KNVB decision about amateur football until the winter break

Photo: KNVB

With the current corona measures of the cabinet, amateurs are not allowed to exercise after 5 p.m., while training before that time is not feasible for many children and most adults during the week. This may have consequences for the competitions during the weekend. The KNVB has already made a decision for next weekend, but for the games on December 11, 12, 18 and 19, there were still two factors at play. These are now clear and a decision has been made about the other two rounds until the winter break.

Medical advice

This afternoon it was announced that ‘The Hague’ does not want to move the closing time to 8 p.m., as it does for the (other) essential sectors. The KNVB has requested advice from the Football Medical Center about playing matches at the weekend, while training is not possible during the week. A distinction is made here between performance (A-category*) and recreational football (B-category*). In the former, the intensity in competitions is high and the training serves as a tactical but also physical preparation. Not training with this group for an extended period of time would be highly illogical and irresponsible. In recreational football, the intensity of matches is considerably lower. Training is less frequent and less intense. If you delete not only the training sessions but also the competitions for this category, you run the risk of lack of movement.

Responsible

Always play football provided it is justified; the KNVB wants to continue to think in terms of possibilities and also let the medical advice be leading in the decision about the upcoming programs. For the A category, it has therefore been decided to suspend the competitions until the winter break from Monday 6 December. If teams are able to train between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. and therefore find it responsible to play matches on a voluntary basis, this can be arranged in mutual consultation. In the B category, the program will remain on December 11, 12, 18 and 19, so that approximately 85% of amateur football players can exercise at least once a week.

The goal is to resume all competitions after the winter break (mid-January 2022), but of course that depends on the development of the corona virus in the Netherlands and the measures taken by the cabinet.

*Categorie A of B?

The following classification applies to category A for the 2021/’22 season:

• Men’s field football standard Second Division up to and including the fifth division.
• Men’s field football reserve Hoofdklasse up to and including the reserve third division *.
• Men’s field football U23 competition (divisions).
• Women’s field football Pure Energie Eredivisie Women** up to and including the third division.
• JO13 to JO19 Division 1 up to and including the Hoofdklasse
• National division MO17

*Exception for the reserve 3rd class Sunday in the North and West districts. These fall under category B.

**Can continue as top league.

• Teams that play in the other classes (including 7 against 7 seniors) in the 2021/’22 season belong to category B.

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