Place Graceville - Pathway Update - We're Back!
Andrew Thomson
Great news - Footy Season start dates have been finalised by AFL Queensland this week!
Ss you may have seen over the past few weeks, we have been posting updates to our various social media channels and the club website about an imminent return to footy. We have tried to make them both informative and fun, so take the time to follow us on Facebook if you have it.
Last week, the Queensland Government have eased COVID-19 restrictions to Stage 2 and are currently planning to ease restrictions down to Stage 3 on July 10th. This allowed us to commence senior training with maximum of 20 on the oval at any one time, which is impractical for Junior football given our volume of players. With confirmation from the State Government that now confirms we can have 3 separate groups of 20 on the Oval in defined zones, we are now ready to get started!
With this in mind, AFLQ have released their plan to return to footy and the two main bullet points are:
We can start training immediately
Games are likely to commence in early to mid July
There is a lot of important information in this email, so please read it carefully.
However, as a priority - please get in touch with your team manager ASAP to confirm your intention to both train and play in 2020 as we need to confirm our teams. If you are unsure who your team manager is, please reply to this email and we will provide the contact details.
Full details on all policies and procedures are available HERE
A checklist and set of guidelines specifically relating to Stage 2 is HERE
These are incredibly detailed resources, we have taken the time to summarise them below with information relevant to parents and players.
Training during Stage 2 restrictions:
We are very well prepared and have finalised training dates starting next week for some teams, with others beginning the following week. Training for each team will only be held on one day each week during Stage 2 restrictions.
There are a number of other rules that the club must follow during Stage 2 restrictions when running training sessions. These rules will be in place for all of Stage 2, and we appreciate your understanding and efforts in helping the club to comply with them. There will bespot checks on clubs throughout Stage 2 from authorities, and any breaches of the rules may cause sanctions to be imposed on the club.
The guiding principle for Stage 2 training is “Get in, Train, Get out”.
Summary of training Rules:
Appropriate social distancing rules still apply.
One training session a week during Stage 2 restrictions.
Maximum of 20 people involved in one training session (incl coaches).
Your team manager/coach will advise you of the groups. Once assigned a group, you must stay with the group during Stage 2 training. No group swapping without permission is allowed.
Training sessions will b restricted to specific training zones.
There will be a COVID kit for each training group that includes hand sanitiser, spray sanitiser and disinfectant wipes.
No training with any group that is not your age group (ie, your child can’t train with their sibling in another age group like they may have done in the past).
Training attendance sheets will be completed to adhere to regulations
Bring your own water bottle and snacks. No sharing.
Get ready for training at home. Arrive at the ground ready to train. There will be no access to changerooms.
Use of footballs only, no other equipment.
All footballs must be wiped down with antiseptic wipes at the end of the training session.
No physical contact. No tackling. No hi-fives. No huddles.
Arrive at training at the start time. Not earlier. There will be no kicking balls around the oval before training
Leave training immediately on completion of training as other teams (incl seniors) may be training on that day
If your child is not feeling well, do not come to training
Parents are encouraged to not congregate around the oval during training. If practical, simply drop and go. Otherwise please wait in the car, or inside the club while adhering to all directions from bar and restaurant staff.
The rules don’t sound like fun, but they let us get back to footy in a post COVID-19 environment. They are the rules for Stage 2 only, which is currently scheduled to end on July 10th. When restrictions are eased to Stage 3, more regular training patterns will resume. So at the moment, we need to “Get in, Train, Get out”.
It’s only a short time we need to do this and we thank you for your support and adherence to the Stage 2 training rules.
Reminder: Failure to comply with the above could lead to sanctions on the club.
The Season:
With the Queensland Government planning to ease restrictions to Stage 3 on July 10th, AFLQ has released the start dates for the upcoming season.
Fixtures will be provided after updated team nominations have been received by AFLQ. We require confirmation of players asap so that we can re-register our teams.
Auskick does not have a defined start date, but we anticipate it being in line with Stage 3 restrictions.
Summary:
Things are moving fast and, at the moment, for the better. We can get back into footy sooner than many of us thought. The club is well prepared, but there are strict rules we need to follow. We need your support over the next 5-6 weeks to make sure Sherwood’s return to footy is successful.
Thanks for your patience and understanding in these trying times.
In a final note, if you ordered and had a mouthguard fitted from the wonderful folks at Essential Care Dental - please visit their clinic asap to collect!
Footy is back!
Up the Maggies!
