Springwood United focused on COVID safe practices
Springwood United Chairman Peter Dempsey understands the importance of keeping his club on top of its game both on and off the pitch – in particularly with its strict COVID safe guidelines they’ve implemented during the reboot of Community Football this season.
The dedicated football administrator has stressed how much work has gone into ensuring his club, playing out at the Nepean Football Association, have done in keeping within the Football NSW COVID safe plans on a week to week basis for their participants and visiting teams.
“The club has put several measures in place which have been strongly guided by both Nepean FA and Football NSW.
“We have placed up to six hand sanitizer stations around the ground for training nights and game days.
“We have marked out the grandstand with social distancing markers as well as entry and exit traffic flow to our canteen which display Football NSW safety signage around the ground.
“We have limited our canteen to a 1-person operation and have set up sign-in registers for our volunteers who attend park duty for contact tracing.
“All our Coaches and Managers were invited to consecutive Zoom meetings during the week leading up to our level one return to training which briefed them of their requirements and team responsibilities. A return-to-training briefing pack was disseminated to all coaches and managers.
“All teams record attendances and we have also completed a Safety Plan for both Summerhayes Park and the Canteen operation.
“Finally, we have maintained a consistent flow of communication to our members through social media reminding them of their obligation in maintaining a safe environment for our spectators and players.”
Leading the charge in getting all these COVID safe practices in place have been Springwood United’s dedicated volunteers who have had the tough task of looking after its 87 registered teams ranging from Under 5’s right up to the Over 35’s.
“We have 20 volunteers that assist in the running of the club who have been instrumental in our preparation to get the season back on track.
“The level one return to training had our volunteers attend training nights to ensure that teams were supported in conducting appropriate training sessions and remaining in their field allocations.
“They’ve also followed social distancing protocols and ensured the coaches were supported in managing their teams.
“This set the benchmark for the club and the expectation in what was required to ensure football continues and made the transition into level 2 and 3 seamless.
“Our volunteers assist on game days with park duty, provide a constant stream of support to our teams, and ensure that we are well equipped to provide a safe place to play.”
With the season in full swing, the 45-year-old avid football fan stressed that now wasn’t the time to rest on their laurels and pleaded to everyone playing the game to be vigilant in stopping the spread by abiding with the Football NSW COVID safe guidelines.
“We are delighted that Community Football has returned once again but we know we cannot relax as we still need to be cautious about how we deal with stopping the spread week to week.
“We have done a wonderful job in maintaining a safe environment at Summerhayes Park and it is attributed to our valued members cooperation and understanding.
“Our primary focus as a Committee is to do everything within our control to ensure that football continues to be played.”
