With new guidelines for COVID Safe play in place from Friday June 11, we are pleased that the Geelong Hockey Association junior and senior competitions will be played this week as per the published fixtures.
The Hockey Victoria Return to Hockey Guidelines provide further details.
However, there are still some restrictions and members are asked to comply fully with these guidelines.
Venue limits
- A maximum of 150 people may be in the venue (Stead Park or Lloyd Reserve) at the one time, with no more than 50 people indoors. This includes players, coaches, umpires, volunteers and carers, parents and guardians attending to support participation of a child or a person with disability.
- Each junior player may have one parent in attendance if required.
- General spectators are not permitted.
- Persons living in the Melbourne Metropolitan area are not permitted to travel to regional Victoria.
- Do not arrive more than 30 minutes before your scheduled game time. Leave promptly as soon as your game is finished.
Face Masks
- A face mask should be carried at all times. It should be worn when indoors, and worn outdoors when you cannot maintain 1.5 m distance from others.
- You do not have to wear a face mask while playing or warming up for a match.
Electronic Record Keeping
- Every person (player, team official, umpire, spectator etc) who enters Stead Park or Lloyd Reserve must record their attendance by checking in using the QR code located at the venue. There are separate QR codes for indoor and outdoor sections of the venues.
- All electronic record keeping will be via the Services Victoria app using the QR code supplied. Please download the app before you enter the venue.
Practice Good Hygiene
- Social distancing rules must be observed. Do not stand around close to other participants while waiting to take part in the training drill or waiting for the match.
- No high fives, handshakes, spitting or contact.
- Do not attend the venue or participate in a match if you are feeling unwell or have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in contact in the last 14 days with someone who has tested positive or has had symptoms.
- Use hand sanitiser before, during and after your match, and wash hands frequently.
- Bring a full water bottle. Drink taps are not to be used.
- Arrive for your game dressed ready to play.
- Use your own equipment and do not share equipment. Do not share water bottles, sticks, clothing, training bibs, towels etc.
- Avoid touching the hockey ball, cones or training equipment unless you are the designated coach/ team manager.
- Cones and hockey balls should be cleaned and disinfected after use, before being used again. Wash the equipment in the cleaning solution, leaving it in for at least 10 minutes, before rinsing and drying.
Ensure physical distancing.
- Enter Stead Park via the gate on the left, exit via the gate on the right.
- Patrons should remain 1.5 metres apart from others and not gather in groups of more than 10. If it is not possible to maintain the 1.5 m distance, patrons should wear a face mask.
- Avoid carpooling where possible.
Entering and leaving dugouts
- To avoid overcrowding and lack of social distancing at the end of games and training sessions, incoming teams who are waiting to begin their game/ training should gather to one side of the player dugouts.
- Do not enter the dugout until the outgoing team has retrieved their bags and left the dugout. The outgoing team should move as quickly as possible to clear the dugout for the incoming team.
- Use the spray disinfectant provided in the dugouts to sanitise touchpoints when the team is leaving.
Activity bubbles
- Limit the number of players, coaches, officials who participate in multiple games or training sessions in the one day. Try to maintain physical distancing where possible.
Change rooms and toilets
- Change rooms and toilets are open, with a maximum density of 1 person / 4 sq metres. Face masks should be worn indoors.
- A maximum of 2 people should be in the toilet area or in the corridor at the one time.
- The social area is open for use, with limits on the number of people permitted in the area.
- Members are asked to clean and disinfect areas of common use when they leave e.g. wipe the tables in the social area with the supplies provided.