Football NSW COVID-19 Update – 6 August 2020

As you may have heard, a case of COVID-19 has been reported today in the Newcastle Jets FC Academy team.

Although it is likely that this case was contracted locally, the team travelled to Sydney last weekend and played Stanmore Hawks FC U15’s team at Arlington Oval.

NSW Health has completed contract tracing and has contacted both clubs and as a precaution both teams are required to self-isolate and get tested.

The venue has been thoroughly cleaned in accordance with NSW Health requirements.

In accordance with NSW Health’s directive, both teams will not be competing for the next two weeks and their matches will be postponed to a date to be determined.

As an added precaution, Football NSW, in consultation with the club, has made the decision to postpone all Newcastle Jets FC and Emerging Jets fixtures scheduled for this weekend to a date to be determined.

Football NSW will continue to work closely with its clubs and associations to ensure that football is operating in accordance with the NSW Government’s Public Health Orders and Covid safe protocols which are in place to ensure that football can continue to be enjoyed at all levels by participants of all ages.

Before participating this weekend, if you live in, or have visited, any of the locations and local government areas listed on the NSW Health website in the past two weeks, NSW Health is asking that you monitor for symptoms and get tested if you have even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat. For football, this does not mean that games cannot take place in these areas, it means that if people have been to these areas in the past two weeks and develop symptoms, they should get tested.

To help ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place when participating, all players, parents, officials and spectators are required to adhere to the following:

• Do not attend football if you are feeling unwell or have any cold or flu like symptoms, even a runny nose or scratchy throat
• Wash and/or sanitize hands before and after attending all training and games
• Players arrive dressed and ready to train or play
• Limit the use of changerooms
• Players must comply with the 1.5m social distancing rule (except during games)
• No shaking hands, high fives or hugging other players, match officials, team officials or spectators
• No player walkouts prior to matches
• No player huddles
• Avoid car pooling as this is considered “close contact” and increases the risk of transmission
• Do not share drink bottles
• Do not share containers of food, including oranges. Players should bring their own food and snacks.
• Limit the number of spectators that accompany players to training and games

(Check with your club before attending as the number of adults accompanying junior participants may be limited at some venues)

• Avoid bringing anyone who is elderly or may be at high or increased risk of illness
• Spectators must observe the 1.5m social distancing rule at all times unless from the same household
• All participants and spectators must cover their coughs and sneezes properly
• Players and spectators must not socialise or assemble in groups before, during or after training or games
• Once training and games are finished, leave the venue as soon as possible
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you feel unwell or develop cold or flu like symptoms
• Regularly check the Covid-19 Location NSW Health advices
• Check for updates on the Football NSW Covid-19 Information webpage

Note the following in relation to outdoor sport participation:

• an outdoor environment poses less risk of community transmission than an indoor environment
• casual contact (face to face contact with a person for less than 15 minutes) poses less risk of community transmission compared to that of close contact (face to face contact with a person for 15 minutes or more).
• The location of a sporting venue in itself does not pose a risk of community transmission.

Therefore, compliance with the transmission prevention protocols, including social distancing of at least 1.5 metres, good hygiene practices, limiting the number of spectators present, not shaking hands and not attending if you are feeling unwell or have cold/flu like symptoms by all participants, parents and spectators is what is effective in minimising the risk of community transmission.

We ask that all participants continue to adhere to the protocols that have been put in place and we assure you that everything that can be done, is being done to keep football safe.

The below matches have been postponed.

• Saturday, 8 August 2020 – NPL 2 Youth – (U13-U18) – Blue: Canterbury Bankstown FC v Newcastle Jets FC at The Crest Athletic Centre
• Saturday, 8 August 2020 – NPL 2 Men’s (U20-1st): Hills United FC v Newcastle Jets FC at Lily Homes Stadium
• Sunday, 9 August 2020 – NPL 2 Youth – (U13-U18) – Blue: Newcastle Jets FC v Hawkesbury City FC at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
• Sunday, 9 August – NPL NSW Women’s – (U14-1st Grade): Emerging Jets v Northern Tigers FC at Jack McLaughlin Oval, Edgeworth