COVID-19 Update – May 25th
Following feedback from the UV community and consultation with other sporting organisations, the UV Return To Play Working Group has reviewed their current recommendations for UV members.
NOTE: This information is now out of date. Please click here to be redirected to the most recent update.
Casual throwing
Casual throwing is encouraged! Ultimate Victoria recommends getting out with a small number of friends and throwing a disc as a means of exercise and socialisation.
Pick-up Games
Currently, UV recommends that all forms of pick-up ultimate do not resume. Pick-up encourages people to travel out of their local area and interact with unknown players, exposing them to a greater risk of COVID-19 infection. Contact tracing for these groups could also be problematic as traditionally they do not have an attendance record.
Leagues
UV is not permitting any league play until outdoor gathering restrictions have been relaxed further and competitive sport is allowed.
Tournaments
Ultimate Victoria has a draft calendar of events we are committing to hosting in 2020 and 2021, however we will not be confirming and publicising the dates and details of these events until such time as we are completely confident they can take place without violating restrictions.
Club Training
Clubs are allowed to resume training sessions following the submission of a COVID-19 Training Plan to the UV Return To Play Working group (link below).
The key to training under current restrictions is to Get In – Train – Get Out.
- UV recommends creating training groups with a maximum of the current number of participants allowable in outdoor activities by the Victorian government (currently 10 players plus a coach, increasing to 20 players on June 1).
- Multiple groups can train at the same venue, provided the area each group is training in is clearly marked out by cones, with at least a 10 metre “buffer” space between areas.
- The members within each training group must stay within their group and its designated area.
- Start and finish times for each group should be staggered to manage entry and exit points and ensure no oversized gatherings occur.
- The training groups should remain consistent from session to session. Individuals who switch between groups risk exposing a greater number of club members to COVID-19 and the requirements of self-isolation should a member of any training group be diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Training should focus on technical drills or group technical drills without physical contact. Match simulation drills (O vs D, or gameplay) are not permitted.
- Socialising (eg: group meals) immediately before or after training sessions is highly discouraged.
- Indoor spaces available to clubs at training venues are to remain off-limits for anything other than hand washing or toilet use.
Social Distancing
- Social distancing measures still apply – 1.5m between training squad members – in all activities.
- If training in a public space, ensure there is plenty of distance between your training squad and other public space users
- Can you throw a disc between other groups or public space users?
- Can you overhear conversations between other groups or public space users?
- Can you keep your belongings away from other groups or public space users?
- Inform all players not to attend training if they are unwell or have displayed COVID-19 symptoms within the previous 14 days. Clubs must insist that anyone with these symptoms leaves the training venue.
Hygiene Practices
- Discs are not to be shared between training groups at the same venue.
- Discs to be washed and sanitized before and after each training session. This includes discs in a training squad kit bag as well as the discs of individual players.
- Players must have access to hand washing facilities with soap and sanitiser for before, during and after training
- Do not allow players to share drink bottles or towels.
- Players to be encouraged to go straight home after training and have a thorough full body shower with soap
Record keeping
- Contact information on attendees, including name, and mobile phone number must be collected and kept for 28 days. Use electronic recording means where practical. Where pen and paper are used, encourage the use of individual pens; provide adequate sanitiser or use one person as the scribe.
- Take a photo of the training squad to assist in any contact tracing in the event a training squad member is diagnosed with COVID-19
- Training groups should keep their bags together so that those people who have the COVIDSafe app installed on their mobile device can recognise other devices with the COVIDSafe app installed and Bluetooth® enabled.
- Regularly review your COVID-19 Training Plan and Checklist to ensure they are consistent with current directions and advice provided by health authorities.
- Ensure you have a copy of this COVID-19 Training Plan and Checklist which must be produced if requested from a relevant compliance/enforcement officer. This may include providing an electronic copy.
You can download a template of a COVID-19 Training Plan here
Ultimate Victoria is treating the health and safety of its members and their families very seriously during this time. Just as players are responsible for upholding the rules of the game on the field, we ask that you uphold these rules off the field as well. Any clubs found to be running activities without submitting a COVID-19 Training Plan, violating their plan or any of the above restrictions, may face disciplinary action from the Ultimate Victoria board.
If you have any questions about any of the recommendations, or the COVID-19 Training Plan please contact UV’s Program Manager Simon Talbot (simon [at] ultimatevictoria.com.au).
Resources
Victorian government – Department of Health & Human Services sport guidelines
AIS – Framework for Rebooting Sport
Australian government – Department of Health hygiene guidelines
Australian government – Department of Health social distancing guidelines