Author: sawtelltoormina

Friday saw a double header between Sawtell Toormina Saints and Nambucca Valley Lions in the Under 15, followed by Sawtell Toormina Saints and Grafton Tigers in the Under 17. For many players, this was their first night time fixture and they all walked off the oval wanting more

Later in the season the Sawtell Youth Girls team will get their chance in Round 10 when the play Bello at Richardson Park.

This is a great initiative by our clubs and is providing a great opportunity for youth players who are absolutely loving it. No doubt the clubs will look to schedule more night time matches as the season continues.

AFL NSW/ACT have since updated our Return to Play protocols and FAQ’s – please click here to view. 

As noted in the letter from Dr Chant the following additions need to be made to all current COVID-19 Safety plans:

“In addition to the current requirements of the COVID-19 Safety Plan for community sports (https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/industry-guidelines/sports-recreation-and-gyms), could you please ensure the following additional steps are promptly incorporated into your Safety Plan;

1. Ensure processes are in place to exclude participants (including spectators and officials) if they have visited Victoria in the 14 days prior.
2. Ensure processes are in place to exclude participants (including spectators and officials) if they have attended any of the reported case locations listed on the NSW Health website (https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates).
3. Take all reasonable steps to minimise the number of spectators attending community sport events.
4. If sufficient numbers to field teams cannot be achieved, prioritise delaying the event rather than substituting with people from other teams or from the community.”

To address points 1 and 2, AFL NSW/ACT has mandated the following actions:

• Clubs to electronically (social media/websites or otherwise*) communicate to players and officials that they are required to contact the Club’s COVID Safety Officer and should not attend training/matches if they have visited Victoria or attended any of the reported case locations in the past 14 days.
• Clubs to print Venue Conditions of Entry signage (provided by AFL NSW/ACT) and ensure this is visual at entry points of the ground, changeroom and bar/canteen.

To address points 3 and 4, AFL NSW/ACT has mandated the following actions:

•        Clubs to communicate (via social media, website*) to participants that only 1 parent/carer/otherwise is to attend the match per player.

•        Clubs to use a PA system or otherwise to communicate the provided messages to those present at regular intervals (pre match and half time).

•        Clubs to postpone any significant events that may have been scheduled to occur at this weekend’s matches i.e. past players days that increase the gathering size.

•        Clubs to minimise participants playing across multiple teams on one day where possible.

Another major piece in the puzzle of getting ready for the 2020 season has fallen into place with all fixtures in both the Junior and Senior Competitions now live on the AFL North Coast website.

This footy season has already been the most challenging in memory and we thank all participants for their patience and understanding. The release of the draw means that players, coaches, officials, and volunteers can plan their weekend activities for the next few months, with the all important question of where are we playing in round 1 answered for everyone!

It’s been a long wait to get to this stage, but it will definitely be worth it in just over a week when we hit the fields again and the competition gets underway.

To our Valued Football Community,

AFL NSW/ACT welcomes the NSW Deputy Premier’s announcement today that from 1 July 2020 community sport competitions can restart for those aged 18 years and under. We are excited to work with our Leagues and Clubs to begin a dynamic 2020 Community Football and NAB AFL Auskick Season with the first bounce of official competition play to occur in July 2020 following a contact-training and match preparation phase during the NSW school holiday period.

This is an exciting milestone for all our junior footy players, made possible by the terrific work of everyone in our community to follow the physical distancing and hygiene protocols associated with a Return to Small Group Training under the revised Public Health Order, and demonstrates our collective commitment to returning to play in a safe and well managed environment.

We will continue to work closely with the NSW State Government to provide further clarity regarding the return of senior competitions as soon as we can.

As we prepare to move towards contact-training and competition play, we will work through a staged and planned approach with our many stakeholders. This will include working with Leagues, Clubs, participants, coaches, umpires and all volunteers to ensure we return to competition play in an effective and safe manner in adherence with the NSW Public Heath Order and AFL Return to Play Framework (RTP Framework).

Next week, AFL NSW/ACT will publish Return to Contact Training and Competition Play Protocols in-line with the RTP Framework to inform and educate our network well in advance of the 2020 community football season.

Importantly, we need to continue to collaborate with local councils across NSW to confirm venue availability and revised access conditions now that we have certainty around a season start date for our junior competitions. AFL NSW/ACT is collaborating with other major winter-sporting codes, and have agreed to overarching season-length principles and dates to ensure a smooth handover with summer sports; and limited impacts to future seasons.

Over the next week, AFL NSW/ACT will wrap up our Club consultation phase across our 14 Community Football Leagues and finalise many league-specific operational decisions, including season length, fixtures, bylaws and financials. With a condensed season upon us, we will ensure we have strong alignment on our approach and ensure key considerations, such as school holidays, are factored into our decision-making.

Today’s announcement provides much-needed certainty and confidence for our junior community football and NAB AFL Auskick network to plan and deliver a dynamic 2020 community football season with communications to participants from both the AFL and Clubs upcoming. We do acknowledge that additional guidance is needed as it relates to spectators and use of canteens, and we will continue to liaise directly with the NSW Government to seek clarity ahead of the season start date.

AFL NSW/ACT continue to encourage our network to visit www.aflnswact.com.au/return-to-play for a comprehensive list of resources including templates, FAQ’s, education resources and regular updates.

An integral component of our RTP Framework is the requirement for each Club to appoint a COVID Safety Officer that is responsible for ensuring protocols are adhered to and participants can return to a safe and well managed environment. We continue to strongly recommend all participants immediately download the COVID-SAFE App, to ensure we can quickly trace and manage any outbreaks in the community.

AFL NSW/ACT will continue to work closely with the AFL, AFL Clubs and other State bodies regarding the resumption of Talent Development Programs and will provide a further update in due course.

On behalf of AFL NSW/ACT, we’d like to thank you for your efforts and ongoing patience, support and understanding as we continue working towards a safe return for community footy in the weeks ahead.

Tiffany Robertson
Acting Chief Executive Officer – AFL NSW/ACT

Good News Saints,

We’re back! Yes with CoVid restrictions lifting U/11 – U/13 – U/15 Training will recommence next Tuesday with the Competition scheduled to recommence following the July School Holidays. Under advice from the AFL AusKick is still on hold until further advice as restrictions lift – more details to come. Training will recommence with under a number of CoVid Safe directives from the AFL including…

• Limit of 10 People Per 3^rd of the Field. For example the field will be split into 3 sections with only 10 people training in each section including the Coach. 

• All participants training will be noted by the respective Coach at the beginning of each training session.

• Spectators are not permitted onto the ground and all those watching from the sidelines will need to adhere to Social Distancing rules. 

• Players and Spectators who have recently returned from Overseas, or are feeling unwell should not attend Training in any capacity. 

• No socialising will be permitted before and after training. Players will need to arrive in time for training and leave as soon as training is finished. 

• Older residents in the community such as Grandparents of Players are encouraged to stay safe and well away from Training as they are most ‘at-risk’ from Co-Vid.

• Training will be non-contact.

The Committee are committed to ensuring that all Players and Spectators are kept safe during this time so that we can continue to enjoy our great game so please support us in adhering to the above conditions – we will keep you up-to-date as any conditions change.

We welcome any new Players to the team so please spread the word that we’re back training. Look forward to seeing you out on the track!

The Committee