Please see our Safe System of Work for matches at Acre Bottom during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic below.
RCC Safe System of Work (SSOW)
for Cricket Matches at Ramsbottom Cricket Club, Acre Bottom during global Coronavirus
(Covid-19) pandemic.
|
Version
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Date |
Change to Safe System of Work Document
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| Version 1.0 | 16/05/20 | Submitted for 2020 season. |
| Version 2.0 | 27/03/21 | Updated for 2021 season. |
- Background
This guidance is for organised cricket in England only at Step 1B of the Government Roadmap out of Lockdown from 29 March 2021 until progression to Step 2 is confirmed by the UK Government (no earlier than 12 April 2021).
The UK Government defines organised sport as: ‘sport which is formally organised by a qualified instructor, club, national governing body [NGB, in the case of cricket – the ECB], company or charity and follows sport specific guidance’.
If the sport is not organised by one of these groups (for example, some friends playing cricket in a park) or the sport’s NGB guidance is not being followed (for example, a cricket club ignoring the ECB’s safety measures), this is considered to be informal or self-organised sport.
Taking part in organised cricket sometimes means that other restrictions such as legal gathering limits do not apply when taking part. This is because the ECB has considered the risks and set out ways to mitigate them so people can participate safely. The ECB’s guidance is listed as approved by the UK Government. Informal or self-organised sport is not covered by any exemptions or this guidance.
Roadmap Step 1B | March 2021
Everyone attending an organised cricket activity should carry out a self-assessment for COVID symptoms before leaving home and follow NHS and PHE self-isolation procedures if they are symptomatic.
No one who is required to self-isolate should attend an organised cricket activity.
Cricket is by nature a socially distanced game and social distancing should be maintained on the field wherever possible.
Off the field, social distancing guidelines and legal gathering size limits must be observed – at Step 1B this means the Rule of 6 or a group made up of two households (a group made up of two households can include more than 6 people, but only where all members of the group are from the same two households (or support/childcare bubbles, where eligible)).
Changing rooms must remain closed except for disabled persons and emergency requirements. Participants should arrive in their kit ready to play and should return home in their kit.
Clubhouses including social and hospitality facilities must remain closed, but toilet and hand washing provision is permitted subject to risk assessment, occupancy limits, suitable ventilation and frequent and effective cleaning.
Hygiene breaks in play are required every 6 overs.
Participants should bring their own food and drink and drinks bottles should not be shared.
There is a legal requirement to record participant and attendee contact details for the purposes of NHS Test and Trace and clubs and venues must ensure that data is collected in accordance with data protection law.
Spectators are not permitted in any indoor or outdoor sport facility at Step 1B. This does not apply
to carers for people with disabilities, or adults needed to supervise under-18s in a safeguarding role. Where it is necessary for them to be present, supervising adults should not mix with others from outside their household or support bubble.
- 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.
- Prior to the fixture
In preparing to attend a training session or match, 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/
Before attending any cricket activities or venues, all participants, officials, volunteers and
Spectators must self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms:
- A high temperature.
- A new, continuous cough.
- A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste.
If you have one or more of these symptoms you should not attend any cricket activity and must follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation.
- People with health conditions that put them at increased risk should consider the risks of participating in cricket activity.
- Follow Government guidance on shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 if this applies to you.
- Personal hygiene measures should be carried out at home before and after use of the facility.
- Bring your own hand sanitiser where possible and practice strong hand hygiene at all times.
- Follow Government guidance on public transport or car sharing.
- Club representatives should ensure that the facility is compliant with current Government legislation including legislation and guidance related to COVID-19.
- Clubhouses and changing rooms should not be used, except by people with disabilities, although toilet facilities can be accessed. Clubs and venues should inform visitors that these are areas of increased risk, that they should shower and change at home where possible, and those that do need to use changing rooms should minimise time spent inside.
- Club representatives should make all participants aware of expected social distancing and hygiene behaviour during play and whilst on site.
- Club representatives should make all participants aware of the minor increase in transmission risk associated in partaking in even socially distanced group activity
- Limit the time spent congregating at a venue before and after cricket activity. This could involve having strict meeting times or staggering start times.
- Participants should arrive in kit and ready to warm-up.
- Participants should bring their own food and drink. Water bottles should be clearly marked with the owner’s name and must not be shared.
- Social interaction before playing cricket should only take place outdoors, and in separate and distinct groups consisting of up to 6 people or two households.
Player should read the following ECB guidance:
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)
- During the match
- Participants should enter the site and prepare their personal equipment whilst maintaining social distancing.
- People should maintain the rules on social contact before and after sporting activity.
- Sharing of equipment must be avoided where possible, particularly that used around the head and face, such as helmets. Where equipment is shared, equipment must be cleaned before use by another person.
- No sweat or saliva is to be applied to the ball at any time. Any infringement should result in immediate disinfection of the ball.
- All participants to wash their hands prior to the start of the activity.
- Hand sanitiser to be used at all breaks in activity and prior to any food or drinks.
- There should be no shouting, singing or spitting.
- Fielders to maintain social distancing (no fielders allowed within 1 m of the batter or other fielders).
- The non-striking batter should remain socially distanced from the umpire and should run on the opposite side of the pitch to the batter on strike.
- 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 a suitable disinfectant wipe (conforming to BS EN 14476) 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.
- Bowlers will not be able to hand their cap or hat, jumper or glasses to the umpire. They will need to place these themselves at the boundary.
- 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.
- There should be no handshakes, shouting or spitting.
- Minimise sharing of ball in 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.
- Those not on the field of play should refrain from all contact with the ball e.g. returning it to the field of play.
- 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.
- Use of the clubhouse, changing rooms and toilets should adhere to the latest Government advice.
- Detailed guidance relating to officials will be released in due course by the Association of Cricket Officials (ACO).
- Batters to sanitise their bat when leaving the field of play.
- Participants should bring their own food and drink. Players should bring their own tea and eat this outside and observing social distancing and social gathering size limits. Water bottles should be clearly marked with the owner’s name and must not be shared.
Bar – is currently closed until at least the 12th of April.
Changing rooms and toilets – Changing rooms should not be used, except by people with disabilities, although toilet facilities can be accessed. You should inform visitors that these are areas of increased risk, that they should shower and change at home where possible, and those that do need to use changing rooms should minimise time spent inside.
Changing rooms will be maintained with a cleaning regime and flushing of water systems, in order to be available for emergency use as a refuge (e.g. a serious injury or a suspected COVID-19 case requiring isolation).
Toilets should be checked and cleaned regularly with signage in place to remind people of essential hygiene practice. Users must be informed (using appropriate signage) that changing rooms and toilets are areas of increased risk.
Disposable paper towels are preferred for hand drying – safe waste management must be considered.
Scoreboxes – Where possible, scoreboxes should not be used with scorers stationed outside in a sheltered spot. Whilst ideally an electronic scoreboard will be remotely operated from a safe distance, many clubs will not have this facility.
Options should be considered to avoid using an enclosed space without social distancing. This could include using a small portable scoreboard as an alternative to a full scoreboard, or in extremis having only one person inside the scorebox, potentially with less frequent updating if operation is usually a two-person job.
Teas – There will be no teas provided on the day.
Spectators – Spectators are not currently permitted at organised sport activities.
This does not apply to carers for people with disabilities, or adults needed to supervise under-18s in a safeguarding role. Where it is necessary for them to be present, supervising adults should not mix with others from outside their household or support bubble.
Inclement Weather – In the result of delays due to rain players will 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.
- 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.
Participants should exit whilst maintaining social distancing.
• Social gathering after the activity is allowed in line with current UK Government guidelines on hospitality. After cricket activity, all individuals must adhere to wider social contact limits and rules.
• One club representative/volunteer should be responsible for collecting and disinfecting shared equipment.
• Regular cleaning of equipment and the facility should take place, particularly between one group finishing, and the next group starting.
• Clubs should encourage all participants to report any infection of their household to the NHS Test and Trace system following use of the facility to limit the spread of the virus.
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.
- 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:
- An incidence of COVID-19 infection of a user.
- 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.
- 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 2.0 – 27/03/21