We will be publishing resources and key information on the dedicated Return to Play page
I am sure that many of you will have heard the encouraging news that the government has announced that from 25 July indoor sports venues will open. This of course allows for us to begin the process of a return to wheelchair rugby. This does not mean that we can return to full play immediately and by the very nature of our game and the individuals who play it, we will be one of the last sports to return to full competition. It does mean that we can now work with our venue providers to get things moving.
Alongside the government announcement was the publication of the latest government guidance on the return to recreational team sport and this, along with other government guidance relating to COVID-19, provides us with the framework to develop our own Return to Play (RTP) guidance. In reality we have been working on this for some weeks but what we are now doing is finalising it in light of the advice detailed in the latest paper, before then confirming that it meets the requirements of our insurer and legal advisors and then submitting it to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for final approval.
There is always risk involved in playing any sport but COVID-19 presents a further set of risks which cannot be completely eradicated but which we can reduce providing we strictly follow government and Public Health guidance and do not let our guard down. So whilst the process to get started may seem protracted and complicated, there can be no shortcuts and it is essential to ensure that we do everything we can to keep everyone as safe as possible.
There is a further critical dimension to RTP, which is the availability of the different venues that clubs use and ensuring that these facilities are effectively risk managed. This will mean that clubs will have to work with their venue provider to undertake a risk assessment and agree ways of reducing any risk which is identified before any RTP is possible. We are looking at ways in which we can help clubs to do this.
Getting our heads around the new circumstances we find ourselves in is a challenge for all of us and so we want to help clubs as much as we can and for you to be able to share concerns or particular issues with us. We will be scheduling a number of online workshops over the next few weeks aimed at providing COVID-19 club leads with the information and support they will need to help their clubs RTP. Please keep an eye on the website for further information.
All of us are looking forward to a return to wheelchair rugby as quickly as it is safe to do so. Not only do those who play the game want to get a ball in their hands again, but we all want to be able to re-engage with our friends and colleagues in our wheelchair rugby communities. It has been a tough few months and I am afraid it is not over yet. I suspect that we will be living with COVID-19 and its impact on our lives for some time to come, so it is critical that we recognise this, and adapt our behaviours and practices to enable us to return safely to play the game we love.
Finally clubs will have been notified separately of a webinar I will lead on Tuesday 14 July at 7pm. This will be an opportunity for me to update you in more detail about our RTP plans and for you to ask any questions you may have.
Enjoy your weekend.
David Pond, Chief Executive
