Community Rugby League Stage 3 Guidance 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
COMMUNITY RUGBY LEAGUE STAGE 3 GUIDANCE WWW.RUGBY-LEAGUE.COM 1. INTRODUCTION TO STAGE 3 (NON-CONTACT VARIANTS) As we move from Stage 2 to stage 3 in of the sport Touch, Tag and facilitate larger our Return To Play (RTP) Roadmap and in group training, that will incorporate Touch accordance with the action plan we are and Tag games within the sessions. looking to reintroduce non-contact variations 2. STAGE 3 BACKGROUND TO NON-CONTACT VARIANTS (NON-CONTACT VARIANTS) • The re-introduction of non-contact Tag • Prior to 10th August 2020 under Rugby on 7th August will allow RFL Government guidance rugby league partners Try Tag Rugby to introduce a activity was restricted to small group shortened summer season. socially distant activity. Delivering • Touch RL is mainly delivered by such small group sessions does Professional Club Foundations or via place volunteers under considerable small locally organised leagues. Whilst pressure, especially those dealing with this activity with rule modifications will younger age groups. The introduction be allowed under this action plan, the of larger numbers of players at training RFL organised national events will not and increasing the type of activity is take place this year. All Touch RL activity significant in keeping our players who will take place locally and community will have not played much, if at all this clubs delivering within a community club season, active and engaged until such setting will be expected to comply with time as they can return to contact activity. the amended Touch rules in place. (As laid out in the RFL Social RL Operational Manual – With the additions of Social Distancing as instructed through government guidelines) 3. MITIGATION STRATEGY • This section explains our mitigation strategy to reduce the risk based on the Individual “team risk exposure framework” assessment of the variations of Rugby League. 4. TRAINING We already have many Rugby League teams RFL’s league management and registration back training, adhering to social distancing in processes, Sports TG (LeagueNet) will create groups of up to 6. a new field and opt in email link. All players are required to sign a waiver / opt in prior to Using the team risk exposure framework, we training taking place. This waiver would be a have broken down the aspects of a regular blanket waiver and not be required for every Rugby League training session. These have match and/or event. been categorised into the 3 levels of risk, set out in the table at the start of the next page. In addition, each team coach/manager will be required to update ahead of each In regard to training for Rugby League, it training session who is attending and pre- is commonplace to incorporate decision determine the small group training schedule making activities, with active defenders or accordingly. The community club will then small sided games such as Touch or Tag, have an exact record of who participated where active defenders initiate ‘tackles’ in each session and the level of activity by either touching another person’s body that took place. We will enforce this with [ball] or pulling of a tag at arm’s length. sanctions for teams or individuals who do not There are no high-risk factors involved in comply. these versions of our sport. There would be limited if any face to face exposure and any Cleaning & Sanitising such instances would be fleeting in nature. • Balls are cleaned by coaches, managers There are a few occasions in Touch/Tag or Covid Officer at start, end, and in games where the Play the Ball gets close to between medium risk activities. being longer than 3 seconds but does not • At the end of each night, the coach, team create a face to face situation. This is due to manager or Covid Officer should ensure the immediate retreat of the defender to a all equipment (e.g. balls, cones etc.) is position of greater than 2m from the touch or sanitised thoroughly. tag. • Players should bring their own hand sanitizer for hand hygiene between Each training session would require a Covid medium risk activities. Officer, or representative of the “committee” • Players should adhere to strict social to ensure the RFL recommendations distancing outside the training session. are carried out effectively. In addition, • Players should bring their own water notification of all training sessions is required bottle to training and not under any to be sent to the RFL ([email protected]) circumstance share. further to the Community Game Guidelines. Training Classification The role of the Covid Officer in each team • To allow training back in large groups the would be to: proposed guidance and amendments • Ensure all players have complied with below must be adhered to including any requirements that have been allocated levels within sessions and imposed as a condition of returning to associated time limits as indicated in the activity e.g. a health questionnaire. table below. • Be responsible for recording who is • Activity should be limited to low playing for their team that session to and medium risk activities only. support track and trace. Considerations to be given for the • Check on the health of each player and perceived risk rating of the activity. ensure anyone who displays symptoms Within a 40 - 60-minute session - no does not travel to the venue / does not more than 20 minutes can be used for participate in a match and returns home the medium risk activities: to self-isolate. • Communicate the latest COVID policies/ procedures to their teammates. • Registration & Data Using Sports TG (LeagueNet) and the 4. TRAINING 5. TRY TAG RUGBY The RFL’s Tag Ruby League is run in Through these measures, an accurate partnership with Try Tag Rugby. As well as and effective database will be available if having over 10,000 participants (40% female) required for Test & Trace purposes. through the UK. Pre-attendance Official Symptom Check & Try Tag Rugby predominantly organise Adherence to Measures leagues, that is where groups of friends or work colleagues enter a team to compete A communications plan will be carried out weekly in one 40 minute fixture, mostly in the to highly publicise and encourage a culture mixed format (where men and women play of self-assessment, to ensure anyone who together), but also in the men’s and women’s displays symptoms does not travel to the formats. As a social sport, teams generally venue / does not participate in a match and just play each week and don’t train. Try returns home to self-isolate. Tag Rugby plays a vital role in the ongoing physical and mental health of their young Participants will be made aware of any adult participants, mostly aged between increased risk associated with taking 20-40. Matches are played in formats part in activity, based on the assessment ranging from 5-a-side through to 8-a-side. undertaken for this document. Spawtz will Other Try Tag Rugby events include one create a new field and opt in email link. All day tournaments, Free Taster Sessions, and players will be contacted and asked to sign organised coaching sessions. a waiver / opt in. This waiver would be a blanket waiver and not be required for every Each Try Tag Rugby League venue will have match and/or event. a Venue Supervisor acting as the COVID-19 officer. Their job will be to deal with the Try Tag Rugby’s administration team and logistics of teams leaving and arranging Venue Supervisors will ensure players are and do spot checks on who is playing in adhering to the necessary measures. A each fixture. The COVID-19 officer will work code of behaviour, including sanctions will with the appointed referees and players be communicated to all players. to provide the necessary sanitation of all equipment. The COVID-18 officer will be a Arrival & Department at the Venue part-time employee who will be provided with training and guidance on how to carry The principle of “Get in, Play, and Get Out” out the plans. will apply. Players and teams should not arrive pitch- Test & Trace side at the venue more than 15 minutes Spawtz is Try Tag Rugby’s league before the scheduled start of their match. management and registration process. This will still allow sufficient time for players Accurate player data including full name, to warm up and avoid the risk of injury. With email address and phone number is Tag Rugby being a social sport, most players collected upon registration. already arrived changed and ready to warm up, but this will be further encouraged. Spawtz have already developed functionality for the return to play of sport in New Zealand Try Tag Rugby will work closely with venues where each captain/team organiser can to have separate entry and exit points to the update ahead of each fixture who is playing, playing area. In open parks, teams will be and if necessary, revise this the following directed to alternate sides of the pitch for day. This provides an exact record of who timeslots i.e Game 1 – the two teams set-up participates in each game. Try Tag Rugby their bags and enter from the east side and will back this up with strict punishment (be south side. Game 2 – teams enter from the it league points or removal from the league) west side and north side. for teams who have incorrect fixture data or incomplete registration data. 5. TRY TAG RUGBY Hence all players must enter the playing • If a team is short of players, no ringers area through the allocated entry point only. from other teams within the league No teams will be allowed on the designated can play in the fixture i.e.