Face Masks & Player Safety

04/02/2022
Face Masks & Player Safety

As a Clubmark accredited club we follow England Hockey’s policies, procedures and guidelines. This includes England Hockey’s Safety Guidance which “strongly recommends wearing shin, ankle and mouth protection whilst playing hockey” and the same for face masks at penalty corners (also known as short corners).

The Club makes safety a top priority for all involved with club activities. We follow England Hockey’s guidelines which, for health and safety reasons, state that protection is a personal responsibility.

To ensure that Club members and the parents of members under 18 years have access to the information they need, the Club strongly recommends that you read and apply England Hockey’s guidelines (https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/duty-of-care-in-hockey/safe-hockey).

Face Protection. We strongly recommend that all members consider their need to wear a face mask at penalty corners. Parents should consider their response to the advice accordingly on behalf of their children. For practical health and safety reasons, the Club does not provide face masks. We do not recommend a particular face mask but, advice can be sought from all good sports retailers.

Wearing Face Masks at Penalty Corners at Devon Hockey Junior Tournaments. Contrary to the direction that was provided by the organisers at the recent junior tournament at Tiverton (Sun 23rd Jan 2022), the wearing of face protection is not mandatory for juniors at penalty corners. We have written to Devon Hockey to seek urgent confirmation that it will apply England Hockey’s “strongly recommends …” guidance for players’ personal safety at future tournaments.

For information to parents, penalty corners will not be used in the Devon Hockey Association’s junior tournaments for the U10 and U12 age groups for this season, at least. Penalty Corners will be used for the U14 age group. The Club has also adopted this approach to training for penalty corners at our Junior Academy.

This message has been sent to all registered members.

Copyright © 2020 Sidmouth & Ottery Hockey Club. All rights reserved.