Return to play – Juniors, U19 and Senior Female Football – weekend 11/6/21

Below is the latest update from AFL Barwon regarding sport resuming this weekend 11/6/21:

Thank you to all clubs for your patience and for those who provided me with feedback.

After overwhelming club feedback and discussions with the AFL Barwon Commission the following has been decided for the upcoming weekend.

  • All Senior Male Football, Reserve Football and All Senior Netball competitions (BFNL & GFNL) will not commence playing this weekend. Fixtures for these competitions will revert to the Return to Play Plans disclosed to clubs Tuesday.
  • Senior Female Football competitions will commence playing this weekend as per the current fixture and will fall inline with the current attached protocols. The decision to play senior female football games is based on the lack of crowd numbers at home and away matches and there is only one sport playing at the venue at one time.
  • Under 19 Football and Under 19 Netball will commence playing this weekend as per the current fixture and will fall inline with the current attach protocols.

The key points that clubs need to remember are as follows:

  • No more than the minimum number of participants required to conduct the training or game participate in the activity (e.g. players, necessary coaches, umpires and those required for supervision of children or to support people with a disability)
  • It does not involve a participant who ordinarily resides in a Metropolitan Melbourne
  • Get in and Get out approach to playing and training
  • Any attendance at community football training, games and programs must be strictly compliant with Victorian State Government directions and restrictions and follow all requirements for contact tracing procedures including scanning QR codes.
  • Only parents and caregivers necessary to support participation should attend training and games and must abide by current group gathering restrictions

We have not made this decision lightly and as it is our intention to ‘Play On’ this weekend if restrictions and protocols allow, it needed to be deemed as viable for clubs, competitions, volunteers and members.

It is our belief that the burden and stresses on volunteers to facilitate matches was too much, particularly with the limits on spectator numbers and facility use, but also the ability for clubs to raise revenue.

The short turn around between now and the weekend also plays a significant factor which clubs indicated in feedback.

We must be prepared however for some restrictions to be in place going forward and we will have to work within them accordingly.

Thank you again for your patience and support with us as we continue to attempt to work within these ever evolving times.

All Return to Play & Return to Train information and resources can be found at the following link on the AFL Barwon website http://www.aflbarwon.com.au/covid-19-resources/

Please don’t hesitate to contact any of the staff if you require additional information.

Kind Regards,

Sean Atkinson

Junior female football, Junior Male Football, Junior Netball, Senior female football, Senior Male Football, Senior Netball, SMSC