Football Begins to Return
It has been a difficult time for the World. Football has paled into insignificance in the face of a historic pandemic which has swept the globe since the beginning of 2020. After months of lockdown life for many is beginning to return to a new normal, a new normal which includes the return of football at all levels. Below is some research into how a variety of countries are beginning the road to a comeback. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this research.
Denmark
Jesper Dahlmann De Leon: “In Denmark we have been allowed to start training in groups of max 10 people including coaches. Contact allowed through tackles etc. No headers allowed and players are not allowed to to touch the Ball with their hands. There is lots of extra work for coaches as we have to wash balls, cones etc before and after practice. All games are so far cancelled on this side of the summer. Hopefully they will be back after the summer break for grassroots levels”
Finland
Mika Vee from Finland: “At the moment: training is max 10 persons per group and no contact. From 1st of June: max 50 persons and normal matches”
Singapore
Shida Shariff from Singapore: “We are still in “circuit breaker” (lockdown) period until 2nd June, we are doing virtual training sessions via Zoom. One hour session, 3 times a week. We focused on agility, ball mastery, HIIT exercises, strengthening exercises etc. Just something to keep the grassroots occupied while being locked down at home. There will be slow ease on June 2nd, football not likely to return to normal training until mid July”
Rep of Ireland
The DDSL will become the first schoolboy league to restart a new calendar season in September. Most league have null and void their 2019/2020 seasons with the exception of a small minority who are permitted to resume from August 28th. Grassroots leagues wishing to start new seasons may begin from mid October. Training in larger groups for all is not expected until the end of July.
Estonia
Juri Sutorin: “The Premium Liiga - returned on May 19th. Other lower leagues (I, II, III, IV) will start 23rd of May. The Youth National Championship starts 30th of May. Training has returned since 4th may, in the "2x2" format. All matches are played without fans/viewers until 2nd July.
Scotland
David Young: “Grassroots leagues in Scotland declared void with no promotions or relegations. President of SFA saying possibly no return at this level until 2021, very little funding already and looks like they’ll be focusing on the professional game”
Queensland Australia
Adam Clay: “Australia still no return to football for at least another four weeks. Social distancing may be required but groups of 20 can be together in that stage. Competition to resume in eight weeks and run into November”
Sweden
Hank Danewid: “Youth Football is allowed to practice and play as many friendly games as we like. (Within the clubs area/region to avoid traveling) obviously restricted in terms of washing hands and no audience and so on.. It has been like this during the entire pandemic. The season will open mid June”
Poland
Urszula Sadurska: “We are already back with grassroots and youth football. Since may 18th we are allowed to make training sessions, but there are some restrictions of course. On a 7v7 pitch there is max number of 14 players + 1 coach. The full pitch can be divided into 2 halves and on each one there is a limit of 16 players + 3 coaches. So team sessions are back. No masks are required on the pitch itself, but outside yes. There is also a requirement to disinfect hands before and after the training plus all the equipment we use. No friendly matches are allowed at grassroots level. The professional 1st league is fully on the training mode after testing for covid and the league restarts in two weeks.
Germany
Aasee “Our season was cancelled, teams will be promoted but not relegated. In Germany there are currently very few cases because the lockdown measures worked well, so the local authorities have started to ease the restrictions. We will see how that works. As of May 7th, we are allowed to train in small groups if we follow certain rules (keep the distance etc). The authorities have hinted at the possibility that we can train properly (with contact) starting May 30th, but I doubt that very much.
I think we will have to wait until 2021 for real training and matches to resume without to big a health risk. As much as we miss playing real games, we take the next best thing. Lots of passing and shooting drills, etc.. Could be worse, its good to be back on the pitch at least”
Norway
Kyle Farningham: “Norway opened up for organised training the 1st week of April. Initial set-up:
No use of changing rooms or clubhouse. One adult trainer to every four players. All equipment must be washed/disinfected before and after training with one person responsible for laying out and retrieving all equipment before and after use. No vests, contact, heading or taking the ball in the hands.
13th May.
Opened up to 20 players per group. (6-9yrs only 10 players) Maximum 50 players on one pitch.
Again following the same rules regarding contact, washing equipment and 1 person responsible for equipment.
Latvia
Rosh Rao: “Pathetic in Latvia, top clubs conspiring to go play football games across the newly opened borders. Only the 'elite' clubs have been given permission to train, no inclusion for non-league and grassroots clubs. Kids and adults are picking a ball and wandering off to remote parts of the city to evade enforcement and kick about in isolation for the love of the game”
PA USA
Daniel Orton: “State College PA, USA. Waiting for our county to enter the ‘green zone’ where we can have up to 25 people in an area (including staff) with CDC measures built-in. We're currently in the "yellow phase" and unsure when the green will hit. Once allowed, we'll plan on training kids and getting them ready for the fall”
Switzerland
Amis D Amis: “In Switzerland nothing has resumed. We've had the opportunity to go back training in small groups with a certain amount of rules, but no club has taken the risk of letting youngsters start. I find it really strange, having made a strong, complete & 100% safe procedure to be able to train again! But it was refused by the club & local authorities.
We live in a country (world?) Switzerland where we must find a guilty person before proceeding to any act. Which causes everything to go slow here. I have been very careful of this virus since the start of it, but now we have 15 new Covid infections per day in the whole country! So that is really low. I honestly think we could start training continuing to be careful”
Canada
Blake Bradshaw: “Ontario, Canada no football activities until at least July as per Soccer Canada. Our season is historically May-late September early October”
Texas USA
Sim Portnoy: “Soccer academies ages 12 to 18 . May 18 no contact practicing started. May 31st full practices resume only one spectator per player allowed. June 15 competition and league games begin. All have to sign disclaimers and follow protocols”
Northern California USA
Micah James: “Northern California (USA), low number of cases. Planning for a fall season. Hoping it will be 11 a side but smaller match play is on the table as an option. Hoping to start training in a limited capacity sometime in June, league play won't be until September. Still too soon to say how it'll play out”
New Zealand
Sean McCarthy: “Here in New Zealand we are able to train but only in groups of no more than 10, which includes the coach/manager etc with social distancing required between groups. We are unsure as to when grassroots or higher levels of football will return but we have been told the plan is to try for around about the weekend of 6th June. We are expecting an update from the Government this coming Monday, the current situation in the country and if the restrictions on the size of our groups can be increased.
Then it will probably be a day or so until we hear from Sport New Zealand and then New Zealand Football (our governing bodies of sport and football specifically). At the moment though, it is mostly a waiting game with all our fingers and toes crossed that we can get back safely as soon as possible”
New South Wales Australia
James Rankine: “NSW Australia has a return to training guideline with restrictions of 10 people to 1/4 pitch: 9 players, 1 coach. No contact, washing hands, etc. no date from government yet for this to happen but most Associations (bodies that organise and conduct grassroots football in NSW on behalf of their affiliated clubs) are hoping for games to start around Beginning of July. Lots of negotiating with councils who operate fields and summer sports so we can extend our season into theirs a little. Will most likely have some sort of season if that start date can happen. If later, then major modifications and shorter season”
South Australia
Sean Ivan Wootton: “South Australia, similar to Victoria, we’ve been training for a week and a half. Maximum 10 players and a coach per third of the pitch. 1.5m distancing, no contact or heading, so it’s really basic ball work at the moment. As a state we’ve had 1 case in the last 30+ days (which was an international traveler) so the hope is we are restarting everything sooner rather than later”
Iceland
Sigþóra Guðmundsdóttir: “Youth (under 16) have started sessions without any restrictions and will start competing end of may. Over 16 are in groups of 7 until next Monday, then no restrictions. Start competing around June 15th”
