We know that getting back on the field or court means so much to so many in the Central Highlands community. Here’s an overview of the current restrictions for community sport and recreation and how your club or organisation can plan to return to play.
Click here for Victoria’s current COVID-19 restriction levels.
The Victorian Government has announced the gradual easing of restrictions throughout the state from 11:59pm on Sunday 21 June 2020. This includes:
- Indoor sports centres and venues (for example, gyms, health clubs, class-based fitness studios, dance studios) can open. No more than 20 participants are allowed per separate space, subject to the four square metre rule, with up to 10 people per group activity or class.
- For adults, indoor and outdoor sport and exercise activities are allowed if participants can keep 1.5 metres between them and there are no more than 20 people participating, or no more than 10 participants in a class.
- Organised non-contact competitions are allowed for all age groups if participants can keep 1.5 metres between them and there are no more than 20 participants in the competition.
- For people aged 18 years and under, full-contact training and competition may resume. There are no limits on the number of people per group activity or class if all participants are 18 years old or younger.
- 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.
- If indoors, no spectators are allowed – just those necessary for the competition or training and to support the participants (e.g. supervising parents).
- Indoor and outdoor swimming pools can have a maximum of 20 patrons. There is no limit on the number of people per lane in each pool.
- Communal facilities, such as change rooms, can now open for indoor and outdoor sport venues.
- Playcentres including trampolining can now open for up to 20 people per space, with up to 10 people per group for group activities. There are no limits on the number of people per group if all participants are 18 years old or younger.
- Large indoor venues will be able to allocate separate spaces and have up to 20 people in each space and 10 people per group/activity for people over 18. For example a large indoor court could be separated into two spaces with different groups at each end.
- Public playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skateparks are open.
From mid-July:
- Subject to the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and the continued management of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), adults can resume full-contact training from 13 July and full-contact competition from 20 July.
Changes to these dates will be subject to the advice of the Chief Health Officer.
A full list of activities and how the current restrictions apply is now available.
This follows Federal Government announcements in relation to a three stage road map to a COVIDsafe Australia along with the Australian Institute of Sport’s Rebooting Sport Framework.
- Roadmap to a COVIDsafe Australia
- 3 Step framework for a COVIDsafe Australia
- AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport
The Victorian Government’s new Return to Play guidance sets out how and when your sport and recreation activity can return and provides assistance to help make that process viable, safe and successful.
What does this mean for Central Highlands community sport?
Community sporting clubs, leagues and associations in the Central Highlands are encouraged to prepare ‘return to play’ plans.
Clubs will receive templates to use from their State Sporting Association in line with the sports’ over arching ‘return to play’ plan. Local Government’s and/or recreation reserve committees may require clubs to demonstrate how they are going to comply with the current restrictions before allowing access to community facilities.
It is the responsibility of every club to ensure the safety of its participants, members, volunteers and staff, and ensure that it operates within the current restrictions.
The most up to date advice for Victorian community sport is available on the Sport and Recreation Victoria website.