COMMUNITY 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 , 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 partners 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, 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. each team pitch until the previous teams have left. No must play with their own unique squad. shared warmup balls will be provided, and However, in exceptional circumstances the match ball must not be touched until it where a team will be short of players and has been sanitised between matches. are able to source some players to play in their scheduled match, who are not Where possible game times may be from another team playing at that venue, staggered in larger venues, to minimize the then they can play subject to being amount of people arriving and departing at registered by the team captain/organiser the same time. However, if each team has on the squad list. a designated waiting area around the pitch, this shouldn’t be necessary. Social Distancing in Play In Tag Rugby League where a “‘”’ The Captain only must approach the Venue or ‘”tag” is initiated by pulling off a tag at Supervisor/COVID-19 Officer to find their arm’s length, there are no high-risk factors allocated pitch, team meeting point and involved in this version of the sport. Whilst on collect their match tags. occasion players would be closer than 0.5 metres, there would be limited if any face to Teams will be asked to leave the venue face time and any such instances would be as quickly as possible – hanging around fleeting in nature. There are a few occasions the venue with teammates after will be in Tag Rugby League where the ‘play the discouraged. ball’ can last longer than three seconds in a face to face situation. This can be mitigated Players will be encouraged to shower as through a rule amendment. soon as they get home. To mitigate this, we will amend the rules Players will be encouraged to refer to the to make the “marker” (the person who has latest PHE guidelines for travelling too and made the tag) to stand at least two metres from venues, i.e only to travel in cars with away from the play the ball. To stand within players from the same household. two metres will be punished with a penalty. Referees will be instructed to use the full Players will be required to sanitise their power of the rule book to police this new hands prior to commencing any activity rule (penalise and then sin bin or send off for at the venue and at the conclusion of the repeat offenders). matches. On the small number of occasions in a match Further League Regulations where a player is tagged within two metres • Players will not be permitted to register of the try line, instead of playing the ball at for multiple teams on the same evening, that location they will be asked to retreat except for a small number of select two metres from the try line / defensive line. leagues where different categories run Pitch markings will have an additional side- on the same night (i.e. a mixed and a line cone two metres from the try line so men’s or women’s league which take that referees and players can measure this place at the same venue with some distance accurately. players playing two fixtures on the same evening). Further Game Changes would include: • Teammates remaining two metres apart at all times during team talks or while on the side-line as a substitute etc. Team huddles will be avoided. 5. TRY TAG RUGBY

• Removal of the pre-game coin toss / rock The game play of Try Tag Rugby League paper scissors. The referee will decide always allows match officials to remain which team kick-offs / goes to which further than one metre from players. Hence end. This will free up time for the referee refereeing Tag is can be classified as low to undertake sanitisation of the ball risk. between each fixture. • Spitting will become an offence and will Very few Try Tag Rugby teams have coaches be dealt with by the referee penalising but rolling substitutes are common. They the offending player. will be encouraged to spread out along the • No pre or post-match handshakes, or side-line. alternatives of any sort e.g. elbow bump First Aid is carried out by the Venue Use of Equipment Supervisor. Try Tag Rugby will provide face masks for the Venue Supervisors to wear Try Tag Rugby will carry out the following when treating any injuries along with hand to make sure all equipment is regularly sanitiser. sanitised. • Tags will be sanitised at half-time and After contact with an injured participant full-time of each match by the players. Venue Supervisors will be encouraged Each player will have their own set of to clean their hands thoroughly with soap tags which they will keep for the duration and water or hand sanitiser at the earliest of the game. Each pitch will have a opportunity. Records will be kept by the sanitisation station for each team. Tags Venue Supervisor of any injury treated so will be washed by the COVID-19 Officer/ that we have the details of each participant Venue Supervisor at the conclusion of they come into close contact with for test each daily league. and trace purposes. This is detailed in • Balls will be sanitised by the referee at nightly duty reports which capture all the the start, half time and at the conclusion key updates from the matches this data is of each game. retained in Spawtz. • At the end of each daily league, the COVID-19 Officer should ensure any Facility Usage other equipment which has been handled (such as cones or pitch makers) Try Tag Rugby use many different types of is sanitised. venues such as wide-open council parks, • Teams should bring their own hand schools or managed leisure facilities. sanitiser for interchanging and half time. Collaboration with venues will take place in • The practice of having Tag Rugby shorts regard to individual risks assessments and available to be hired or bought at the health and safety plans. venue will be discontinued. All Tag Rugby shorts will need to be purchased Social online in advance of play. • Furthermore, players subbing on and off Try Tag Rugby is very much a social sport will strictly not be allowed to share Tag and socialising has always been heavily Rugby shorts. encouraged. To address the risk around • Equipment used during play will be this, Try Tag Rugby will discourage players sanitised using antibacterial wet wipes. from socialising in the pub post game and continually remind all players that outside Match Officials, Coaches, Medical and of playing they must adhere to the current Injury Treatment government social mixing guidelines.

When finals take place, instead of having an end of season presentation at the pub, prizes for winning teams will be handed out pitch side. 5. TRY TAG RUGBY

Other Information & Further • Travel to and from games Communication Notes • Social distancing & risky behaviour outside of playing Try Tag Rugby’s detailed communications • Risks involved with shouting near other plan featuring a mix of database, social players media (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) and • Spectators adhering to current verbal communication at the venue will government guidance on social mixing. address all aspects of the governments Note – Spectators at Try Tag Rugby return to recreational sport framework. As League events are rare. well as changes outlined in the submission, • Everyone must bring their own water the communication will address the following bottle – no sharing additional points: • No sharing of other personal belongings.

6. LEAGUE

Registration & Data Cleaning & Sanitising Using Sports TG (LeagueNet) and the • Balls are cleaned by referees or Covid RFL’s league management and registration Officer at the start, half time and at the processes, Sports TG (LeagueNet) will create conclusion of each game. a new field and opt in email link. All players • At the end of each night, the Covid are required to sign a waiver / opt in. This Officer should ensure all playing waiver would be a blanket waiver and not be equipment (e.g. balls, cones etc.) is required for every match and/or event. sanitised thoroughly. In addition, each captain / team organiser • Teams should bring their own hand will update ahead of each fixture who is sanitizer for interchanging and half time. playing, and or revise this the following • Teams should adhere to strict social day. We will then have an exact record of distancing outside of the actual game. who participated in each game. We would back this up with strict sanctions for teams Scheduling and Game Protocols or individuals who do not comply with this. The principle of “get in, play and get out” Reminder emails will be set-up to prompt will apply. team organisers who have not updated their • Game lengths can be reduced slightly to squad approaching any deadlines. facilitate a longer time interval between games if required. To compensate any Staffing loss in playing time we will reduce the If required, each venue will be mandated to half time interval and referees will decide appoint a designated Covid Officer. Their which team kick-offs / goes to which end. role will be to check and challenge all • Where possible there will be separate participants, deal with the logistics of teams entry and exit points to the pitch. In open leaving and arriving plus if necessary, record parks, Covid Officer will direct teams to who played in each fixture. alternate sides of the pitch for alternate The Covid Officer will ask each team to leave timeslots. I.e. game 1 – the two teams their venue by a designated exit in a timely set-up their bags and enter from the east manner after each match. They will then side and south side. Game 2 - teams invite the next teams to their designated enter from the west side and north side. pitch side area. Teams should not arrive at Hence all players must enter the playing the venue more than 10 minutes before the area through the allocated entry point scheduled start of their match. only**. 6. TOUCH RUGBY LEAGUE

• No teams will be allowed on the **Note – in managed venues (such as a 3G designated pitch until the previous teams pitch in a cage), we feel it would be have left. No shared warmup balls will be best to allow the teams onto the “football provided, and the match ball cannot be pitch” to gather in strategic places around touched until it’s been sanitised between the outside. I.e. by a particular side-line or matches. try line. This would be preferable to having • Where possible game times may be them all waiting outside of the cage, which staggered in larger venues, to minimise would be a confined space or possibly even the amount of people arriving and indoors. We are envisaging each venue may departing at the same time. However, have their own specific guidance, however we feel if each team has a designated as an overall strategy we feel that having waiting area around the pitch, this should designated meeting points behind try lines not be necessary. or side-lines is the best way to keep each • The Captain only, must approach the team separated prior to and after playing. Covid Officer to find their allocated pitch & entry point. • Each team is requested to bring their own hand sanitizer for interchange and at the conclusion of each half. • Teammates must remain 2m apart at all times, during team talks or while on the side-line as a substitute etc. Team huddles should be avoided. • Everyone brings their own water bottle – no sharing. • No sharing of personal belongings. • Leave the venue as quickly as possible - hanging around the venue with your teammates is not recommended. • No pre or post-match handshakes, or alternatives of any sort e.g. elbow bump. • Players not permitted to register for multiple teams on the same evening. • Take a shower as soon as you get home.