We are aiming to provide as much youth rugby activity as we safely can in the 2020/21 season, in accordance with the RFU Road Map for a phased return to rugby and our own Risk Assessment.

This means modifying training activities and additional hygiene measures; key points are presently (for Stage D on the Road Map) as below. These may be amplified with squad-specific guidance.

 Before coming to training you must please:

1. Confirm your child’s Availability for this weekend’s training event on the Teamsnap app  – simply indicate them as “Going” with a green tick for this weekend. This is to help us keep a register and meet our  track and obligations, and to organise the player “bubbles”;
2. Complete the very short Health Self Assessment for your child on Teamsnap on the morning of training, before setting out. This asks you to confirm key questions that they are well, not showing any COVID symptoms, and not required to self-isolate as a result of a positive test in the family groups etc, or quarantined. Clearly if family members do show any COVID symptoms, or you are quarantined as a result of recent travel, we obviously need you not to come to Barnes training. You can find the Team Health check by logging into Teamsnap, click on Schedule and then on this weekend’s training event and under the vent Details you will see a Team Health check, which will only be available to open on the morning of training. If you cannot find this, but are in the clear Covid symptoms and isolation requirements,  come along and we will help you access a health check before joining training;
3. Do not feel under pressure to return to rugby at this time – we fully understand that some may not be ready to return, for example, if shielding a family member at higher risk;
4. Ensure players are in clean kit, with hands washed just before they leave home;
5. Bring normal equipment: water bottle (ideally labelled); boots and mouthguard for Under 9 and above. Apart from the very youngest groups (U5/6), we discourage any snacks this season, for hygiene reasons.
6. Maintain social distancing until training starts.
7. Please brief your child on these Player Commitments which coaches will reinforce to KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE;

 At training:

1. Avoid large groups around the pavilions – go straight to your age group where you will be allocated (if not advised in advance) to a training group of no more than 20 players, for example, Under 11 “A” group (the groups will usually be mixed ability, the “A” or “B” etc  does not mean anything else). Players will stay with that group or “bubble” only, and its allocated coaches, throughout training, and will not mix with other training bubbles in the same age group.
2. Distancing should be maintained before training, during briefings, breaks and warm ups.
3. Understand that kit in use will be limited and contact rugby is generally not permitted – so no tackling. The exception is that under 9s and above may engage in smaller group limited contact training for short spells, but only as your coach will direct. But there will be no scrums or mauls, for example;
4. Under 8s and below will not be playing tag rugby – but rather,  a touch format instead;
5. Use the Hand Sanitiser provided at the breaks every 15 minutes;
6. Please do not touch the kit provided eg the spare balls not in use, cones etc;
7.      Leave any required  first aid and player assistance to parents, designated first aiders and medically-trained personnel;
8. Most groups, aside from the very youngest, will play games in the new Ready4Rugby format designed to provide a standardised touch rugby format emphasising development of key skills;
9. Parents: please remain in designated zones and do not mix with the playing squads generally;
10. Note that training is likely to end a little earlier than normal, as total training times are limited at the moment.
    
    After training:
11. Maintain social distancing from the end of training, including stopping  the children playing games, sharing rugby balls etc with other players;
12. Keep any training bib your child has used and been asked to take home, wash it and return it next week;
13. Should adults or children present at training subsequently show any COVID-19 symptoms, or be required to self-isolate as a result of family members showing symptoms, please contact your applicable squad manager without delay, so that we can take any appropriate actions in consultation with the health authorities;
14. Note that there will be no inter-club fixtures for the time being. We are able to organise limited inter club ready4rugby matches now, but intend to wait until the new protocols are working and we can review the other clubs’ risk assessments et