CovidSafe Play: Know Your Responsibilities
/A general statement and set of reminders for players and clubs -
While more and more states are increasingly opening up, and quidditch is in various ways resuming around the country, and while we are excited to see this happening, we are nevertheless concerned about growing complacency with regards to the simple but necessary measures needed to mitigate the risk of virus spread and outbreak.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY IN A PANDEMIC.
Even and especially under restriction levels where contact sport is permitted, everyone should be doing everything reasonable in their power to mitigate chances for the virus to spread. This is particularly pertinent in states where cases of community transmission persist, and anyone at any time may have been exposed.
While there is no need for alarm, it is key that teams and in particular, people on teams' leadership remain alert to any risks and remain responsible, model members of the community. Make player safety and hygiene easy and routine, not a chore, in your club and in your club's culture.
Steps you must be taking include:
Enforcing physical distancing off the field of play and outside drills/games that specifically involve contact.
Providing easy access to hand sanitiser for all members at training and ensuring people use it regularly.
Regularly sanitising shared equipment such as balls, both between and during trainings. Spray bottles are most convenient for this.
Ensuring that other equipment such as brooms, bibs, headbands, etc. are not shared or minimally shared and washed regularly. The same applies to personal items such as water bottles, towels, clothing (including jerseys, hoodies, etc.) which should not be shared.
Mandating that people bring their own food rather than food to share at any event
Keeping a record of all attendees and contact information for them (phone number or email) for each training session. It is particularly important to ensure you have this information for players outside your own club and new players, whose details you may not have on record.
Ensure that anyone who has been experiencing cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms gets tested, self isolates, and does not attend events. This also applies to people who have been in contact with known or suspected cases.
Return to play and return to contact in a gradual manner so as to reduce risk of injury after periods of limited activity and limited contact.
Ensure that all these requirements and those outlined in the Quidditch Australia Resumption of Play Plan are clearly communicated to all your club members. This especially pertains to COVIDSafe plans that are mandated by the government in many states. These plans should also be readily accessible to people at training in case of inspection.
Ultimately, while the resumption of sport bears many benefits to the physical and mental health of individuals and the community, it cannot come at the cost of risk to personal and public health.
Please do your part to keep people safe.