Cold Weather Advice from North Riding FA
With the adverse weather in mind, and recent LOW temperatures, North Riding FA would like to offer the below guidance.
If there is a weather warning issued, you must follow the government’s advice, but please always use a common-sense approach.
The Met Office’s weather warnings can help you to take extra precautions to keep safe here and you can check weather health alerts here, including a map.
Football advice:
- Clubs/Team coaches/managers have a duty to ensure that U18 players’ welfare is considered when it comes to extreme weather, heat or cold, and on that basis, a club may provide advice around clothing: hats, long-sleeved shirts, base-layers, training jackets/coats and tracksuits/hoodies etc.
- Additionally, there are specific IFAB/FA rules around the wearing of base-layers /gloves etc, within a competition.
- A child must wear the minimum correct kit that The FA rules require. Parents/Carers are responsible for ensuring that their child is appropriately dressed for the conditions, whether playing/training or on the side-lines.
- However, within a training session/game, a coach/manager can substitute/remove players if they are not adequately dressed for the conditions or are visibly cold/wet and unhappy/distressed, as this may potentially impact their health/well-being.
- A club can provide advice and guidance for parents/carers. If there is a club rule around the wearing of long sleeve tops which has been ratified by the club’s committee, and has been communicated to parents prior to their child’s registration or renewal, then this is a club matter and any parental concerns around this should be formally made to the committee
- Parents/Carers know their child best. Clubs should make parents aware of the need to ensure that their child has adequate/appropriate clothing /equipment for the presenting or foreseen weather conditions – with the understanding that club officials have the right to refuse or remove any child from activity if they arrive for training/matchday and they are not appropriately dressed for the session and/or weather conditions.
- Match Official pitch inspection: North Riding FA match officials are advised to consider player safety when performing pitch inspections.
- Communicating with the match officials; inspect the ground prior to the game to assess the playing conditions. There is a higher chance of accidents and injuries due to cold weather.
- Decide with enough time, prior to kick-off, to prevent unnecessary travelling for everyone involved.
- Listen to your players and parents/guardians’ concerns about the weather conditions – it is a good chance to make sure you are updated with the players’ medical conditions, which the cold weather can impact.
- Event organisers (Clubs and Leagues) should monitor the weather conditions before and throughout the event, tournament, training or matches and act accordingly. It should be considered if it is necessary to cancel the event/fixtures in the best interest of health and welfare. The recommendation to postpone or cancel events/fixtures should be done in line with the weather guidance.
Helpful Resources
Cold-Health Alert action card for the voluntary and community sector
Cold weather and health: supporting vulnerable people
How cold weather affects your health
The FA do not issue any Recommendations or Guidance regarding extreme weather; therefore, the club is responsible for its decisions; decisions must be in the best interest to protect the Health and Welfare of everyone involved in football.
North Riding FA is not responsible for any club’s decision to participate or hold events in extreme weather and cannot make decisions regarding the cancellation of events and fixtures on behalf of Clubs and the Leagues.
If you have any questions please email support@northridingfa.com
Please also see attached ‘Tips for Coaches Training in Cold Weather’ and the 'Pitch Inspection During Winter’ document for more guidance and support.