AFL Victoria has released its Return to Small Outdoor Group Training Protocols for all Victorian clubs.

These documents will provide all clubs with the tools and required guidelines for compliant training sessions to resume on or after 25 May 2020. It is also important for clubs to note that 25 May is the date that club sanctioned training can resume within the scope of the protocols, but it is not the date that they must start training.  When, or if, a club resumes training is at the discretion of the club.

The protocol documents are as follows;

1. Return to Small Outdoor Group Training Protocols:
   This document list general guidelines and protocols that must be met, what a small group training looks like, field layouts, hygiene protocols and practices, the responsibilities of clubs safety officers and education protocols.
2. Return to Small Outdoor Group Training Checklist:
   A checklist for clubs to utilize to assist with compliance.
3. Register of Trained Officials:
   A registration form to be used to record all COVID-19 trained officials.
4. Club Training Attendance:
   A register for all players for each training session

In addition to the above, the following is a link to the online training each club is required to complete as part of the protocols, which takes around 15 minutes to complete.

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-training

To support your questions and around the return to small outdoor group training protocols, the AFL has provided an FAQ section on the Club Help page of their website. – https://www.afl.com.au/clubhelp/covid-19/faqs/return-faqs

The AFL Victoria return to small outdoor group training protocols are based on the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport (https://ais.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/730376/35845_AIS-Framework-for-rebooting-sport_FA.pdf) and Victorian State Government guidelines around the resumption of sport and recreation activities (https://sport.vic.gov.au/our-work/return-to-play/resumption-of-sport-and-recreation-activities).

AFL South East also advises clubs to communicate to their players that a return to training does not guarantee a return to play. The return to training should be seen as a positive step towards renewed community engagement and an important step in the management and welfare of everyone’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.

NETBALL

Netball Victoria yesterday released their return to Return to Netball Protocols, although there is crossover there are some sport-specific references that clubs to need to be aware of. A link to the Netball Victoria documents is included below.

Full information – https://netball.com.au/return-to-netball

Venue Requirements – https://netball.com.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/NA-CommunityGuidelines-Covid-19-Netball-Venue.pdf

AFL South East has set up a Covid-19 Club Resource which can be found on our website www.aflsoutheast.com.au under Club Resources.