So now....... the implications of Greater Manchester moving to Tier 3 (High Risk) Covid Alert area for THC, hockey and the Club - if your're a player, umpire, coach, volunteer coach / manager, parent or spectator please read !

UPDATE ON U18 AND OTHER POINTS DUE OUT LATER TODAY - see summary below of what this will be covering (and early heads up)

All change but no change!

Friday's EH Update on Covid Alert levels and implication for THC still stands and the current position.

The BIG CHANGE is Timperley will be in Tier 3 (Very High) Level from Friday 23rd October 2020 the main impacts in a nutshell are:

- Home Games: We can only play teams in GM (T3) and follow travel rules if dont live in GM
- Away Games: We can only play teams in GM (T3) and follow travel rules in dont live in GM
- Training for all groups (senior and academy) will continue for those living in GM (T3)
- Umpires / Players /Coaches / Manager not living in T2 areas cant travel into GM (T3) - except our paid coaches who are travelling for work
- Under 18's - EH will be clarifying the position for Under 18's later today (See summary below about travel / games)
- Spectator rules have changed - only spectators allowed are households or support bubbles of the players playing in the game
- Bar will not be able to sell alcohol but looking at options for how / what we can offer

What about matches ????

The Leagues have been doing a great job at looking at how we re-jig divisions and create a new fixtures to keep everyone playing as much as possible - so it will be different but do remember we CAN STILL PLAY HOCKEY and that's the big thing.

NEW FIXTURES are being worked on for:
- NWHL (covers Mens 3 - 7's)
- CWHL (covers Ladies 3 -6's)
- North (covers mens and Ladies 2)
- Academy sides - being looked at, linked to EH guidance on U18 due out today
- National League - EH continuing to review impact for clubs in T3

More news and details over coming days / week. Some leagues have already started to delete fixtures (and this may come through on Pitchero) so that new ones can be loaded up.

EH Championships - awaiting update on Under 18 matches but all other games will fall into the above Rules. EH will be advising how managed.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO !
Keep calm and carry on !

- make sure your captains knows where you live to help planning
- update Pitchero availability for all dates / fixtures so we can plan if have enough players
- keep in touch so don't miss any late changes
- keep following the Covid Rules

THIS WEEKEND
Games being arranged - or in process of being arranged:

Mens 2,3 and 6's v Bowdon (friendlies
Mens 4s v 5's
Men's 7's v Leigh (League)

Ladies 3 v Wilmslow (nomads players who live in GM and will be played in GM
Ladies 5 v tbc but possibly Brooklands
Other ladies teams looking at internal games

Beavers v Beavers

Will do all we can so watch this space and keep in touch via pitchero etc

Umpires - huge thanks to Nick Court for segregating out umpires into T3 and T2 groups - this will have a major impact so any whistlers living in T3 we need you !

PLAYERS FROM OTHER CLUBS LIVING IN GM / T3
We've been approached by some players who live in T3 (GM) but whose clubs are in T2 areas. Once we get the immediate challenges linked to this weekend and fixtures out of the way we'll be looking at this and how/what we can accommodation.

Please direct any enquiries to Club Captains or email timperleyhc@gmail.com and we'll be in touch asap about arrangments

HEADS UP ON EH UPDATE ...ON T3..

We need to wait for full update on T3 guidance but have the heads up on the following areas that will clarify things for U18's in particular

Updates to guidance issued on Friday 16 October (www.englandhockey.co.uk/covid19) – we will update our EH guidance with this information later today.

Under 18’s can travel outside or into Level/Tier 3 areas to access their hockey activity. Parents obviously are likely to be required to provide transport for this and it is recommended that people only travel in household groups or bubbles when they are coming from Level/Tier 3 Areas. If this isn’t possible then to closely follow the government safer travel guidance.

Matches between u18 players can also take place with clubs in all areas but we recommend both teams are comfortable playing and that teams in the Level/Tier 3 areas make all reasonable efforts to travel without mixing household groups or bubbles. If this isn’t possible then to closely follow the government safer travel guidance.

Disability groups (e.g. Flyerz) also have dispensation to travel and play as above in line with the u18 players advice.
Paid individuals with contracts in place for delivering hockey can travel to access hockey activity. This is true for roles that are classified as paid work such as coaches or associated roles.

The guidance recommends no travel between Level/Tier 3 areas. The Covid Level/Tier 3 Areas are seen as separate areas, not one continuous area. So, for example, Liverpool teams cannot play Lancashire teams while both areas are at Level/Tier 3. This applies even when Level/Tier 3 area borders meet.

Whilst Football at National League System Tiers 3-6 can continue hockey unfortunately cannot. Football has exemption as players at these levels hold paid contracts with their clubs so this can be classified as work. No domestic hockey is a professional league (given the employment implications) and only the international teams in England are classified as ‘elite’.

We understand the local leagues in the North West are exploring options to support aligning activity to the lockdown areas to help continue activity in the short term.
Matches involving teams within the same Level/Tier 3 Area can continue in line with the guidance.

Will update later today when more news from EH and on Fixtures / Leagues