The day we’ve been waiting for is finally here – from today, MAN v FAT Football leagues in England* will resume and we cannot contain our excitement. It’s been a loooong wait but MAN v FAT Football is back, baby.
If you’re getting back on the pitch in the coming weeks, here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind.
*Scotland and Wales, we miss you and will be with you as soon as we’re able to.
The do's and don'ts of getting back on the pitch
DO familiarise yourself with your venue’s COVID-safe practices. You’re probably used to following rules around COVID-19 safety by now, but you should still check your venue’s guidance to make sure you’re doing what is required. It’ll differ by venue, but mask on in public spaces, social distancing, using hand sanitiser, you know the drill – you’re a pro at this now.
DO say hello to the not-so-familiar faces too. We know you’ve been dying to get back to your league, not only for the football but also to catch up with your teammates, but don’t forget that there will probably be some new people joining your league.
And if you thought it was nerve-racking joining before COVID, just imagine how nervous you’d be joining during a pandemic when people are going to be wary of coming too close to you. A smile and a hello goes a long way. Even if you are 6 feet away.
DON’T worry if you’re not at the fitness level you were pre-lockdown. If you’re struggling to cover as much of the pitch as you were before, don’t beat yourself up.
Gyms have been closed, you may have been working from home or furloughed where before you were active at work, and let’s be honest, sometimes during lockdown the most exciting thing was settling down in front of the TV with loads of snacks. The majority of people will be in the same boat. If you’re sluggish on the pitch, just know that this will improve as you get used to moving again. And if you can’t cut yourself some slack for losing some fitness during a global pandemic, then when can you?!
DO take it easy. You’re probably not quite as fit as you were back when you had your MAN v FAT Football session every week, and it’s understandable that you’d want to get stuck in straight away. Just try to remember to take it easy so you don’t injure yourself, because how gutted would you be if your league is finally back but you sprain an ankle so you can’t take part?!
DON’T take it too seriously. Even if you have been keeping your fitness up during lockdown and you’re ready to go into your MAN v FAT Football session guns blazing, remember that may not be the case for everyone.
We’ve all had a hell of a time over the past year, with a lot of people enduring loss, hardship and mental health struggles, so if your teammates aren’t as fit as you’d like or if your opponents are struggling, play nice!
DO have fun. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to MAN v FAT Football after waiting what has felt like an age of no football.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or joining us for the first time, we really hope you have a good time lacing up your boots and getting into the swing of things again.
Tag us on social media @manvfat with your photos and videos – we’d love to see how you’re getting on.
