Return to Sport – 1 November Update
Dear All,
The following is a Return to Sport Update regarding Phase C of Victoria’s Roadmap to Re-Opening and community sport, particularly on-court density limits indoors and vaccination requirements.
We have been informed by Sport and Recreation Victoria and the Victorian Chief Health Officer of the following restrictions for community sport – introduced 29 October.
Please note these are the current settings across all community sport, with Basketball Victoria continuing to follow Victorian Government health advice and restrictions as per our Return to Sport Guidelines for the last 20 months.
With Victoria reaching an 80 per cent double dose (16 plus) vaccination rate, both Regional Victoria and Metropolitan Melbourne now come together to fall under the one set of restrictions as part of Phase C of the Roadmap: Delivering the National Plan.
In line with the easing of restrictions, Basketball Victoria confirms that basketball can resume under the following COVIDsafe settings;
NOTE: Moving forward, the colour code of Basketball Victoria’s COVIDsafe settings will reflect the activity allowed. RED (no activity), ORANGE (training only) and GREEN (competition and training permissible).
With these guidelines in place, Basketball Victoria is able to set the current Return to Sport Reactivation Level to GREEN-50 for indoor competition and training effective immediately.
GREEN-50
Training and competition can resume with the minimum number of people required.
Vaccination requirements don’t apply to community sport, however this is subject to the venue user policy. Terms of entry are dictated by the venue operator including schools, councils and third-party entities who may choose to enforce vaccination requirements
A limit of 1 spectator per participant is recommended, up to a Density Quotient (DQ) 1:4m2 and group limits of 30.
Masks are mandatory for all patrons over 12 years of age at all times unless medically exempt. Players, coaches and referees are exempt while on court participating in an exertive role.
Vaccination Requirements
As per the Victorian Government – Open Premises Directions for all community sport:
Spectators and participants, including players, coaches and volunteers, of community sport can access both indoor and outdoor spaces within a physical recreation facility without showing vaccination status only if:
The space is being operated only for the purpose of conducting a community sport activity;
Only participants who are necessary to facilitate the community sporting activity, such as participants, workers, and volunteers, are present; and
Spectators comply with public gathering limits which require that they remain in groups of up to 30 people and take reasonable steps to maintain distance from other such groups.
Where community sport is being conducted in a physical recreation facility, venue staff (including volunteers) must be fully vaccinated if their job extends beyond community sport.
Staying COVIDSafe
It’s important that your business is COVIDSafe and follows the COVIDSafe principles.
You and your workers/volunteers must wear a face mask indoors, and it is highly recommended that face masks are worn outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained– unless you have a lawful exception. This includes people who are fully vaccinated. The Coronavirus website has information specific to each sector and industry to help you adhere to COVIDSafe practices.
RETURN TO SPORT REACTIVATION LEVEL – MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER
METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE AND REGIONAL VICTORIA
GREEN-50 (INDOOR COMPETITION AND TRAINING)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – ANSWERS VERIFIED BY SPORT AND RECREATION VICTORIA
Does a venue have the right to refuse entry to someone who cannot or will not show proof of vaccination? What legal protections are in place for such venues?
Yes. All patrons and visitors that visit participating businesses and organisations must prove their vaccination or exemption status to enter a venue. Venues and facilities are able to set their own terms of entry conditions or rules (including vaccination requirements) according to management decisions.
Getting asked about your vaccination status
People working at venues that are open for fully vaccinated people are required to check your vaccination status, which they will usually do on entry to the venue through the Service Victoria app.
If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have been refused entry to a venue for this reason, please be aware that these workers are doing their job and following the laws in place in Victoria to keep you and others safe.
At what places am I legally obliged to show proof of vaccination?
The coronavirus website has the most up-to-date information about where you need to show proof of vaccination.
Can I report a venue if it does not follow the correct check-in procedure? How do I do this?
Community members can raise concerns about compliance with directions through the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on 131 444. Press 3 to report a confirmed breach of government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions.
Workers can raise concerns via WorkSafe on 1800 136 089.
Employers can talk to their industry regulator or peak body for specific industry-related support. A COVID-19 Outbreak Joint Intelligence Unit has been established to support comprehensive preparedness and responses to outbreaks and identify and manage outbreak risks. The Department of Health and WorkSafe will coordinate intelligence and information on businesses that are non-compliant.
What is the definition of an indoor space?
Indoor space means an area, room or premises that is or are substantially enclosed by a roof and walls that are either floor to ceiling high or are at least 2.1 metres high, regardless of whether the roof or walls or any part of them are:
(i) permanent or temporary;
(ii) open or closed;
Basketball Victoria has confirmed that an Indoor Space can be part of a larger Physical Recreation Facility and does not need to be an exclusive basketball stadium to apply the Community Sport exemptions.
(SOURCE: Open Premises Directions No3, Part 5.3.e)
Basketball Victoria will continue to stay in close communication with Sport and Recreation Victoria and other relevant stakeholders to ensure basketball and community sport can continue to ease restrictions as quickly and as safely as possible.
We will post this information tonight on our website and social media channels at 7pm.
Best Regards,
Nick Honey (Basketball Victoria)