News Detail » Scottish Amateur FA Update 29th May 2020
Scottish Amateur FA
Update May 2020
To All Member Leagues, Associations and Clubs
Good Afternoon All,
The last few months have been a difficult time for all of us. Our thoughts remain with those who have lost friends and relatives during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Amateur football has been secondary during this time. As we start to move out of lockdown into Phase 1 of the Scottish Government’s roadmap, we feel it is important to update you on the way ahead within the Scottish Amateur FA over the next few months, given that during the coming month we would normally be completing and gathering all the necessary documentation for the forthcoming season.
The Scottish FA has recently set up a number of Joint Response Sub Groups tasked with looking at all parts of Scottish Football and how it can safely be brought back fully at all levels, while following the Scottish Governments Road Map and in adhering to the social distancing restrictions, public gathering limits and the latest medical advice.
The Grassroots sub group will cover amateur football. Attached is the FAQs document issued this week by the group, for your information. Initially the sub group will be looking at what training is permitted as we move along the Road Map to the destination of recreational competitive matches returning in the months ahead. We all hope this will be sooner rather than later but as you are all aware we remain at the mercy of the virus at this time.
Quite simply at this time unless there is a major change in the position with the virus or a vaccine becomes available, it is anticipated that recreational contact sports, including amateur football, will be several months away, possibly even towards the end of the year, before being permitted by the Scottish Government, given the continuing social distancing measures and restrictions on public gatherings that are expected to remain in place.
It has also been a source of pride to the Scottish Amateur FA, and we are sure the member Leagues and Associations, in the way that many of our member clubs have changed their focus from football to helping their communities. There can be no doubt as to the importance of amateur football to our communities and indeed the entire nation.
The Executive & Finance Committee of the Scottish Amateur FA have in the last few months been working to ensure the membership remain protected as we move forward, while trying to limit any financial burden on our clubs during this difficult period.
We would now like to take this opportunity to advise you of the arrangements for preparation for next season, whenever that will be. In the meantime the following arrangements have been put in place.
Scottish Amateur FA Affiliations
Membership for all Clubs, Leagues and Associations is due to be renewed on 1st July 2020 for the forthcoming winter season 2020/21, and is currently due for the summer season 2020. The Scottish Amateur FA has agreed that all affiliations for the Winter Season 2019/20 and the Summer Season 2019 will be extended without any further cost to the membership until competitive football is able to return.
It has also been agreed that any new clubs fully accepted by your League or Association for the forthcoming season and the current summer season will be awarded temporary affiliation, again until competitive football resumes.
This will ensure that members can continue to rely on the benefits of membership of the Scottish Amateur FA during this testing period, while we all await recreational football being permitted to return.
Public Liability Insurance
You may also be aware that the Public Liability Insurance cover, for the Association and the entire membership, is due to expire on 31st July 2020. Following discussions with Sportsguard we have negotiated that Sportsguard will extend the current Public Liability Insurance Cover, free of charge for our membership, until competitive football returns.
This is a very generous offer from Sportsguard and ensures that our members remain covered for their Public Liability Insurance and avoids any break in the cover, which is important in relation to any future claims.
Personal Accident Insurance
The other insurance cover for members within the Scottish Amateur FA is the Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and this is due to be renewed on 1st July 2020.
Again following discussions with Sportsguard a substantial discount had been agreed if cover was to start on time, as a result of the suspension of football in the last three months. However given that competitive football is very unlikely to be permitted by 1st July 2020, it has been agreed that PAI cover will cease on 30th June 2020 for our members and will not be required to be renewed until competitive football returns. Sportsguard has assured us that a discount will be calculated at that time incorporating the discount mentioned above.
This will of course avoid any unnecessary expenditure for our members but we would like to make it clear that as expected a degree of training will return before matches, members will not have PAI during that period until competitive football fully returns. If members wish training cover during that period they can contact Sportsguard for bespoke cover.
National & District Cup Competitions 2019/20
As previously advised it remains the position of the Scottish Amateur FA to complete the 2019/20 National & District cup competitions during the 2020/21 season, when safe to do so. Like most things at this time this is an unusual situation but one we feel is the right thing to do for the clubs who were successful before the suspension of football.
An SAFA sub committee has been established to look at the cup rules that may need altered, including player eligibility and these will be advised at the appropriate time.
However one point we would like to clear up at this time is that as we will be completing the 2019/20 competitions with the 2020/21 player registrations. Any player who competed in the 2019/2020 competitions with one team, who has then registered with another team for season 2020/21 (with that new team remaining in the 2019/2020 competition), will not be eligible to play. They will of course be “Cup tied”.
Finally the SAFA office at Hampden Park remains closed for the foreseeable future and we continue to work remotely but we will continue to try and respond to your e-mails at the earliest opportunity. We hope between the above and the information from the Scottish FA Grassroots sub group you will understand the plan for the months ahead.
I know we are all desperate to see the return of amateur football. While this remains on hold please continue to follow the advice from the government and the medical personnel and above all stay safe.
Thomas McKeown
National Secretary
Scottish Amateur FA
29th May 2020
