This week AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria released the first step in their Return To Play Frameworks. The first step allows community sporting Clubs to “Return to Small Outdoor Group Training of Up-to 10 People”.
Football:
Returning to play in a safe, hygienic and controlled manner is paramount to the AFL. The safety and well being of our participants is our number one priority.
Following the Victoria State Government advice around the return of community sport, AFL Victoria is endorsing a return to club sanctioned small outdoor group training at community football level from Monday, May 25th, provided participants follow the relevant Victoria State Government guidelines and AFL Victoria’s AFL COVID-19 guidelines are implemented. In advance of training recommencing we encourage Leagues, Clubs and volunteers to digest the protocols, go through an education period and prepare their Club to return to train safely.
AFL Victoria will continue to work with the State Government to ensure alignment with their advice, and in the event of further easing of restrictions, we hope to be able to return to full training and competition later in the year, with hygiene and safety protocols firmly in place.
These protocols are based on the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport and Victorian State Government guidelines around the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities.
AFL Victoria affiliated community clubs can resume small group training (up to 10 people) if the following guidelines and protocols are met:
- Clubs/Teams are to strictly adhere to the maximum of 10 participants per group (not including coach or the minimum number of support staff who are reasonably required to manage the activity), as per the current Victorian Government restrictions.
- Groups of 10 must not mix with each other and must remain distant, with participants not allowed to swap between groups.
- Strictly no physical contact between players can occur (i.e. no tackling, no bumping, no marking contests).
- Social distancing of 1.5m must be maintained at all times.
- No access to club rooms, change rooms or wet areas can occur other than toilets. Access will be permitted for the purpose of one person obtaining equipment, immediately following which the rooms must be locked.
- Footballs can be used for small group training, however only limited additional equipment is permitted to be used during training (e.g. field marking cones are permitted).
- Each club must nominate one COVID Safety Officer and as a minimum this person must undertake the free Australia Government online COVID-19 Infection Control Training prior to recommencement of Club activity. It is also recommended other club officials undertake this training. Certificate of completion needs to be emailed to your AFL League Operations Manager prior to the recommencement of activity. Where possible, we encourage Clubs to have multiple people to take ownership of this role and share the responsibility.
- A log, or register, using the approved AFL Victoria or League template, of all participants in attendance at each training session MUST be maintained and available upon request by either the League, AFL Victoria or health authorities.
- Return to Small Group Training should not include NAB AFL Auskick at this stage.
- The Return to Small Group Training hygiene protocols outlined in this document are to be strictly adhered to at all times, with no exceptions.
You can find further details on what training will look like, field layouts, hygiene protocols, COVID Safety Officer Responsibilities and further relevant information in the Outdoor Group Training Protocols.
The Toyota AFL Club Help website hosts a range of resources to support clubs to implement and work within these protocols.
Netball:
From Thursday 21st May, groups of up to 10 people will be permitted to meet outdoors for the purpose of group netball activity, whilst adhering to appropriate physical distancing regulations. Netball Victoria sees this as an opportunity for teams to gradually begin to reconnect with their teammates and return to training in a safe and cautious manner.
The following guidelines must be met including:
- Outdoor venues only with groups of up to 10 people, plus a coach or the minimum number of support personnel reasonably required to manage the activity.
- One group of 10 people per netball court. Where the facility has multiple courts, more than one group of 10 can be accommodated.
- Groups of 10 should not mix with each other (i.e. no swapping between groups).
- Ensure multiple groups don’t congregate.
- Considering staggering training times to reduce contact between groups. Allow 20 minutes between each group’s scheduled training time.
- All activity must be non contact and no competitions or match play is to take place.
- Training must be modified so participants can maintain a 1.5 meter physical distance.
- Records of attendees and time of each session must be kept and available upon requested.
Further information regarding activity and equipment, venue management, spectators, and health and hygiene can be found in the Guidelines for Clubs and Associations.
Resources and reference guides relating to these guidelines are now available on the Netball Victoria website.