Getting back on the pitch – Step 4

The following guidelines apply to the whole of the Old Cranleighan Hockey Club (OCHC) and its aim is to ensure the safety of players, coaches, OC Club Management and other visitors to the club.

It is written in conjunction with the advice received from England Hockey on 7th August 2020 which outlined its approach to Getting Back On The Pitch – Step 4 following UK Government approval. With government approval, competitive activity can resume – both training and matches – outdoor and indoor. This is great news for us as pre-season starts and will allow for local fixtures to take place. The full set of guidance notes is available HERE.

The following guidance must be adhered to at all times, when visiting the Club, to ensure the rules are applied.  If this guidance is not adhered to, the coaches, the management of the Old Cranleighan Club and Surbiton High School (in respect of Oaken Lane and Manor Road pitches) have the authority to ask you to leave the premises for the safety of others and themselves.

For the avoidance of doubt NO players, umpires, visitors and parent / guardians should enter the premises of OCHC Thames Ditton, Surbiton High School Manor Road (Hinchley Wood) or Surbiton High School Oaken Lane if they or someone they live with display any of the symptoms shown below or self-isolating or subject quarantine rules due to UK travel restrictions.

  • A high temperature (above 37.8 o C)
  • A new, continuous cough
  • A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste

Parents / Guardians are responsible for ensuring their child(ren) under the age of 18 understand and follow the guidelines set out below.

COVID Officer

Kate Tanner (ochccovidofficer@gmail.com) has been appointed the Club’s COVID Officer. The COVID Officer is our single point of contact for people (internal and external) to refer to and advise should they develop symptoms with 7 days of participating in hockey. Full details of the role can be found HERE.

Our COVID Officer is not solely responsible for our response and will delegate certain responsibilities to Senior Captains (or Managers) and Junior Lead Coaches. Our Executive and Junior Committee will also support through adherence to the policy and joined up club wide communications.

Prior To Playing

Players

1. All players must complete the England Hockey’s Participation Agreement before moving to Step 4 . This only needs to be done ONCE.

2. All players must register their intent to train or play a match via TEAMO* app.

3. All players to arrive changed for training or matches.

4. All players must bring hand sanitiser with them.

5. All players MUST on arrival to any of Old Cranleighan HC pitch (Thames Ditton, Oaken Lane and Manor Road) complete Self-Assessment by scanning TEAMO* QR Codes located by the pitch, using the camera function on their phone. This must be done EVERY TIME you come to training or a match. 

6. Avoid congregating by the entrance gates to the pitches.

7. Team Captain / Lead Coach to remind players of their responsibilities during play.

Coaches / Captains

1. Determine meet times prior to training and matches to minimise time spent waiting.

2. Undertake a pre-training/match briefing will be carried out prior to each session reminding participants of their responsibilities during and after the session.

3. For AWAY matches contact opposition Captains to understand their COVID arrangements.

Visitors

1. All visitors (i.e. umpires, opposition players and management, supporters, parents / guardians) MUST on arrival to Old Cranleighan HC pitch (Thames Ditton, Oaken Lane and Manor Road) complete Self-Assessment by scanning TEAMO* QR Codes located by the pitch. Failure to do so will mean you have to leave immediately.

2. Observe government guidelines on social distancing and hand hygiene.

3. Follow signage and observe rules both inside and outside the Club House at Thames Ditton.

* OCHC uses the TEAMO app for training and match day administration across the whole of the club. It will also now be used to ensure we comply with England Hockey’s Track & Trace protocol. To join please register using this link https://www.teamo.chat/club/register/ochc from your mobile device.

For any queries regarding TEAMO please refer to their FAQs in the first instance. Parents / Guardians should add themselves as a guardian and then add their child(ren) separately as a player.

Accessing Pitch Grounds & Grandstand

Players & Visitors

1. Please allow the preceding session to finish and all participants to vacate before entering the pitch and or compound.

2. Observe one-way systems in place.

 

During Play

Players

1. Training – The maximum group size involved in one group of close contact is 30, including coaches. More than one group can use a pitch as long as social distancing is maintained between different groups.

2. Coaching – Our Director of Hockey will ensure our Coaches are briefed in line with England Hockey’s Advice for Coaches.

3. Coaching Breaks / Team Talks / Warm-Ups / Goal Celebrations / Cool Downs / Post Match Etiquette – Social distancing must be observed incl. no hand shaking.

4. Substitutes / Coaches – Must socially distance on the touchline or in the dugout.

5. Penalty Corners / Free Hits Around the D – Take promptly to avoid clustering.

6. Hygiene – In line with government advice wash hands before and after activity and regularly use hand sanitiser. Refrain from shouting, spitting or rinsing out mouth around the playing area. Avoid regular removal of gum shield and chewing gum is banned.

7. Equipment – Do not touch any equipment with your hands. Where possible use your feet or stick. If you touch any equipment (incl. balls and goals) use hand sanitiser. Bibs must not be shared and returned safely to coaches for 72hr quarantine or washing.

8. Face Masks – Individuals need to purchase their own face masks. The sharing of them is not permitted. Please refer to our Face Mask policy.

9. Water Bottles – Under no circumstances can these be shared.

10. First Aid – Please refer to our First Aid Policy which has been updated to reflect COVID-19. Additional PPE and hand sanitiser will be provided in all First Aid Kits.

Visitors

Visitors include umpires, opposition players and management, supporters, parents / guardians etc…

1. Observe government guidelines on social distancing and hand hygiene.

2. Any spectators at matches are restricted to a discrete six person gathering limit.

3. Follow signage and observe rules both inside and outside the Club House at Thames Ditton.

4. All spectators at the OC Pitch in Thames Ditton must do so from the Grandstand. Observe social distancing whilst entering, sitting and exiting.

4. Please do not touch the fence surrounding the pitches or touch equipment.

5. No spectators are permitted on the pitch.

 

Post Match or Training

All 1. Notify the COVID Officer if within 7 days of attending or engaging in any hockey activity you become sick with Covid-19 symptoms, test positive for Covid-19 or have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case.
Players

1. Equipment – Disinfect all equipment or leave for 72hrs after use.

2. For HOME matches please see Facilities Use for post-match clubhouse access, showers, tea arrangements etc…

3. For AWAY matches please be respectful of oppositions COVID-19 arrangements.

Coaches

1. Equipment – Disinfect all equipment between sessions or leave for 72hrs before re-using.

Visitors

1. Visitors includes umpires, opposition players and management, supporters, parents / guardians etc… Please follow signage and observe rules both inside and outside the Club House at Thames Ditton.

 

Facilities Use

OCHC Club House, Thames Ditton

The club house and facilities are managed by Gryphon Hospitality and they are responsible for ensuring the adherence to government guidance.
Compound Gates

The gates will be opened and closed by the Club’s management or delegated Lead Coach.

Pitch Gates

These should remain open at all times unless a match is being played. The person who closes the gate must use hand sanitiser before and after opening or closing.

Bar / Hall

Access to the Club house is currently only permitted for the purchase of drinks and is being managed in a social distance manner.

Access to the main hall is not permitted. Teas will be served outside through the kitchen hatch.

Patio Area Social distancing rules put in place by OC Club management must be observed.
Toilets Access to the toilets is permitted. Appropriate hand wash and hand sanitiser is available. A cleaning rota is in place.
Changing Rooms Access to the changing room is not currently permitted. Players are requested to change at home.
Showers Access to the showers is not currently permitted. Players are requested to shower at home.

Manor Road (Hinchley Wood) and Oaken Lane

The pitches and facilities are managed by Surbiton High School and they are responsible for ensuring the adherence to government guidance and putting appropriate signage in place.
Toilets Access to the toilets is not currently permitted.
Pitch Gates These should remain open at all times. The facilities manager will ensure they are open before all games and closed.

 

Travelling to Away Games

Players & Visitors

1. Avoid using public transport unless necessary to do so.

2. If at all possible, you should travel on your own or in your bubble or household group. If this is unavoidable you should try:

     a. Sharing transport with the same people each time.

     b. Keep to small groups of people at any one time.

     c. Open windows for ventilation.

     d. Travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow.

     e. Face away from each other.

     f. Consider seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle.

     g. Clean your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch.

     h. Ask the driver and passengers to wear a face covering.

     i. When finishing the journey participants should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds or sanitise their hands as soon as possible.

3. Arrive as close as possible to the time you need to be there.

4. Check in with your opposition for Track and Trace purposes.

5. Observe oppositions for COVID-19 guidelines.

 

Coaching 

Our Director of Hockey is responsible for ensuring all coaches are fully briefed on how to run training sessions in accordance with the new Step 4 guidance.

Risk Assessment

To access our Risk Assessment please click HERE.

Future Steps

Finally, please note these arrangements have been put in place during these unprecedented times to support the resumption of playing hockey. Our priority is the safety of our members and the pitch. Please work with us to ensure that the guidelines are being followed so that we can all be safe. We will continue to follow England Hockey’s and the UK Government’s guidance and will be prepared to withdraw or expand our activities at short notice should there be any changes to the Covid-19 situation, including local lockdowns.