1. Background
From the 11th of July 2020, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced people in England could begin to play competitive 11-a-side cricket matches with adaptions in place to mitigate the transmission risk of COVID-19, including the overall group size (inclusive of coaches and officials) being limited to 30 people in total.
Please note the following:
This change in restrictions only applies in England and does not apply in Wales.
The change is for participation in sport outdoors only.
Social distancing measures (staying a minimum of one metre away from people outside your household) still apply.
The change does not permit the reopening of pavilions for changing, social or hospitality purposes.
2. Understanding the hazard
The transmission of COVID-19 is thought to occur mainly through two routes;
- Respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing. These can be breathed in if in closed contact to a person coughing.
- Through contact with contaminated surfaces, this is where bodily fluids from an infected person are spread onto a surface, others who touch that surface with their hands then put hands in mouth or eyes may become infected.
In addition to respiratory secretions, COVID-19 has been detected in blood, faeces and urine.
3. Prior to the fixture
In preparing to attend a training session, we ask that each member of the coaching team and ALL players review the Government and NHS guidance on Coronavirus to maintain good hygiene – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Players and coaches should not attend the venue if they have:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.
If anyone has either of these symptoms or lives with other people who are showing symptoms they must not attend.
Following government advice we recommend that people do not attend the venue if they fall into any one of the below groups:
- Have contracted the virus and still within 7 day isolation period.
- Are living with an individual who has contracted the virus and are within your 14 day isolation period.
- Have underlying health issues which may be impacted by Coronavirus.
- Are 70 years of age or over?
- Are pregnant.
- Have a weakened immune system.
Prior to attendance please familiarise yourself with government guidance.
The club will also:
- Ensure they have all the appropriate and up-to-date insurance.
- Continue to comply with data protection law including not sharing personal details of participants with others without having a legal basis for doing so (e.g. avoid making booking management system ‘live’ with personal details for all to see).
ECB Guidelines
- You turn up ready to play as changing rooms will be shut before, during and after the game.
- You do not share equipment.
- You do not apply sweat or saliva to the ball
- You bring any food and drink you wish to consume during the game as no teas are provided.
- You always remain socially distanced, including during the game
- You comply with track and trace protocols
- You have your own supply of hand sanitiser
Please find below the specific plans and guidance we have in place at the current time –
Parking – Car parking is available at the ground – players must park at the rear of the pavilion for easy access to equipment.
Club Entrance – Entrance to the grounds is via the main gates. Due to the size of the entrance, social distancing can be maintained throughout.
Club Exit – Exit from the grounds is via main gate (as above)
4. During the match
Changing Rooms – will remain closed and locked during the day
Kit – Whilst the game is progressing, players can leave their kit at the front of the pavilion.
Bar – Our bar will be open from 12pm and will be serving drinks only – a one-way system is in place and has been published on social media.
Teas – There will be no teas provided on the day. The nearest shop for purchasing food can be found at the café on site. This is strictly take-away only.
Spectators – We welcome friends or family as spectators, however, please remind them to socially distance and not to touch the ball at any time. They must not attend if they display any symptoms. They can park around the ground to maintain social distancing. Please remind them to bring their own supplies of sanitiser.
Inclement Weather – In the result of delays due to rain players and spectators return to their cars
Conduct of Players – All players must respect the above points and comply with our test and trace procedure. If you do not comply with our guidance, then you may be asked to leave the club on the day and face subsequent disciplinary action.
Clubs and groundskeepers should mark running lines on the square in line with the popping crease at 2m+ intervals on either side of the pitch.
Players should adhere to UK Government social distancing guidance at all times (including throughout warm-ups) except in the following limited circumstances during competitive play in England only, where 1m+ is permitted:
1) wicket keepers standing up to the stumps and 2) distance between slip fielders.
- No sweat or saliva to be applied to the ball at any time.
- A ‘hygiene break’ should take place every six overs or every 20 minutes, whichever is sooner, in which the ball is cleaned with an antimicrobial wipe and all participants’ hands are cleaned using a suitable sanitiser. This routine should also be followed at the start of any drinks break or the close of an innings. The responsibility for sanitising the ball during the match will lie with the fielding captain, not the umpire.
- Batters to sanitise their bat when leaving the field of play and Wicket Keepers should sanitise their gloves.
- Bowlers should not hand any personal items to the umpire. Bowlers should place these items at the boundary themselves.
- Batters are to run in distinct running lines to ensure they are not within 2m of the bowler or other batter. Lines to be marked on the square on either side of the wicket.
- If two scorers are required, social distancing must be maintained with only one official inside the scorers’ box and no players to be allowed in the scorers’ box. The scorers’ box should be well ventilated.
- Communal scorebooks passed from one player to another should be avoided.
- Social distancing must always be maintained including during post-wicket celebrations, drinks breaks and tactical discussions.
- Minimise sharing of the ball in a match by limiting contact as the ball makes its way back to the bowler e.g. ball goes straight from wicketkeeper to bowler instead of around surrounding fielders.
- Spectators should remain socially distanced at all times and refrain from all contact with the ball e.g. returning it to the field of play. Spectator groups must be restricted to discrete six person gathering limits and spread out, in line with wider UK Government guidance.
- Umpires should refrain from any contact with the ball, it can be returned to the base of the stumps at breaks and wickets.
- Umpires should be responsible for the stumps closest to them and should be the only person replacing the bails if dislodged.
5. After the match
Please note that the risk assessment is subject to constant review and may change and as the cricket committee continues to monitor government advice.
We will also continue to look into the best ways of working over the coming weeks/months which always put’s your health and safety first.
Clubs should support NHS Test and Trace efforts by keeping a temporary record of all participants in any cricket activity for 21 days and support NHS requests for data if needed. For the latest information in relation to NHS Test and Trace please see the government website.
6. How to achieve this
Both the Senior and Junior Cricket Committee will:
- Review your operating plan after day one and week one and revise if necessary – your facility operation must be fit for purpose and safe for those operating, maintaining and using the site.
- Act on any incidence of infection prior to or after use of the facility and conduct appropriate contact tracing in line with Government methods.
- Be prepared to close your facility in the event of:
1) An incidence of COVID-19 infection of a user.
2) A change in Government guidance/regulation. - Constantly review Government guidance. Please also regularly review news updates on the ECB website. This guidance will be updated and is likely to change in response to Government policy and other best practice guidance.
7. Control Measure Considered but NOT Implemented at this stage
Use of gloves at all times by players.
The use of nitrile gloves for all persons involved in cricket is not required as hand washing routines will be maintained prior to and during and also at the conclusion of the match.
All equipment in use will be washed and/or treated with disinfectant spray. Hand washing remains the government’s no.1 control measure to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Use of face masks at all times by coaches/players.
The control measures of social distancing where possible, the hand hygiene protocols and cleaning regimes, and the declaration that coaches and players are not exhibiting symptoms reduces the overall risk of fluid transfer/fluid droplets.
The designated coach will observe the players throughout and where any person displays symptoms, they will be asked to leave and cleaning regimes enforced (as mentioned above).
Version 1.0 – 15/07/20