General Public Protocols on Game Days.
Season 2020 is certainly not how anyone envisaged it to be. It is very different to any season in the 126-year history of the GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League. We were saddened to have to make the decision to call off the Premiership Season, but we are delighted that we can provide an opportunity to our Juniors across football and netball, the opportunity to participate in the sport they love.
Returning to play in a safe, hygienic and controlled manner is paramount to us all. The safety and wellbeing of our participants continues to be our number one priority.
Our league and all its member clubs have been putting in place all the Return To Play Protocols from State Government, AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria to ensure all our participants can play in a safe and controlled environment. But we need your help as well.
This following information has been put together to provide guidance to parents/guardians/spectators as to what you can and cannot do on game day. We understand that you may not be able to do what you would normally do but this situation is different for us all.
The league asks that you do all you can to comply with everything in this document and that you also comply with any requests made by our club volunteers in relation to protocols that are in place. Everyone is doing a tremendous job to put these into place and we ask that you do your part and adhere to these.
We strongly recommend those attending training and games download the COVIDsafe app.
ILLNESS
- If you, or people you have been in contact with are sick, do not attend training or games and advise your football or netball coach who is responsible for informing the COVID Safety Officer.
- Generally, you should be tested for COVID-19 if you develop fever or respiratory symptoms.
- Stay home and seek medical treatment when you are sick. Do not attend if unwell.
- People who present to training or games with symptoms, will be sent home immediately.
- Any person wishing to attend training or games that has underlying health conditions or is considered a vulnerable person should consult with a healthcare professional prior to attending.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
SPECTATOR GUIDELINES
- If you are feeling unwell, you must stay home.
- No one can attend games from lockdown postcodes, as advised by State Government.
- Any attendance at community football matches by spectators will always be strictly compliant with government directions and restrictions.
- Only spectators necessary to support participation should attend training and competitions and must abide by current group gathering restrictions.
- Specific to Junior Football & Netball, parents and/or guardians should limit their person-to-person contact on site when taking their child/children to training or games.
- Parents and/or guardians should prepare their child/children for training in accordance with the Return to Play Protocols.
- Parents/guardians are encouraged to limit drop-off/pick-up to only one parent/guardian and other dependents as required and necessary. For those staying at venues, social distancing and gathering regulations must be adhered to.
- Avoid social gatherings and mingling after training and games
- The current return to play guidelines stipulates that no more than 20 people can access changeroom facilities at any given time, and as such it will be the home team’s responsibility to ensure each changeroom is monitored appropriately. The home team will supply two “Door People” per game to ensure that this happens. The only people who can access changerooms will be players, umpires, coaches and club officials. No parents/guardians/spectators can enter changerooms.
- Clubrooms at community football venues can have up to 20 people per indoor space, as long as the four square metre rule is met. Signage will be displayed at the entry to each indoor space outlining the maximum number of people allowed at a single time.
- Only players and officials are allowed on the ground during matches, including breaks, and at training. No spectators on grounds during breaks or after the match.
- Spectators for training and competitions must abide by public gathering restrictions. Spectators should be in groups of no more than 10 people in open, outdoor venues and spread out around the ground or venue. Spectators must keep 1.5 meters apart.
- Gathering limits will not apply to participants and those reasonably necessary to conduct the training or competition (e.g. umpires, coaches).
- Where venues allow for vehicle access surrounding the oval, spectators are encouraged to remain in their vehicle (subject to Government advice regarding risk for spectators viewing from vehicles, e.g. cohabiting family/household members only).
- It is the recommendation of the league that clubs do not open canteens/kiosks. Should clubs choose to open a canteen/kiosk, understanding the risk involved, then they do so in line with the appropriate COVID Safe guidelines. Bars are not permitted to be open at any time.
- Reinforcement of social distancing requirements will be displayed prominently by posters or newsletters at all venues and policed by Club officials and Police as required.
- Reinforcement of ‘good health’ requirements will be conveyed by posters at all participating sports venues and through a social media campaign by all member clubs and the league.
- It is the participating Clubs’ responsibility to monitor crowd social distancing and if required they can liaise with Police to enforce social distancing protocols. If you are asked to move or leave an area, you must comply.
- Any non-compliance to the Victorian State Government’s direction and restrictions should be reported to Victoria Police.
Your club will keep you up to date with any changes to the protocols implemented by AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria. If you have any queries or concerns, we encourage you to speak to your club’s COVID Safety Officers.
