RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOLS

• To facilitate the resumption of football it is important that referees advise the ‘allocations officer’ in their league and their Lead Observer of their availability.

• Some referees will be eager to referee immediately, whilst others may adopt a ‘wait & see’ approach. Whatever your choice is, it is imperative that you communicate this.

• When you return it is important to keep the ‘allocations officer’ in your league up to date with any changes in your circumstances and copy this to your Lead Observer.

• If your league is resuming its 2019/20 season, then the 2019/2020 Laws of the Game will apply to the matches in your league until the season concludes.

• If your league is starting its 2020/21 season, then the 2020/2021 Laws of the Game will apply. A summary of the changes can be found here LOTG Changes 2020.2021

• A full version of the 2020/2021 Laws of the Game can be downloaded from the following link LOTG

• Training will be provided by the Referee Department for referees that will be operating under the new laws.

• Clubs are permitted to resume full contact training and training games between teams and to organise competitive fixtures from July 18th

• If you are unwell, stay at home and contact your GP

• Adhere to social distancing of 2 metres, where possible

• Practice good hand hygiene with regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitiser

• Practice good coughing and sneezing etiquette - HSE Coughing and sneezing Guidelines from the same club.

• Clubs are permitted to resume friendly games from July 11 and leagues are permitted

• Referees are not permitted to referee these games.

• If you are unwell stay at home, notify the allocations officer that you cannot attend the match and contact your GP. The symptoms include: Temperature of 38C or greater; Sudden onset of cough or shortness of breath; Sudden loss of the sense of taste or smell.

• A Risk Assessment of the venue must be carried out and all equipment including goalposts must be sanitised before and after every game. This is the responsibility of the club. Referees will have no part in policing this.

The club must appoint the COVID-19 Compliance officer or a designated club member to act as the first point of contact for the match official on arrival. The coordination of the pre match protocol should be discussed (team sheet, equipment check, coin toss etc.) and agreed. The referees fee should be placed into an envelope and sealed. This fee should be paid on arrival.