Everything in readiness

By Shane Brophy

Clubs all around the county are making final preparations for the reopening of outdoor sporting activities from Monday next, 26th April.

With amateur level GAA, soccer and rugby having been closed down for over six months and with golf, pitch & putt and tennis curtailed since the New Year, pitches, courses, and courts are expected to be buzzing with activity from next Monday as people, both young and old, get to stretch their legs once more.

It is the latest step in what we all hope is a return to normality come the summer and with all the metrics in terms of Covid-19, from cases to hospital numbers and vaccination rates moving in the right direction, the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to become closer into focus.

While no plans have been announced for the subsequent phases of reopening of sport, such as allowing adult teams to resume training, it is expected if things go well that May 10th or 17th could be the dates when over 18’s can also resume physical activity with hopefully matches resuming some time in June.

In terms of what is allowed from Monday next, this is what is allowed:

GAELIC GAMES

Training for players under the age of 18 can resume from next Monday in pods of fifteen, including coaches.

The GAA have issued clubs with the Return to Play protocols which are broadly similar to that of last June when training resumed following lockdown 1.

This includes clubs putting a Covid Supervisor in place with all parents having to complete a health questionnaire for their child prior to each training session/game on their Covid status over the previous 14 days and if there are any concerns, the player cannot admitted to training.

All players/coaches must use hand sanitizer on entry and exit from grounds as usual, plus all club facilities must have adequate signage on Covid-19 regulations.

Soccer

The GAA’s plans are broadly similar for soccer also, with the maximum numbers allowed by the FAI for underage training up to the age of 18 are groups of 15 (13 players and minimum 2 coaches).

More than one team can train at a venue at any given time, provided there is a clear buffer zone of at least 15 metres between the groups. However, training times must be staggered to ease the flow of arrivals and departures of players and coaches.

A parent or guardian is allowed to accompany a player to training and may remain at the venue for the duration of the session provided they strictly observe to the two-metre social distancing at all times. No gatherings of groups while training is ongoing are permitted.

Coaches must also provide a register of attendees at all training sessions to the Covid-19 Compliance Officer for contact tracing purposes.