger McDermott said: "I want to thank my colleagues Barry McGann, Nigel Keady and Ecem Ozcan who have led the great work on this project. Together with our Grassroots department colleagues, they have been to the forefront of creating these videos as we work with all our clubs on the Return to Training and Play protocols across all levels of the game.

"These videos will serve as a really useful resource for our clubs as they highlight the details included in the Return to Training and Play Protocols and I would recommend that all clubs engage with them in the coming weeks as the return to the pitch gains momentum for all our players and teams."

The six episodes of the animated videos around the FAI's Safer Return to Training and Play Protocol can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/c/FAITV/videos

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FAI Launches Videos to Assist with Return to Play

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The Football Association of Ireland has today launched a series of animated videos to assist players, coaches, club officials and parents/guardians with the updated Return to Training and Play protocols. The series of six animated videos covers all aspects of the Return to Play protocols for adult amateur, youth and underage grassroots football in line with the latest FAI and Government guidelines.

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Created by UEFA earlier this year, the C Licence has been created specifically for grassroots coaches. Ireland will be the first of UEFA's national associations to deliver the course domestically.

The course will take place online in two blocks over June and July, and is open to all coaches who have at least a National D Licence, Safeguarding 1 Certificate and Garda vetting.

Head of Coach Education Niall O'Regan says the new Licence will be invaluable for coaches around Ireland.

"The UEFA C Licence is an excellent addition to the formal coaching programme within the FAI Coaching Pathway 2021-2025. We are delighted to be the first country in UEFA to be approved for the delivery of the course and I want to thank UEFA, Stuart Grieve and John Peacock for their phenomenal support and mentorship during the design and approval process.

"Coaches who had a former National C Licence can now look forward to converting their National Qualification to a UEFA Qualification which will now see the qualification recognised throughout football in Europe and it is great for our Grassroots coaches to be able to be recognised with a UEFA Diploma."

You can apply to take part in the UEFA C Licence here.

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FAI launch UEFA C Licence for grassroots coaches

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Created by UEFA earlier this year, the C Licence has been created specifically for grassroots coaches. Ireland will be the first of UEFA's national associations to deliver the course domestically. The course will take place online in two blocks over June and July, and is open to all coaches who have at least a National D Licence, Safeguarding 1 Certificate and Garda vetting.

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Teachers, did your School participate in the SPAR FAI School Zone this year? If so, we’d love your feedback. Please complete the short survey at the link below. It should take no more than 2 minutes.

#SPARSchoolZone #GetInTheZone

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Teachers who sign up for the SPAR FAI School Zone will be automatically entered into a competition, which will see one school in each county winning a special commissioned football kit. So why not get signed up by 5pm this Wednesday, April 21.

One school selected from all participating schools nationwide will win a grand prize of a Zoom call with three Irish International players for their class. The sponsorship of the SPAR FAI School Zone initiative, developed by the FAI, is a continuation of SPAR's dedication to grassroots football, following on from the successful SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme.

The new teaching resource has innovative football themed lessons which are emailed to those who have registered So why not... Get in the Zone!

English, Irish, Maths, Geography, History, and some fun activities are all covered in the School Zone, along with healthy eating options and football challenges.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Teachers in Louth, Waterford and Wexford have topped our registration bill with the most engaged schools in the Country!

Whether it's Laura's class at Gaelscoil an Bhradáin Feasa in Drogheda engaging with our An Bileog Oibre Do Sheachtain 1 as gaeilge or Mr. McArdle's class from St. Benedict's NS, Ongar working on our English version, you can show your support by using our hashtag #SPARSchoolZone on your social media platforms.

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Teachers who sign up for the SPAR FAI School Zone will be automatically entered into a competition, which will see one school in each county winning a special commissioned football kit. So why not get signed up by 5pm this Wednesday, April 21.

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The new Protocol has been distributed to all affiliates and includes updated guidelines on training and playing in the COVID-19 pandemic under the Government's Resilience and Recovery - The Path Ahead programme.

The new guidelines allow for numbers of up to 100 at games staged in outdoor venues with a capacity up to 5,000 and for 200 for a capacity of more than 5,000. Outdoor training will continue to be restricted to pods of 15. All FAI protocols are subject to Government guidelines.

Welcoming the Return to Play for all levels of Irish football on Monday, the FAI's Head of Grassroots Ger McDermott said: "Everyone involved with our game is looking forward to football getting back on the pitch all across Ireland from Monday. We again thank all our stakeholders for their compliance with FAI Protocols and Government guidelines throughout the pandemic and we know they will continue to adhere to these latest Protocol guidelines from June 7. We would also like to wish them all a very happy, enjoyable and safe return to football."

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FAI updates Safer Return to Training & Play Protocol

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The new Protocol has been distributed to all affiliates and includes updated guidelines on training and playing in the COVID-19 pandemic under the Government's Resilience and Recovery - The Path Ahead programme. The new guidelines allow for numbers of up to 100 at games staged in outdoor venues with a capacity up to 5,000 and for 200 for a capacity of more than 5,000.

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Lets improve sideline etiquette together to improve the experience for all our players! All Coaches and Parents should watch this video!

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FAI Player Development Plan Coach/Education Workshop

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Implementation of a player-focused model based on enjoyment and skill development whilst reducing the emphasis on winning at all costs.

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Introductory Video

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How To Guide

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Welcome to Football Association of Ireland. The official home of Irish Football.

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Here are all of the lessons in one easy place to find, from FAI Homeskills

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To Register  ➡️ https://www.fai.ie/domestic/spar-fai-school-zone/register

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Garda Vetting is a FAI Rule for all those working with children and or vulnerable persons (in a paid or voluntary capacity). Please see FAI Rulebook Part B Rule 36 and the FAI Child Welfare & Safeguarding Policy section 10 for more information on Garda Vetting, Section 11 Safe recruitment practises and section 2 for other very important statutory obligations such as the Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment.

Remember, if you are not Garda vetted through the FAI, you should not undertake any work in a paid or voluntary capacity with children or vulnerable persons in football. Garda vetting applications can be made both online and via post. Please see links below:

NVB 1 Garda Vetting Invitation 2020.pdf
Garda Vetting ID Validation Form 2020.pdf https://www.fai.ie/domestic/safeguarding/garda-vetting FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy
Another part of the Safe recruitment is relevant training needed, full details can be found in section 11.4 of the Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy.

The FAI are pleased to announce that the Safeguarding 1 face to face workshops are now available online via zoom in conjunctions with Sport Ireland. Over 60 coaches have recently completed the Safeguarding one workshop through the online Safeguarding 1 course, two more upcoming online courses have already become fully booked.

We hope to have more online courses available to register here in the coming weeks. The Safeguarding 2 and 3 workshops will also be available in the new future.

For more details on this please contact childwelfare@fai.ie

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Garda Vetting is a FAI Rule for all those working with children and or vulnerable persons (in a paid or voluntary capacity). Please see FAI Rulebook Part B Rule 36 and the FAI Child Welfare & Safeguarding Policy section 10 for more information on Garda Vetting, Section 11 Safe recruitment practises and section 2 for other very important statutory obligations such as the Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment.

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DAVID LENANE
(086) 386 4535
david.lenane@fai.ie

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DECLAN CONSIDINE
(083) 179 5959
declan.considine@fai.ie

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BARBARA BERMINGHAM
(086) 771 2337
barbara.bermingham@fai.ie

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CHELSEA NOONAN
(086) 0597653
chelsea.noonan@fai.ie

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Tracy Gleeson
(086) 083 9557
tracy.gleeson@fai.ie

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JASON O'CONNOR
(083) 122 6859
jason.oconnor@fai.ie

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DENIS HYNES
(087) 050 8618
denishynes@fai.ie