Game on!
5-a-side teams back in action as lockdown is eased
BRITAIN’S first five-a-side teams returned to playing as amateur games kicked-off in Wales – but not yet in England.
Wales beat England to hold the first competitive kickarounds outside of the professional game since lockdown began.
Players had to fill in health questionnaires and use hand sanitiser before the Tuesday-night games kicked off at the Gol centre in Cardiff.
Goalposts and balls were cleaned between matches – and some players chose to wear face masks.
One soccer-lover said playing with friends for the first time since March was a “fantastic return to normality”.
He said: “I realise how much I missed playing until I was out there.
I was knackered after five minutes but I didn’t care.
“It was nice just to see friends that you hadn’t seen in four months. It didn’t matter about the game.”
Another wrote on Twitter: “Played my first game of footie since lockdown tonight. It was truly a special feeling, almost brought a tear to my eye. Football is the winner.”
Lockdown laws in Wales require people to stay two metres apart at all times but players involved in team sports have been given an exemption.
Rules in England prevent groups of more than six from playing or training together outside – but in Wales up to 30 people will be able to meet up.
Some five-a-side centres in England have reopened to provide teams with training facilities but games are not allowed to resume and only a maximum of six people can attend each pitch.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the changes last week giving the go-ahead for football, lacrosse and touch rugby to return.
Outdoor fitness classes and dance classes can also return, Mr Drakeford said.
He said: “Organised outdoor activities will be able to resume, including team sports, sports classes and other activities, such as dance and fitness classes, where these can be conducted outdoors.
“Low-level contact sports are OK. Football for example is OK, a rugby scrum, however, is a different matter.“
Mr Drakeford said it would be for the individual governing bodies of each sport to publish guidance on how they can safely return.
Scotland plans to reopen five-aside pitches from July 24.