Football Victoria announces soccer’s return to training protocols
Melbourne’s soccer players are a step closer to returning to the pitch after Football Victoria announced detailed return-to-training rules, making it one of the first sporting codes with a definitive plan.
Local Sport
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Soccer is set to make a return to the park after Football Victoria, the sport’s governing body, released its return to training conditions following Monday’s easing of Stage 3 restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Though the state government relaxed a range of restrictions from Wednesday, clarity had been sought as to how sporting clubs would be able to undertake training activity.
Those details were outlined by Sport and Recreation Victoria today and, following that advice, FV has outlined its specific, mandatory conditions for soccer’s return to training.
A detailed 16-page document lists club and player responsibilities in a number of areas including the lead up to a return, prior to training sessions, hygiene during training sessions, player/parent protocol for junior training and the physical limits of training structure.
FV chief executive Peter Filopoulos said he was delighted to see the state’s players return to the park but urged continued caution.
RETURN TO TRAINING: See how soccer plans to kick-off
“We’ve got many thousands of footballers who’ve been patiently waiting to return to the field and we know it’s going to be a thrill for them to get back out there,” he said.
“We understand that it’s only training, and a modified version at that, but football plays such a big part in the lives of so many Victorians and this news will come as a huge relief to so many of them.
“However, we remind all clubs and all participants to read the rules and to understand exactly how they will implement the return to training conditions.
“With regards to this pandemic, we still have a long way to go, and the football community’s role is to make sure we observe these rules as strictly as possible.
“The safety of the community remains our primary concern.”
He said conditions were expected to evolve in the coming weeks and FV would be following the latest health advice from the state government closely.
The protocols are based on advice from the Victorian chief health officer and the main principles of a return include:
*Participants can gather outdoors in groups of no more than 10 plus a coach or the minimum number of support staff reasonably required to run the activity.
*Parents or other people are required to keep a reasonable distance or they will be included in the group of 10.
*No indoor activity – indoor physical recreation facilities must remain closed.
*Maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres wherever reasonably possible.
*All activity and training must be non-contact, and no competitions are to take place. Contact sports must be modified so that you can maintain 1.5m distance.
The document also covers more football-specific requirements, including what shape training will take:
*Training zones must be a minimum of 45m by 45m (half a FIFA standard full-size pitch)
*10 players and a coach can be within each zone.
*Groups of 10 must not mix with each other and must remain constant. Participants cannot swap between groups.
*If a ball from one training zone enters another training zone, players are directed to gently kick the ball back rather than pick it up and throw it back.
*Training zones must be clearly marked and participants and parents/guardians must be notified that they are not to move into any other zone during training.
Filopoulos said the state body was also working through a range of options in regards to any return to competitive matches.