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By Editor in Football on 23rd Feb 2005 15:00

Warm Up/Warm Down procedure in force

As reported in November of last year the Premier League have taken on board the concerns of Groundsmen regarding the extensive nature of warm ups and warm downs and their damaging effect on the pitches.

A working party was set up to up to devise a set of guidelines for clubs to adhere to. These guidelines have now been published and issued this week to all Premier League clubs. Whilst the guidelines are not yet incorporated in to the Premier League Rules, the clubs have been requested to adhere to them for the remainder of this season. It is intended that the guidelines will be included in the Rules for Season 2005/06

The guidelines are as follows:-

Players are not to use the playing surface to warm up until 45 minutes prior to kick off.
Warm ups are to be restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes in duration.
Where provided, portable goals must be used for all goalkeeping drills other than crossing practice.
Where portable goals are not provided, goalkeepers are permitted to use the goalmouth area for a maximum period of 20 minutes.
Each team is to use the area across the pitch from the edge of penalty area to the halfway line to warm up in, or as otherwise instructed by the groundsman.
Unless otherwise instructed by the groundsman, all speed/stamina work is to take place off the pitch along the touchline, opposite the side the Assistant Referee is to use.

In the event of there being insufficient space then speed/stamina work will take place in the area described in 5.
Half time warm ups must be restricted to substitutes only. Points 5 and 6 apply.

Goalkeepers are not to use the penalty area other than for crossing practice (where half time on-field activities permit).

In general, consideration to be given to on-field half time activities.
Warm downs are to last no longer than 15 minutes. Penalty areas are not to be used.

Read more articles in Football, by Editor or from February 2005.

There are 7 comments on this article

23 Feb 2005 by John

This is great news. Let's hope it's extended to all the other leagues soon.
Might I suggest that Premier League groundsmen keep a record of all visiting teams and there adherence, or otherwise, to the guidelines. Could be an interesting and influential document come the end of the season.

24 Feb 2005 by Paul k(THFC)

Im going to be all over Fulham like a rash this saturday!! Seriously though this is great news and i hope Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace in particular take the time to read and understand this.

25 Feb 2005 by lee j

We had Middlesboroughs reserves at the Arena next door last Friday and a strange thing happened....we put the portables on the six yard line for both teams, as we do every game, and suddenly Paul Barron came out to my horror. I was actually surprised but for the whole of the warm up he left the goals there, even doing his crosses in this position without moving them back, a stark contrast to the last few times the first team have played at our main stadium-it seems that despite this only being a reserve game, that Boro can use portables and not go in the main goals, neither did they come out at half time. We will see when they come to us, fortunateley on the last game on May 14th!

27 Feb 2005 by Bert

If a club doesnt follow these guidelines, what does the groundsman do??? No doubt he will be told where to go by the offending team/s and will get no support from the officials as there doesnt seem to be anything in the above stating what to do in such a case

2 Mar 2005 by paulbarnett

Great news for use,lets hope its works.We are seek at haveing to shout at visting teams to keep out of the goalmouth ect.Hope this will apply up in the 3rd division in SCOTLAND and pushing to the 2nd division this saturday Gretna fc. As well as going for champions.

BARNEY [paul barnett ]

2 Mar 2005 by paulbarnett

30 Mar 2005 by Andy Thompson

When will this apply to the football leagues?

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