Mental health of players should be considered in decision to kick off training
A club president says allowing players to return to training is “messing with their minds’’, with the prospect of a season going ahead still unknown.
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A leading MPNFL club official says a return to training for local footballers could raise false hope and lead to disappointment.
Pines president Jeff Svigos worries that if the season is cancelled in a few weeks, it could have a “dangerous” effect on players’ mental health.
“That‘s my biggest concern,” Svigos said.
“You are giving this false expectation that we might be playing.
“Others would argue it’s good for their wellbeing to be out there training. Well, that’s true, but providing they know there’s a big chance we won’t play. I think it’s dangerous the other way — by giving hope if there is no hope.
“At the moment it’s a fifty-fifty chance (of the season going ahead).”
AFL Victoria announced on Saturday that it was recommending local players be allowed to return to training as soon as Monday, May 25.
Svigos said “just by the act of training, players’ expectations will be that there is going to be a game”.
“If that doesn’t happen we’re messing with people’s minds,” he said.
Pines coach Paddy Swayn said his players were “hanging out” to get back to training.
Training will be streamlined and hasty, with players literally turning up, training, getting back in their cars and going home.
Clubrooms will be shut.
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Key points for the return-to-play plan include:
*Training to resume in groups of up to 10 people. That does not include a coach or the minimum number of support staff reasonably required to manage the activity.
*Two groups of 10 can use the same oval provided they do not operate closely together, and the oval is split into two zones.