Please find an update from Athletics Victoria executive team regarding the State Government updated physical distancing restrictions (changing at 11:59pm Tuesday 12th May, 2020).
Updated 13 May, 2020.
Hi Members, Club Committee Members, and Associates,
AV wants to thank you all for your continued patience and understanding with regard to the current social gathering/physical activity restrictions in place. We are sure many of you have already seen the statement put out by the Andrews Government this week that cites changes to the restrictions for Victorian’s from Wednesday 13th May – 31st May 2020.
Mr Andrews, in relation to physical activity, notes:
More of the outdoor recreational activities that so many Victorians have been missing will also be allowed: walking groups, fishing, hiking – and yes, even a game of golf. These activities will be subject to physical distancing to help keep people safe.
Alongside the above statement, the DHHS provided guidelines, which can be viewed here.
The DHHS state:
You can participate in training for all sports, but it must be non-contact, with only 10 people participating at any one time in addition to those people running the training (e.g. coach, manager).
Sport and exercise can resume if:
- You can keep your distance (at least 1.5 metres apart)
- You are not doing your activities indoors and they are not competitive; and
- You can do them with a maximum of 10 people.
Athletics Victoria would like to encourage all members, clubs, and associates to adhere to these guidelines:
- You may engage in exercise and physical activity in small groups (no more than 10 people).
- You must adhere to social distancing restrictions (1.5m between your self and the next nearest person).
- You cannot engage in, or set up a competition/event of any kind.
Advice relating to insurance can be found here.
- All Member Associations (and subsequent members) have a duty of reasonable care to prevent personal injury and need to comply with statutory obligations or regulations enforced by the State and Federal Governments
- For example, if government restrictions are declared on sporting events or mass gatherings and you sanctioned these actvities, insurers may deny a claim for breaching this duty of care.
- The public liability/personal indemnity insurance does not protect against fines or penalties imposed by law.
More information is to be provided by the Victorian Government in the coming days, however, the Premier has been clear in setting out the above relating to outdoor recreational activities. These do not include club competitions/organised events in any form. Clubs, members and all associated with Athletics Victoria are reminded to continue to comply with the restrictions imposed in Victoria and any breach of these rules could result in a penalty, it will also mean that Clubs, members, coaches, athletes and every participant in engaging in an un-authorised activity will not be covered by any insurance.
We must continue to be patient. The great work many of you are doing at this point in time is helping to further decrease the spread of COVID-19. But this does not mean we can suddenly shift the needle and host events.
All Victorians are required to adhere to the social and physical distancing rules.
Thanking you,
AV Executive