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Ready for Rugby

Ready for Rugby

Riccardo Sitler12 Apr 2021 - 09:21
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All teams returning to training this week!

After a long wait, rugby is back! Under the new restrictions, training can now resume with groups of 15 for all sections.

We asked all player, coaches and parent to familiarise themselves with the training guidelines inline with the Executive and rugby bodies.

Ophir RFC Update for Players and Youth and Minis Parents

As per IRFU guidance and Ulster Branch guidance on the return to rugby the players must be allocated to a pod and then stay in the same pod for every training session. A pod can be a maximum of 15 people including coaches.

The pods permitted per rugby pitch is as follows:-

  1. Adults (18+) – 1 pod per pitch area
  2. Aged 13-18 – Two pods per pitch area
  3. Aged 12 & Under – 3 pods per pitch area

The resumption is limited to training only and contact is to be minimised. All club house facilities will remain closed.

The IRFU have given the following guidance which applies to all:

Behaviours
We are all in this together – my behaviour affects everyone.

Team Ethics
“I do it for my team mates and they do it for me and success depends on us all doing it”.

Social Disapproval
We call each other out on unsafe behaviour.

Do not become a close contact. Treat everyone as if they have Covid-19. Do not be within 2 metres of another person. If you are within 2 metres of another person it should be for a minimal amount of time.

Risk Mitigation

  1. Only people who are well should be at sessions. No risk groups should be present at training sessions.
  2. Good hand hygiene and cough etiquette should be practised.
  3. No handshakes, high fives or huddles.
  4. Minimised sharing of equipment.
  5. No shouting
  6. For non-contact activities they should be socially distanced.
  7. No whistles should be used.
  8. Coaches are to wear masks.

Risk Groups
The IRFU have identified young players as one of the risk groups because they are the group that are most likely to be having significant social interactions outside of their rugby environment. Social interactions outside of the rugby environment impact on the rugby environment because if someone is interacting socially with others outside of the rugby environment that may increase the prospects that they bring Covid-19 into the rugby environment.

At Ophir we expect all our players regardless of age to behave responsibly and this extends to acting in accordance with the relevant government guidance in place at the time when they are not at rugby.

Before training
You will be sent the health declaration questionnaire in advance and it must be completed in advance. If it is not completed the player cannot train.

You will be sent an aerial photograph which will be marked to show where your/the player’s pod will be training and where you should park.

Travel to and from training
Mode of transport should not be shared unless the individuals are from within the same household.

When at training

  1. Participants should move directly from the car park to the check-in area for each pod which will be marked in the aerial photographs.
  2. Hand sanitizer will be provided and all participants are to sanitise their hands at the check in area.
  3. As before, no changing facilities will be opened. All participants will arrive already changed and will simply put on boots on arrival.
  4. Social distancing will be maintained during any team talks and during any breaks and during training. In so far as touch or tag rugby involves non-adherence to social distancing these interactions should be fleeting and return to social distancing should be implemented immediately thereafter.
  5. Good hand hygiene and cough etiquette is to be maintained.
  6. Handshakes, high 5s or huddles are not permitted.
  7. The IRFU have instructed no shouting by players or coaches.
  8. No whistles to be used.
  9. Minimise the sharing of equipment.
  10. If a ball is kicked from one pod to another, the person who kicked the ball should retrieve it but only when the players in the other pod have retreated more than 10m from the ball.
  11. No group photographs to be taken unless all participants are adhering to social distancing. Only those within a pod (to include the photographer) can take part in a socially distanced group photographs.
  12. All players, as has been the case to date, are required to bring their own water bottles. There will be no water bottles provided and no sharing of water bottles.

Youth rugby

All of the above applies to youth rugby except the arrangements for arrival and departure which shall be dealt with as follows:

The Ulster Branch have stated that parents are not permitted at pitch side and must observe from their cars.

Therefore, in light of this:

  1. All parents will be provided with aerial photographs via whatsapp.
  2. All parents will be advised where they must park in the aerial photograph.
  3. All parents will be advised where their child’s pod is training and where they should check in.
  4. The child is to move straight from the car to the check-in area, provided there is a coach present at the check-in area. If there is not a coach present at the check-in area, the parent should retain the child at the car until a coach is present at the check-in area and has confirmed that the child may present themselves to the check-in area.
  5. All players to sanitise their hands at the check-in area.
  6. After the session, all players are to leave the pitch via the check-in area and return immediately to their vehicles.
  7. All parents shall remain in their vehicles or leave. No parents are to attend at pitch side.

We thank all players, coaches and parents for their ongoing cooperation. Stay safe and keep each other safe!

Further reading