Return to Play Guidelines - From the 17th May

Return to Play Guidelines - From the 17^th May

The Government has confirmed that from Monday the 17^th May we can move to step three of the roadmap. We have updated the Return to Play Guidelines (copy attached) to reflect the changes to national restrictions. The key changes to note are in relation to spectators, travel, use of changing rooms and outdoor hospitality which we have gone into more detail below.

Travel

All participants must follow the Government’s guidance on safer travel.

Car sharing, minibuses, coaches are now permitted however they must again follow Government’s guidance on safer travel

Changing Rooms

Changing rooms can be used as part of step three of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown although restrictions on use remain in place.

Participants should minimise their use of changing facilities where possible. You should inform participants that these are areas of increased risk and that they should shower and change at home where possible.

If participants do need to use changing rooms, they should minimise time spent inside, maintain social distancing from people they do not live with (or share a relevant bubble with). More than one household can use changing facilities at one time, but they must ensure that social distancing rules are followed. Any relevant capacity limits must be adhered to at all times.  Clubs should also note that the maximum occupancy of each indoor facility should be limited by providing a minimum of 100sqft per person.

You should follow any relevant measures in the sport facility guidance.

Spectators

From Step 3, spectators will be permitted to view events on both public and private land but need to adhere to social distancing rules and social gathering limits set at groups of 30 outdoors and six people/two households indoors. Please note that multiple numbers of these group sizes are permitted as long as social distancing rules are followed.

Outdoor/Indoor Hospitality

As part of step three of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown both outdoor and indoor hospitality at community rugby league clubs is permitted.

All participants must follow Government guidance on hospitality settings and specific advice for sport facility operators available on the Government’s website.

People using clubhouses and hospitality facilities must adhere to legal gathering limits and wider government guidance.

Our guidelines still state that after match refreshments should not be provided.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT UNTIL THE 17^TH WE STILL MUST COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES.  Any breaches to these guidelines could result in your Club not being able to take part for a period of time please remember this.  In the last two weeks we have had to stand Clubs down for a period of 10 days due to non-compliance of the guidelines.

Tackle Bags/Shields

Tackle Bags and Shields can be used from the 17^th May however Clubs must follow hygiene measures ensuring these are cleaned before use by another person. 

Our League Active

Sandy Lindsay MBE, our NED and Community Board Chair, and three of your Community Board members, have held another series of discussions with Clubs and Leagues this week this included Community Clubs, North West Youth and Junior Leagues, Yorkshire Junior League, Cumberland ARL and Barrow and District ARL.   

The consultation to help shape what the membership scheme will look like is ongoing.

Below is a summary of these discussions.

• The consultation to help shape what the membership scheme will look like is ongoing.

• Consensus that the community game needs to become more sustainable, contribute towards the costs of delivering the community game and have funds to reinvest.

• Much of the feedback received to date centred around the possibility of younger players paying less. The membership model has been adapted to accommodate this and serious consideration is being given as to whether compulsory membership for coaches can be excluded. The proposed fees are now £12, £18 and £25 for U11’S u18’s and adults respectively.

• Some clubs have fed back about the possibility of clubs collecting membership monies and making the payment on behalf of players. We are looking to establish if this is feasible.

• Further clarity was given around some of the myths that have arisen:

• • Volunteers will not be subject to any form of compulsory membership although following requests could join on a voluntary basis
  • Suggestion that the amount we will collect is £2m. The actual figure we need to run the community game centrally is £700,000 and if we collect more than this, it will be spent on the Community Game in ways to be agreed with the Community Board

• The benefits that will form part of the membership package are being finalised and will be outlined next week.

• Consultation is continuing. The online survey remains open, and we will continue to seek the views of the various stakeholders across the community game. The survey and FAQ’s can be found HERE