To allow football to take place, all players, coaches, officials and clubs should follow the ten rules to keep safe. Look out for one another, we all have a part to play.
Below are two links for Scottish FA Phase 3 updates.
To allow football to take place, all players, coaches, officials and clubs should follow the ten rules to keep safe. Look out for one another, we all have a part to play.
Below are two links for Scottish FA Phase 3 updates.
This guidance applies to all Scottish FA National Affiliated Associations leagues and clubs and is in accordance with the Scottish Government ‘Phase Three’ guidelines published on Thursday 20 August 2020 for implementation from Saturday 12 September.
Please read the two pdf’s documents below
View this week’s Answers from the Board following last week’s hiatus. These address questions we received off the back of announcements made last week and the topic of registrations. View online as a PDF or you can read it all below.
The update from the grassroots group states that it will be October until competitive games will return at grassroots level, but the First Minister stated contact sports could resume in August. Can you please clarify?
The Scottish Government has provided the following detail in relation to the indicative date for the resumption of contact sports:
‘Contact sports (outdoors) – all ages- following the guidance of relevant sports bodies.’
The activities permitted from 24th August will come with boundaries, guidelines and protocols which must be followed, as was the case when 13th July was announced as the date on which children and young people could resume training.
The staged approach which was announced by the grassroots sub-group on Wednesday is being worked on in conjunction with the Scottish Government and SportScotland. Every decision made is in line with government guidance, and the timeline given in terms of the resumption of competitive matches in October is dependent on continued positive progress being made against the virus in Scotland.
The group is currently working on updated guidelines which will apply from the 24th August and hopes to provide a further update in the coming days. However, we would advise all members that they should not expect a return to matches, including friendlies, at this time.
How can we thank James Anderson and the Scottish Football Partnership Trust for the generous donation to youth football?
We’ve had lots of people asking how best to pass on their thanks so we’re more than happy to collate all the messages of thanks and pass them on to Mr Anderson and the Scottish Football Partnership Trust (SFP Trust). Just send them over to syfaboard@scottish-football.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can also contact the SFP Trust using the email address on their website (admin@thescottishfootballpartnership.com) or message them on Twitter @SFP_Football.
Following the announcement regarding Mr Anderson’s donation, can teams who have already paid for the upcoming 11 v 11 season apply for a refund?
As advised within the Chairman’s announcement, 11-a-side teams will have their membership covered for the 2021/2022 season. So it’ll be in next year’s affiliation window that 11-a-side teams get their membership free of charge.
Can you provide current guidelines on how teams should register players?
The Board made the decision to temporarily amend the registration process from 31st July 2020, until it safe to resume obtaining signatures as normal. The new process is as follows:
These guidelines apply to Scotland only, and have been produced in line with the government guidance on public spaces, outdoor activity and exercise published on 18 June 2020, which can be viewed at: Scottish Government: Exercise & Activity Guidance
On the 21 May 2020, the Scottish Government published Scotland’s COVID-19 route map through and out of the crisis, which sets out the order in which it plans to relax restrictions. Based on our discussions with Scottish Government/sportscotland and following the easing of lockdown restrictions, the Scottish FA has developed a set of practical guidelines for clubs and participants to follow so that football activity can happen in Scotland during lockdown, where the local environment allows.
These guidelines apply so that football can happen in a way that is in line with Scottish Government advice and helps to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition to the updated information on permitted activity during phase two the Scottish FA will begin to work with and support clubs and groups on ‘Planning and Preparing’ for phase three of the Scottish Government Route Map, when we expect facilities to start to open. This will include providing more detailed resources, templates and advice around what clubs can plan for and how to plan for it. Any planning will be predicated on what restrictions are lifted in phase three and in line with timelines set out by the Scottish Government.
In line with the Scottish Government Guidelines updated on 18 June, the Scottish FA continue to encourage only informal football activity to take place as follows:
All football activities with children must be planned to involve a minimum of two adults in line with Scottish Football’s Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy.
Under the Scottish Government’s route map and in line with Scottish Football’s Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy, the following must be adhered to when any football activity is undertaken with children:
Participation Limits
The Club will be establishing new talent identification squads as part of our player pathway towards our professional Lowland League team. (Tier 5 of Scottish Football Pyramid).
BSC already has an Under 20s team playing in the SLFL Friday night development league under the governance of the SFA.
We will establish three new age groups as part of our player pathway. BSC Youth players and children from other Clubs will be selected to play in development games. These Players will still train and play with their own teams as before, this will not replace their regular football.
Notes
The Pathway Academy will need Coaches and Support staff. This may be something that our existing Coaches and Helpers can become involved in. This will be helping to make our Club stronger and getting home grown talent into the First team is the objective.
Please contact our head Coaches or the Club directly if you have any questions
Scottish Football’s Joint Response Group announced on 20 April the creation of a number of sub groups to investigate the ‘Operational steps necessary to restart football’.
With the announcement on 21 May 2020 of the COVID-19 Framework for Decision Making ‘Scotland’s route map through and out the crisis’, the Scottish FA Grassroots Sub Group will work with internal and external stakeholders, including the Scottish Government to plan for the restart of football when safety measures allow. In line with Scottish Government guidelines and Scottish Football’s Joint Response Group ALL football in Scotland remains suspended until at least 10 June. When football does resume, it seems beyond question that additional measures will need to be put in place.
While that work is being carried out, a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document has been created to answer ongoing questions and queries regarding grassroots football.
The Grassroots Sub Group was established to ensure when government guidelines permit that processes are in place to allow football under the jurisdiction of the Non Professional Game Board to restart. The Grassroots Sub Group is working towards the creation of a framework to help support the re-introduction of community grassroots football and training.
View the Frequently Asked Questions
Head over to https://www.facebook.com/ZanderNationDJ on Facebook for a special Bounce Bingo this Saturday 23rd May @ 7pm live from The Pearce Institute in Govan in aid of BSC Glasgow Food Bank!
All donations go directly to those in need in the local community.
Chips, cheese n’ doner – we’re gonna beat corona!
Details on how to donate below;
To donate £1, text KBXJ01 to 70201
To donate £3, text KBXJ01 to 70331
To donate £5, text KBXJ01 to 70970
To donate £10, text KBXJ01 to 70191
Alternatively click the link to donate online; http://easydonate.org/KBXJ01
BSC 2011’s showing everybody how it’s done in lockdown! ⚽️ To join BSC contact us on 0141 339 3606 or mail@bscglasgow.co.uk.
2019/2020 Season
Following extensive discussions, the Board has made the decision that no further league fixtures should be played as part of the 2019/2020 season, therefore drawing the 2019/2020 season to a close.
The Coronavirus Joint Response Group’s update, issued on the 9th April, advised that the suspension of all football in Scotland had been extended until at least the 10th June 2020. Should football activities recommence on this date, this leaves less than three weeks of the standard season remaining. There is no feasible way of squeezing training and fixtures into this small window. We must also remember that this date signifies a best case scenario, and there is still a strong possibility that it may get pushed further back.
The Board also considered extending the 2019/20 season beyond the summer, however this doesn’t appear to be practicable. Not only would it raise issues with registrations and insurance, it would also result in problematic scheduling matters from a league perspective, in trying to hurry through one season (with a recommencement date still unknown), only to immediately restart the next. There is also the substantial likelihood that players may face an unnecessary overload of games at the beginning of the new season which would go against child wellbeing and player development best practice.
Football under the SYFA’s jurisdiction is age-specific, and each age level brings changes and challenges in terms of both development and match duration. We all must accept that the 2019/2020 season has been unexpectedly and irrefutably disrupted due to the current circumstances, however, by ending fixtures now, we stand the best chance of restarting the 2020/2021 with as little delay or disruption as possible.
It is at each league’s discretion how they choose to calculate final placings, and we would expect teams to give their full support and patience as their league works through this.
Referring back to the matter of the 2020/2021 season, I am pleased to inform you that league, club and team registrations will open in early May. We are finalising matters with the IT department and hope to announce the specific date on which the window will open in the coming days.
We would stress that members should only register if the relevant club and / or team secretary is already in a position to execute the task from home. Under no circumstances should officials be meeting up in order to prepare for their membership application. Teams unable to register at this stage will not be disadvantaged however those that are able to register will be assisting their fellow members in doing so.
Opening early helps to prevent an unmanageable number of applications being submitted within a very short space of time, which would likely be the case if we held-off opening registrations until an official restart date had been confirmed. This could lead to further delay and, ultimately prevent teams getting back to games at the earliest possible opportunity. It also allows leagues and clubs who are in a position to do so, to complete the administrative side of things well in advance, ensuring football itself can be their key priority down the line.
Full details of the registration process, including player registrations, will be confirmed once finalised with both the IT and Registrations departments at the Scottish FA.
Cup Competitions
Rule 84 of the Supplementary and Playing Rules allows for special permission to be granted to complete unfinished cup ties:
Exceptionally, in the case of unfinished Cup Competitions, special permission may be granted by the SYFA for delayed Cup ties to be played on or after 1 August in the following season. Only players who were eligible to play for the teams involved in a delayed Cup tie at 15 June in the preceding season may play in such Cup tie for which special permission has been granted.
Whether or not it is possible to complete cup ties will depend entirely on when football activities can resume. If it is possible to complete cup competitions by Sunday 6th September then we will grant approval to complete competitions, giving priority to the inspiresport Scottish Youth FA Cup, followed by regional competitions and then league cup competitions.
There is a strong possibility that even if we can resume activities in June, league cup competitions will not be completed due to time and facility restrictions. Again we expect teams to fully support their league in whatever decision is reached.
If football has not resumed before August, 2019/2020 cup competitions, including the inspiresport SYFA cup, will not be completed.
AGM
Extensive work has also been carried out in relation to the AGM which is due to take place in June. We have still to receive further clarification from our legal advisors regarding the meeting itself, and will provide you all with a further update on this in due course.
Rule 11 of the Supplementary and Playing rules outlines the process for members to submit resolutions for the AGM:
Notice from a member of any proposed addition or alteration to the Supplementary & Playing Rules to be put forward for consideration at the Annual General Meeting must be sent by Recorded Signed for or Special Delivery by the proposer and seconder in separate letters, signed by the respective secretary of the member club, league or association proposing and seconding, to the SYFA c/o National Secretary, before the 30th day of April in the then current year. Notice from a member of any other Resolution to be brought before an Annual General Meeting must be sent in like manner before the 30th day of April in the then current year.
Given the current situation, the Board has temporarily amended this rule. As we do not currently have access to our Hampden office, resolutions must be submitted via email to the National Secretary. The following process must be followed:
1. Resolutions must be attached to emails in the form of a letter, and sent to Florence.Witherow@scottish-football.com by 30th April 2020.
2. Emails from both the proposer and seconder must be sent from the registered email address of the league or club secretary.
3. Resolutions must be signed (either via verified electronic signature or scanned copy of signed letter)
4. Hard copies of letters must be retained by the sender for retrospective verification.
5. National Secretary will confirm receipt of resolution.
We would ask that any members who have submitted resolutions via postal delivery on or after 19th March 2020 resubmit these using the process above.
Summer Football
We also want to take this opportunity to raise the matter of summer football. Some of you will be aware of the petition regarding switching our 11 a side age groups from a winter season to a summer season. In addition to this petition we have also received three emails from club officials supporting this change.
Such a change would require extensive consultation and planning, and would be a huge undertaking for ourselves and our league volunteers. Our current structure, resources and IT provision are all currently set up for the dual- season system and implanting such a change at a national level is clearly a broad and complex undertaking. However, we have a duty to listen to our members and respond appropriately and responsibly to such suggestions and as such will be conducting an extensive consultation project, initially with our member leagues, in order to discuss the practicalities of this suggestion.
We sincerely hope that you are all well in these unprecedented times, and thank you for your ongoing efforts and commitment.
Kind regards,
Florence
(On behalf of the Scottish Youth FA Board)
Thank you for your continued support! |
We’d like to thank our BSC members and the local community for the fantastic response thus far to our Food Bank Donation Appeal. For those who have donated cash, we have a full load ready to go to those in need direct from the wholesaler. Whilst we are grateful for the support, there is still many people out there who are in desperate need of our help! We have volunteers at the ready to come and safely collect food bank donations, please just drop us an email at mail@bscglasgow.co.uk or give us a call on 0141 339 3606 to arrange. |