North Tipp League set for curtailed new campaign

 
By Shane Brophy
 
The committee of the North Tipperary & District League were due to meet last night (Tuesday) to put a plan in place for their forthcoming season.

There was no outcome of the meeting at the time of going to print, following the approval of the Football Association of Ireland of a new Safer Return to Football Pathway that will see adult amateur and underage football permitted to return to full-contact training from next Monday, 29th June.

The FAI’s Steering Group, in consultation with Medical Director Dr. Alan Byrne, has recommended the transition from cessation to kick-off, based on the latest Government guidelines and advice from the Department of Health and HSE as lockdown measures around COVID-19 ease.

The decision to move from cessation to a return to competitive football from July 18th applies to Adult Amateur and Underage football under the jurisdiction of the FAI and will apply to all players, coaches, match officials, club officials, volunteers, parents and guardians.
Under the new Safer Return to Football pathway, the FAI has approved the following measures:
• Adult Amateur and Underage football can return to full contact training, including training games between teams from the same club, from June 29th.

• Adult Amateur and Underage football can return to playing friendly games from July 11th.
• Adult Amateur and Underage football can return to playing competitive matches from July 18th.
• All Adult Amateur and Underage Leagues operating a Winter season, who have had applications to extend their 2019-2020 season approved, can resume League fixtures from July 18th and must have all competitions completed by September 14th.
• All other Adult Amateur and Underage Leagues operating a Winter Season can commence their 2020/21 season from July 18th.
• All Adult Amateur and Underage Leagues operating a Summer Season can resume/commence from July 18th and must have all competitions completed by November 30th.

The final measure will apply to the North Tipperary & District League who run a summer season with the expectation that a curtailed season will have to be put in place while Nenagh AFC and Newport Town, who compete in the Limerick District League can prepare for a full campaign, with the start of their season broought forward by two months to August 18th.
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Work on Safer Return to Football protocols for Football For All and Futsal affiliates is underway and details will be announced in due course.