Regional Victoria is out of lockdown and we are back to playing games and full contact training for all teams. But please follow all the COVID Safe rules. We only have a few weeks left in the season, and we would really like to be able to keep playing without any further lockdowns.
Check the HV Return to Hockey Guidelines, updated August 10.
Please note:
- Spectators are not permitted (see further advice below)
- There is a limit of 20 players per half pitch for training
- COVID Marshalls are still required
- Anyone who lives in regional Victoria but works in Metropolitan Melbourne can still play hockey in their local environment (regional Victoria). They will be required to have a permit to travel to Melbourne and will need to comply with all restrictions still in place in Metropolitan Melbourne.
- Anyone who lives in Metropolitan Melbourne is not permitted to attend or participate in community sport in Regional Victoria. Little River is exempt from the restricted area.
- The City of Greater Geelong have directed the GHA to ensure that residents of Metropolitan Melbourne do not enter the hockey facilities at Stead Park or at Lloyd Reserve. Consequently, proof of identity may be required before you may enter.
Please follow the COVID Safe rules.
Entry to Stead Park
From this weekend, the entry and exit gates at Stead Park will be swapped to assist with monitoring. Please enter via the lower gate on the right (nearest the Marg Murray stand) and exit via the gate nearest the pavilion. Separated entry and exit gates assists with reducing congestion and aids social distancing.
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.
- Anyone who cannot checkin via the QR code must complete a manual checkin.
COVID Check In Marshalls
- A COVID Check In Marshall must be present in order for the facility to operate. Marshalls will ensure that each person entering the venue has provided their details as required prior to entry and checked in using the QR code.
Face Masks
- A face mask should be carried at all times. A face mask must be worn at all times when indoors and outdoors, except when playing or umpiring a match or exercising strenuously. Wear your mask on the way in to play, put it on again when you finish playing, and wear it on the way out.
Venue limits
- People who are required to attend to facilitate the activity may attend. This may include coaches, umpires, team managers.
- Spectators are not permitted at either training or games, unless they are required to supervise a dependant (child) or person with a disability. They must maintain social distance of 1.5 metres, and not gather in groups of more than 10.
- There is a limit of 100 people indoors and 300 people outdoors. However, the density quotient of 1 person / 4 square metres still applies. The maximum number of people who can be indoors in the social area at Stead Park is 39.
- Do not arrive more than 30 minutes before your scheduled game time. Leave promptly as soon as your game is finished.
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.
- Follow the directions for separate entry and exit gates at Stead Park.
- Patrons should remain 1.5 metres apart from others and not gather in groups of more than 10.
- Avoid carpooling where possible.
Entering and leaving dugouts
- While waiting for your game to begin, maintain a social distance of 1.5 m from others.
- 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.
Training Guidelines
- Full contact training is allowed for both junior and senior players.
- A maximum of 20 players plus a coach may train on each half pitch.
- Participants should not mix or move between the groups. Ensure that there is a 5 m clear zone between each half of the pitch.
- Training sessions should finish 15 minutes before the next group is scheduled to begin i.e. sessions are 45 minutes long.
- Spectators are not allowed, unless they are required to supervise a dependant (child) or person with a disability.
- No high fives, handshakes or spitting.
- BYO water bottle.
- Do not share equipment – sticks, clothing, towels etc.
- Shared equipment should be cleaned between uses.
- Design your training drills to ensure that participants are socially distanced. Avoid participants standing together between drills.
- When the training session has finished, participants should leave immediately. ‘Get in, Train, Get out‘.