MAHARASHTRA OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period 1 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) SOP Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period Introduction: Maharashtra State which is at the helm of Sports, may it be International or National Competitions, is going through an unprecedented phase of existence, due to the Covid - 19 pandemic. We are currently witnessing countries throughout the globe trying their level best to contain the Virus but to no avail. The rush to come up with a suitable vaccine till date has not yet yielded any results. The Sporting activities have come to a standstill or are at a bare minimum across the globe, the same situation is in the States of India and Maharashtra too. A sport today, is not only played for competition or recreation but has become a major industry. There are lakhs of people who are employed at different junctures like Coaches, Mangers, Life Guards, Technical and Nontechnical Staff etc. who because of this lock down are finding it difficult to make both ends meet. The Athletes are deprived of their training facilities thereby compromising their fitness and skills to a large extent and their competition exposures are almost nullified because of this crisis. Stringent containment measures and strict compliance of the safety guidelines remains the key to avert to minimize the threat posed and to resume the sporting activities in a graded way taking the Non Red Zones and Red Zone into consideration. A periodic review of the situation in various Districts is highly warranted and revised directions are to be issued analyzing the need of the hour. Maharashtra has a large percentage of elite Athletes in the Red Zone and therefore the Sports in these Districts need to be resumed in a graded manner. The following issues need to be kept in mind on how to restart: 1 Non Professional or Professional Sports 2. Individual or Team / Group Sports 3. Contact and Non Contact Sports 4 Practice Sessions or Competition Level After the Lockdown 4.0 the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India has decided to open sporting facilities across the country for resumption of sports activities with certain mandatory restrictions. Subsequently, Maharashtra Olympic Association (M.O.A.) and Government of Maharashtra is preparing a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) along with necessary Guidelines for resumption sports training for elite athletes’, Maharashtra Olympic Association Member of : Indian Olympic Asscociation www.maharashtraolympic.com 2 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) SOP Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period FoLLowing are the points depicted beLow which shaLL be scrupuLousLy foLLowed: It is the responsibility of All State Sports Association for conducting training and to ensure complete adherence to protocols during training and to secure agreement from respective athletes that any training activity undertaken by them shall be in full compliance to the protocols mentioned hereunder. There shall be a Safety Officer appointed by the State Association in case of Coaching Camps to ensure compliance and implementation of all protective measures for athlete and staff safety. Any athlete found to be in violation of the protocols shall be removed from training and reported to the Safety Officer, by the Coaches and concerned officials for appropriate action. The Safety Officer will report all violations to the respective State Association Officials, who will in turn report to COVID Task Force. In all other cases, Safety Officer may be from the Centre where training is being undertaken, and it is he/she who would undertake necessary measures to ensure adherence of protocols. 1. Resumption of Sports and recreation activities should not compromise the health of individuals and community. 2. No spectators will be allowed to attend the sports training. 3. All decisions about resumption of sports and recreation activities must take place with careful reference to the National principles following close consultation with local public health authorities, as relevant. MOA and respective State Associations shall be working in advisory capacity and it shall be the responsibility of the Government of Maharashtra whether or not practice should be started and responsibility of the Athlete whether to participate or not. 4. The sports can resume in 3 stages, subject to following of SOPs - Workout on the ground/ stadia for all the 4 categories of sports can start immediately. - Training/Practice of all the Individual sports as well as individual/ solo practice and workouts of all the other 3 categories can also resume immediately - Residential camps for all the categories of sports can start after specific permission for each camp only with consultation of State Sports Association. 5. This SOP covers all stakeholders active at the centers including- - All State Sports Association and their Office Bearers and Committee Members - All Athletes - All technical and non technical supports staff (Medical &Non Medical) - All Sports Administrative Staff - All Hostel and Facility Management Staff - All visitor to the centers Maharashtra Olympic Association Member of : Indian Olympic Asscociation www.maharashtraolympic.com 3 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) SOP Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period 6. All the athletes joining the training facilities afresh shall be tested screened for COVID-19 to prevent any chance of infection to the personnel who have been staying in an infection free environment at the training facilities. Athletes joining the residential training camps will undergo a through medical checkup along with RT PCR test for Corona. 7. Identify and assigned a Monitoring Committee at each training center to guide and monitor all trainees and staff within the centers. Monitoring Committee should include Representatives of District Collector, DSO and State Sports Association. Their responsibilities would be including but not limited to – a. Supervision of security arrangement at the entry points b. Monitoring of entry into the campus / playing areas c. Monitoring of drop point for daily supplies d. Monitoring of group movements of athletes / visitors / staff e. Placement of Notices / Advisories in time f. Up-date of action plan to the administration on daily basis g. Up-date of COVID-19 cases to the Department h. Provision of information of COVID-19 Helpline Centers i. Training of facility management staff to follow the protocols 8. District wise what’s App groups may be formed for quick feed backs. 9. The use of Arogya Setu App shall be made mandatory for athletes and staff at the center. 10. Disinfection of premises should be initially done before resuming the training sessions. Sanitization of all areas in the training facility is mandatory prior to the resumption of training. 11. All personal training equipment belonging to an athlete shall be disinfected while the athlete is inducted into the training center. 12. Athlete and staff shall be screened before being allowed access to common field-of-play / training facilities. An infrared thermometer gun will be kept at all training centers and daily temperature of all Athletes should be checked before entry into the Training area. If temperature is found to be beyond limit the concerned athlete should be disallowed immediately and reported to the Safety Officer. Nasal SWAB test shall be conducted for new /returning athletes in case of the residential camps. 13. Athletes shall maintain social distancing at all times. If at any time a Red Zone is declared later as a Non Red Zone the Athlete needs to be medically tested before he rejoins in the new group for practice. 14. Athletes /Coaches, who begin to cough /sneeze for any reason, must move away from others until coughing /sneezing dissipates. They may be consulted with doctors from Health Department. Maharashtra Olympic Association Member of : Indian Olympic Asscociation www.maharashtraolympic.com 4 STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) SOP Recommendations for Resumption of Sports Training During Covid-19 Lockdown Period and Post Lockdown Period 15. Hand hygiene facilities shall be made available adjacent to the field-of-play for use as and when necessary. 16. Spiting and clearing of nasal / respiratory secretions on the pitch or at any place within the facility other than toilets shall be prohibited. 17. If an individual is being tested for COVID-19: a. They must immediately self-isolate and discontinue training until COVID-19 has been excluded and they have been medically cleared be a doctor to return to the training environment. b. Any such diagnosis and treatment shall be performed outside the campus premises. c. Isolation of close contacts will be decision for medical staff, based on case specific details. 18. The use of Gymnasium and Swimming training shall be avoided as far as possible unless it is a must for that sport. 19. Preparation of the list of pLayers. a. The list of the elite players for resumption of sports training during COVID-19 situation will be prepared in consultation with respective recognized State Association only. Each State Associations is requested to submit SOP for resumption of their respective sports discipline. The respective District Sports Association will prepare list of the Local/ District level players. b. The District Sports Officer shall prepare the list of players / athletes stranded in their respective districts due to lockdown. c. The resumption of sports training may be restarted in the District also in consultation with the District Administration. 20. Accommodation of Players: All the elite athletes attending residential camps will be provided free accommodation facility at respective training venues, with all necessary precautionary measures required for their safety and security.