Covid-19

ADVICE FOR COACHES

How do I deliver a safe coaching session?

• The coach to participant ratio of 1:4 should always be maintained.
• At events where numerous groups will be present, a bubble should be created between the coach and participants. The coach should only work with that bubble during the event and should not move between different groups.
• All bookings and paperwork to be completed online or remotely, prior to the session/event. It should also include medical requirements which should then be shared confidentially on a need to know basis. Ideally electronically such as text or email.
• You are required by law to collect and keep all contact details of attendees for 21 days as part of Test and Trace procedures.
• Allocate specific time slots and control numbers. This should help control the number of people turning up at your event in keeping with the government guidelines.
• Risk Assessment completed and shared electronically with all staff and coaches. This must include control measures for reducing risk of infection. Verbal briefing before commencing activity carried out, including processes and procedures for infection control of Covid-19. Risk Assessment templates are available. Contact [email protected] for more information.
• Handwashing and anti-bacterial gels or wipes should be provided and have the appropriate strength as set out by the government.
• No food should be taken into, or consumed, in the coaching area. Personal drinks bottles allowed, but handwashing procedure, before consumption, must be adhered to.
• Social distancing of 2 metres must always be maintained, unless in emergency situations. Procedures to cope with these possible occurrences should form part of the risk assessment and procedures in place to minimise contact.
• Sharing equipment is permitted although should be kept to a minimum. If equipment is shared to take someone fishing, you should practice strict hand hygiene, cleaning your hands thoroughly before and after use. Equipment should be cleaned thoroughly in line with wider guidance on hygiene.
• We strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings for coaching and participants, especially where social distancing of 2 metres may be impractical. Face coverings should be worn when coaching activity takes place indoors.
• If you need support in managing bookings, a useful booking website can be found at: https://www.castbooker.com/add-your-fishing-business/

Travel Guidelines

Travel for sport and exercise is permitted but should be limited. You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport and physical activity. Always check that it is safe to travel before you set out to take part in sport or recreation. Further guidance on travel can be found on the Sport England website

Disability Sport

Further guidelines on the delivery of disability sport and focused sessions and interventions can be found on the Sport England website

What about Personal Protective Equipment and Disinfecting?

• Nitrile gloves, and the use of Personal Protective Clothing, if required, is encouraged.
• All equipment used during the session should be cleaned. Surfaces and areas of use should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, this includes gates, locks, handles, tables, boats, seats etc.

What happens if someone feels unwell or shows signs of Covid-19?

• Any instances of participants or coaches who report signs of feeling unwell, should be provided with an area or room to isolate until leaving the venue.
• All circumstances relating to breaches of the session guidance must be recorded and fed back to Richard Hadley at the Angling Trust: [email protected].

What you should consider during your return to angling

As a coach, guide or ghillie, when with clients you are in a working environment and therefore government guidance on workplace safety should be always observed. Every coach or guide will need to make their own decision as to whether they are able to offer the level of service and experience their clients would expect under current guidelines – for those who decide to offer services we would advise the following points are adhered to:

• Coaches, guides, ghillies or instructors must not make physical contact with clients and at all time maintain social distancing guidance.
• A dummy rod or set up must be used to explain techniques from a safe distance, no direct contact with client or equipment.
• Sharing equipment is permitted although should be kept to a minimum. If equipment is shared to take someone fishing, you should practice strict hand hygiene, cleaning your hands thoroughly before and after use. Equipment should be cleaned thoroughly in line with wider guidance on hygiene.
• Care should be taken to ensure that the same person throughout the day ties all knots, lands all fish and handles their own equipment only.
• Weighing and photographing of fish should be carried out within social distancing guidelines.
• All payments should be made electronically where possible.

A copy of these guidelines can be downloaded here

We’ve produced a video explaining how to run a coaching session safely during the pandemic:

Covid-19 Risk Assessment Guidance for Competition Organisers

The Government’s Plan B also revised the Covid-19 guidance relating to sport and recreation. Organisers of angling competitions are now no longer legally required to carry out a formal Risk Assessment to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. However, it remains good practice to have one in place. A Risk Assessment may be necessary for other reasons, for example, where clubs are operating as employers or if insurance policies require.

To assist our member clubs and fisheries, the Angling Trust has produced a useful Risk Assessment template based upon standard angling competition best practice and with reference to the latest Coronavirus guidance and regulations. The full Government guidance is below.

This Risk Assessment highlights elements of competitions that may pose a risk of Covid-19 transmission through physical cross contamination or air borne infection. It may be clarified or amended by the competition organiser, club or fishery owner to align with their current or proposed Covid-19 practices, and blank template pages have been included at the end of the document to record these amendments or clarifications which can be handwritten.

For instance, organisers of major competitions may be able to carry out a live draw by social media and have all payments made by bank transfer, whereas a small club may only be in a position to have the match organiser draw at the venue and take cash for match fees and pools. The club could then use the blank template to record what measures it is taking to avoid a gathering at the registration point (air borne infection) and to handle cash (cross contamination).

Anglers should be made aware of the mitigation measures that have been put in place before the competition is held. Risk Assessments should be produced, signed off by the competition organiser and a record kept for future reference.

With Coronavirus still a significant threat we all have a responsibility to those taking part and must give clear advice to anglers on the measures that have been put in place to protect the safety and welfare of everyone involved.

Revised Government Guidance for Grassroots sporting events

If you are organising grassroots sport events, or expect spectators, you should review the guidance for events and attractions and follow any relevant measures to reduce the risk of transmission at your event. You can also use the risk management template to help you plan your event.

Best practice guidelines

We’ve worked with leading anglers, fisheries and other angling organisations to produce best practice guidelines for the safe resumption of match angling. Click to read the advice relevant to your discipline.