Melinda Kopp

As New South Wales continues to navigate through the evolving nature of COVID-19, Football NSW has endeavoured to take the necessary steps to stabilise the game and make the required adjustments to ensure football remains in a strong position to recover.

With the continued easing of NSW Government restrictions, the Football NSW Board has approved a Safe Workplace (COVID-19) Policy for Valentine Sports Park (VSP) (Policy) in an effort to promote the resumption of football and reconnection of our communities, comply with work health and safety obligations, and to ensure a safe environment for all involved in the game.

The key aspects of the Policy are summarised below.

Vaccination requirements

Effective immediately and notwithstanding any changes that may shortly be made to Public Health Orders, Football NSW requires the following persons be fully vaccinated, unless they have been granted an exemption by Football NSW in accordance with the Policy (including for medical reasons), and to use a QR code when entering the premises for contact tracing purposes:
· all Football NSW staff, including all office staff, casuals and Football NSW coaching staff, who are working for Football NSW other than at their place of residence; and
· all visitors over the age of 16 attending the indoor areas of VSP – including people attending meetings, tradespeople, hirers, users of the futsal court and patrons of the gymnasium, café and pool. NOTE: the changerooms below the VSP grandstand and the toilets on the concourse are not considered indoor areas for the purposes of the Policy.
Unless acceptable evidence of vaccination is shown to Football NSW, admission to these areas will be refused.

In line with community standards, Football NSW will continue to align its position with regards to outdoor activities with that of the NSW Government. To that end, the following groups are encouraged but not required to be fully vaccinated:
· players, coaches, match officials and spectators in competitions directly controlled by Football NSW (for example, the NPL and Football NSW Leagues); and
· visitors to VSP, who are in attendance only to participate in, or spectate at, an outdoor event (for example, football matches and training sessions).
For the time being, these groups will continue to be asked to use a QR code when entering VSP for contact tracing purposes.

Scope

It is not the purpose of the Policy to dictate what steps Associations and Clubs participating in the NPL or in the Football NSW Leagues should take and these entities should determine what is most appropriate for their particular circumstances. They must, however, ensure compliance is maintained with prevailing Public Health Orders and with any directions issued by Local Council over the use of fields (where relevant).

For those Football NSW stakeholders to whom the Policy does not apply, Football NSW recommends the implementation of similar risk management strategies to those employed during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, including:
· asking participants to self-isolate if they feel unwell;
· not allowing a participant who tests positive for COVID-19 to return to football until receiving permission to do so from the health authorities;
· non-sharing of drink bottles;
· encouraging the dispersal of spectators;
· staggering the arrival and departure times of teams at grounds;
· promoting and providing hand-washing guidance;
· encouraging the provision of regularly refilled sanitisers within venues; and
· regular cleaning of change rooms.

Given the ever-changing nature of COVID-19, Football NSW will regularly review the Policy and reserves the right to amend it as and when required.

VSP Terms of Hire as at 15 December 2021 available here

Due to the latest COVID update from the NSW Government, the following will be in place at VSP from 23 June 2021 for one week unless advised otherwise, https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-covid-19-restrictions-for-greater-sydney-23-june-2021

• No changerooms will be available for training or matches, come ready to train or play
• Masks are mandatory indoors and while attending outdoor events (except for players participating in games/training or warming up and those under the age of 12)
• 4 square meter rule indoors and outdoors, maintain social distancing at all times
• The hirer will be required to provide COVID Safe Marshals for all bookings to ensure their guests are QR coding, hand sanitising and wearing a mask upon entry

Please note that all hirers of the venue must adhere to the latest version of the VSP Return to Play Guidelines (If the Public Health Order is amended, these changes will be communicated as we receive new advice)

All visitors must:

1. Confirm that they are well and must not have experienced cold or flu symptoms in the last 14 days, not have returned from overseas or any known case location as listed on the NSW Health website https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates in the last 14 days.
2. Upon entry to the venue, scan the Services NSW QR Code using a mobile phone camera, register contact details and follow the prompts. These details will be used in accordance with the COVID Safe Check-in – Privacy Collection Statement https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-safe-check-privacy-collection-statement
3. Observe COVID-19 information signage and staff advice in relation to seating, movement through the venue, capacity limits and entry and exit points to ensure physical distancing from others.
4. Maintain a 1.5m distance from others at all times in accordance with public health orders.
5. Practice safe hygiene, including washing their hands regularly with soap and water and using hand sanitiser upon entry and exit.’
6. Spectators should be restricted to essential people only.
7. Wear masks while indoors and while attending outdoor events (except for players participating in games/training or warming up and those under the age of 12). For the avoidance of doubt, coaches, managers, substitutes and spectators must all wear masks. More information is available here – https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#face-masks

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Football NSW are pleased to announce HG Turf Group as their Official Supplier of Hybrid Grass.

Football NSW is the governing body for Football and Futsal in New South Wales. Football NSW’s goal is to grow, develop, promote and service Football for the 345,000 participants in NSW.

HG Turf Group are the market leader in Hybrid Grass solutions. Since 1999 their Hybrid Grass solutions have improved the quality of sport fields across Australia and New Zealand. Some of their most significant installations include ANZ Stadium, AAMI Park, Bankwest Stadium, Eden Park, Gabba, MCG, Optus Stadium and Sky Stadium. International sporting events have also used HGTG’s Hybrid Grass, including the Olympic Games 2000, AFC Asian Cup 2015, Commonwealth Games 2006 and 2018 and Rugby World Cups 2003, 2011 and 2019.

Football NSW and HG Turf Group have a strong relationship. In 2014 HG Turf Group built the two FIFA certified synthetic turf pitches at Valentine Sports Park (VSP). Since their opening, these synthetic turf pitches are heavily utilised and have increased the capacity of usage of the facility – a great investment.

To improve the durability and performance of the natural grass pitches at VSP, HG Turf Group approached Football NSW with a Hybrid Grass solution – SISGrass®.

SISGrass uses needles to push artificial grass fibres into natural grass. The resulting mix of 95% natural grass and 5% artificial grass improves the stability and durability of the natural grass, providing up to 3x more playing hours. It also improves the playability of the natural grass, with optimum ball roll and ball bounce, and ideal footing when turning and sliding.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of SISGrass®, HG Turf Group installed the turf solution at VSP through the centre corridor of Field One and in both goal mouths of Field Four.

Football NSW CEO Stuart Hodge welcomed the partnership with HG Turf Group.

“The SISGrass® hybrid solution synergises with the NSW Football Infrastructure Strategy and the key pillar, ‘improve existing venue capacity’. Maximising the carrying capacity and activation of existing Football pitches and venues is a key objective.

“With the installation at Valentine Sports Park, Football NSW Associations and Clubs, as well as local Councils, can inspect our venue to see the SISGrass® technology and its benefits first hand. We look forward to working with HG Turf Group to introduce their products to the wider football community.”

HG Turf Group Owner and Director Hamish Sutherland thanked Football NSW for the opportunity.

“We are very fortunate to be partnering with Football NSW again. Football NSW advances football in so many ways, and the installation of SISGrass® at Valentine Sports Park has created a new standard for natural grass pitches.

“By protecting the natural grass, SISGrass® delivers increased usage, durability, consistency, and better play, all year-round. Associations and Clubs can also enjoy the benefits of SISGrass®.”

Football NSW’s Manager – Government Relations, Funding & Infrastructure Daniel Ristic shown with Business Development Manager – Community Facilities for HG Turf’s Patrick Young.

The purpose of this updated document and the COVID-19 Safety Plan – Appendix 1 (Plan) is to provide an overarching plan for the implementation and management of procedures by Valentine Sports Park (VSP) to support staff and participants.

The arrangements set out in this Plan are intended to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 among participants, officials, administrators/volunteers, visitors, families and the broader community. The Plan provides the framework to govern the general operation of VSP, the playing/training behaviour of all participants and the monitoring and reporting of the health of attendees at the venue.

This Plan includes, but is not limited to, the conduct of:
1. Training activities conducted at VSP
2. Competition activities conducted at VSP
3. Facility management and supporting operations (facility operations).

At all times the Plan is subject to all regulations, guidelines and directions of government and public health authorities.

COVID-19 is mostly likely spread through direct close contact with a person while they are infectious (usually face to face contact for at least 15 minutes; or being in the same closed space for at least 2 hours). Given that football is played outdoors, the risk of infection through playing sport is minimal, and now with the rate of infection greatly reduced, it is time to cautiously reintroduce football related activity in a staged approach.

Organisations must follow the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders and manage risks to staff and other people in accordance with Work Health and Safety laws.

Read the Valentine Sports Park Return to Play Guidelines here

As a condition of entry, we are required to have you provide your contact details to facilitate contact tracing.

• Upon arrival at Valentine Sports Park, please scan the QR Code to access the online Register of Attendance form

• Please complete the online Register of Attendance form

• Only one submission per day is required for you and your accompanying family or household

Let’s stay vigilant and safe.

Thank you

The impact of COVID-19 has resulted in the suspension of all football activities since early March. Since this time, the priority of Football NSW has been to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the community and to undertake its social responsibility to do everything it can to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is most likely spread through direct close contact with a person while they are infectious (usually face-to-face contact for at least 15 minutes; or being in the same closed space for at least 2 hours). Given that football is played outdoors, the risk of infection through playing sport is minimal, and now with the rate of infection greatly reduced, it is time to cautiously reintroduce football related activity in a staged approach.
The conditions set out in the VSP Return to Training Guidelines Level B are in line with government directions as at 21 May 2020. This document and its conditions will be amended in accordance with any future government directives.

These Guidelines provide for the limited return of football training at Valentine Sports Park (VSP). Training for groups greater than 20 people and playing matches is still not permitted under public health order and is not sanctioned by Football NSW.

To further aid in the fight against COVID-19, Football NSW supports the Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app and strongly encourages all members of the football community to get behind this initiative. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play.