1. Member Guidance - Coronavirus
Updated: 2021-07-23
Sonning Hockey Club's priority is the health and safety of our members, coaches and spectators. The guidelines below are informed by the latest Government Guidance for the general public for the phased return of sport in England.
This document summarises the key elements of the England Hockey guidance and will be updated in line with government and England Hockey guidelines – please check back regularly!
England Hockey Return to Play
England Hockey (EH) has updated their guidance for Managing Covid within Hockey. These steps inform what activities can take place and under what conditions at the club level. We strongly advise all members to read this guidance and familiarise themselves with the detail.
Most legal restrictions relating to Covid ended in England on 19 July 2021. In line with Step 4 of the Government roadmap out of lockdown, hockey's restrictions were able to ease further. .
What you need to do before returning to play?
Register/update your details on Pitchero, including:
- Name
- Phone number
What you need to do before each session (training/match)
- A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
- Been in close contact with / living with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the previous 2 weeks
Updated 2020-08-20 to align with current NHS guidelines
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or test positive for COVID-19:
Sonning HC will report any incidents to England Hockey on the club's behalf.
What you need to bring with you to each session
- Sonning will make this available at pitch side but you are strongly advised to bring your own
- Hand sanitiser will be provided inside BCSC buildings and at the entrance and exits to the pitch
- You must fill up your bottle prior to attending a session as you will not be permitted to do so on-site
- Label your bottle!
- You must bring, and maintain control over, your own face mask.
- You should not borrow or share face masks.
- Showering and changing facilities will be available at the discretion of BCSC. Please see their website for current restrictions.
Use of the playing facilities
Please refer to pitch usage as laid out in the Training and Match Procedures.
Arrival at the club
- Register your attendance using the NHS app QR code. This is clearly displayed in the clubhouse and at the pitch. This is mandatory for all attendees regardless of whether they are a coach, player or spectator!
Please be considerate when participating in hockey activities. While legal requirements for social distancing and other restrictions have been removed, some people may feel less comfortable in fully discarding those protections.
We anticipate most incidences being down to misunderstanding rather than deliberate flouting of the rules, so expect most incidences to be dealt with swiftly and as they are happening, with all facility users having a responsibility to ensure the rules are followed and everyone understands.
Beyond this, incidences will be dealt with on a case by case basis, but based on a 3-strike process:
Strike 1 – appropriate verbal education by a member of SHC Committee or BCSC Committee member.
Strike 2 – specific 121 verbal education by the SHC Covid Officer.
Strike 3 – consideration by SHC and/or BCSC Committee, followed by written communication and information of any sanctions imposed.
Sonning Hockey Club will continue to monitor government guidance and will update these guidelines should that be required. If and when this occurs, we will notify you of any changes as soon as possible.