The role of COVID-19 officer is an important one and carries with it a level of responsibility by the person taking on this role within your organisation.

The production of risk assessments and the idea of safeguarding within the Netball Family should be a familiar one. England Netball has worked closely with medical professionals, players, coaches and umpires and has made available a well-recognised risk assessment template.

If all reasonable practicable steps are taken to mitigate the risk of infection through netball, then COVID-19 officers shouldn’t worry about being blamed if there was an outbreak. These reasonable steps will include strict adherence to all the guidance documents and training material provided by England Netball.

England Netball’s insurance policy has a reasonable precautions condition and includes public liability for appointed officers of Registered Organisations, including COVID-19 Officers. From a liability perspective, it is essential that netball organisations are following the Government and England Netball’s guidance and that appointed officers and members are acting reasonably to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

As stated in our guidance material, the production of risk assessments and management plans should be a collaborative effort, as ultimately it will be everyone’s responsibility to safely bring back netball and rise again.

Guidance

Below is a summary of Stage 4 Modified Netball Activity for netball organisations and COVID-19 Officers, designed to complement the more detailed Restart Guidance which must be read in full. This includes links to a number of useful templates and assets. England Netball will continue to add to these pages as further information becomes available. Additional guidance and support for competition organisers will be made available shortly.

To further support netball organisations and COVID-19 Officers, England Netball are working with the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to give members access to supplementary training. The Restart Guidance provides you with everything you need know to run Stage 4 modified netball activity however, if there is an area you feel you’d like to know more about such as risk management, social distancing or COVID-19 specific cleaning procedures, this platform provides useful additional information. To access this additional learning, register as a volunteer or coach here.

A large part of netball’s safe return involves using PPE and hygiene supplies effectively and, as an England Netball member, you get a range of discounts on required equipment with Physique. They are offering up to 50% off on the likes of visors, masks and gloves as well as a 10% discount on all other Physique products to ensure that your club’s return to court is safe and cost effective. Access the discount here.

Venues

Some netball venues are open, some are planning to open and sadly others are closed until further notice. You may therefore be required to move venue to restart netball activity. Your Netball Development Officer will be able to share further information on which venues are open in your local area.

Both venue operators and netball organisations have a shared duty of care to take reasonable precautions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Netball organisations will need to obtain the venue’s risk assessment and use this to complete their own risk assessment and mitigation planning.

England Netball are recommending that netball activity is conducted outdoor where possible, providing there are acceptable facilities available and weather conditions allow. If indoor facilities are the only available option due to access, weather, particular needs of the user group, or where required for higher level competitions (Premier, Regional and Pathway), netball organisations will be required to conduct an enhanced risk assessment for their indoor facility, and ensure strict adherence to the hygiene, social distancing, capacity levels and ventilation guidance as part of their risk assessment mitigation protocols.

Before booking a venue, check the surface is playable if it hasn’t been used during lockdown. Netball organisations should also double check terms and conditions related to sudden cancellation in case of local lockdown or other COVID-19 related matters that might arise.

For an overview, check out our Stage 4 Venue Booking Guidance video here.

Rule Modifications
The following rule modifications must now be adhered to at all community levels of the game:

4ft spacing for the start of play – GS and GK are required to start inside their respective goal circles, GA, GD, WA and WD on the transverse line and the centres in the centre third. The modification requires all players to position themselves a minimum of 4ft away from their opposing players and teammates at the start of play. This will be managed by umpires at the start of play.4ft marking – the defending distance has been increased from 3ft to 4ft. Particular attention must be paid in the circle when defending or waiting for a rebound under the goal post. This will be blown as distance.4ft position of penalised player – penalised players for major infringements are required to position beside the player they infringed but from a distance of 4ft. This will be managed by umpires when an infringement occurs.Removal of Toss Ups – No toss ups are permitted, the team who had the ball directly before the action that caused the toss up to be awarded will retain possession. The umpire will briefly hold time, instruct the ball to be returned to the relevant team and play will be restarted on the umpire’s whistle.Removal of idle interactions – Players not engaged in play or who are stood still are required to be positioned 4ft away from another player. This frequently happens on the circle edge, on the transverse line, whilst walking back to centre pass and returning to the team bench at the end of a quarter. Managed by umpires and supported by players and coaches.

Despite the changes, the modified games still looks and feels very much like the version we know and love. Contesting for the ball is very much permitted providing players are involved in the phase of play. Over the coming weeks we’ll be providing hot topic videos and hints and tips on playing, coaching and officiating the modified game.

All match play and competition will be played to these rules until social distancing is relaxed. Even in training, it will be important to have two umpires with strong game management capabilities to ensure the modified rules are being adhered to.

Download the rules modification infographic here.

Risk Mitigations

Personal Risk

Members should be made aware of the increased risk of transmission associated in taking part in netball.

If members have underlying health conditions and are considered clinically extremely vulnerable or moderately vulnerable, there is increased risk in taking part in netball activity. If members are 60+, male, lower-socio economic status or from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background, they are more likely to get seriously ill from coronavirus.

Download the personal risk assessment template here.

Pressure should not be placed on members to participate or compete if they are uncomfortable with the risks associated with netball activity. They should have the choice to ‘opt in’ to any modified netball activity prior to attending a session.

Download the ‘opt-in’ statement here.

Download the risk mitigations infographic here.

Pre-Activity Health Screening

All members should check themselves or anyone in their household for COVID-19 symptoms before leaving for netball activity. If members or anyone else in their household has symptoms, they should not attend netball activity.

Download the COVID-19 Symptom Checker here.

Kit, Sanitisation and Equipment

Attendees should come ready for activity. Changing facilities should not be used. Hands and any personal equipment or items should be sanitised before leaving for netball. Any personal items such as water bottles and whistles should be clearly marked.

Face Coverings

Non-playing attendees including coaches and match-bench officials are required to wear face coverings if indoor facilities are being used.

Travel to Venues

Government are continuing to advise on the best way to travel. If attendees are unable to travel independently or must travel with those outside of your support bubble, the latest Government guidance is available here.

Arrival

Netball organisations should be aware of, and communicate with their attendees any venue specific arrival protocols and traffic flow systems.

Upon entering the venue, all attendees should be reminded to remain 2m apart at all times from those outside of their social bubble.

When registering, all attendees should be reminded to maintain social distancing.

Download signage to support social distancing here.

All attendees including parents and spectators are required to register upon arrival. This will include further health screening for COVID-19 symptoms and completing Test and Trace protocols. The registration desk should be set up to allow for social distancing to be maintained, away from activity.

Download the First Aid Protocol here.

Download the COVID-19 Symptom Check here.

Download the Test and Trace protocol here.

Download the Test and Trace – what might happen guidance here.

Download the ENgage Test and Trace guide here.

Download the Test and Trace template to use with your Engage QR code here.

Sanitisation and Equipment

Balls and the post should be sanitised prior to attendees arriving.

All attendees are required to sanitise their hands every 15 minutes during activity.

All players should use their own ball wherever possible. Where your netball organisation is providing balls, they should be sanitised every 15 minutes during activity.

If a player makes contact with a post, it must be sanitised prior to play resuming.

Bibs must not be shared during netball activity. Multiple sets of bibs are an ideal solution if available. Alternatives options include:

Use of bibs inside out if positions are changed with stickers to mark position.Dig out the sets of bibs that you’ve lost the odd position on and use as spares.Use of large stickers that can be attached to playing kit and are disposed of once finished or move position (similar to those that are used during trials).If patch bibs are used consider homemade disposable patches, by attaching sticky Velcro to paper or card squares that can be disposed of.If none of the above options are available use face paint or washable, non-toxic pen with position marked on arm or thigh can be used. Parental permission should be sought for this, and all players and parents of junior players should check for any allergies to the product used.

Water bottles and whistles should not be shared

Download the Sanitisation protocol here.

Social Distancing

You’ll need to talk to your coaches about their role in supporting social distancing. Wherever possible, social distancing should be incorporated into warm up activities and small sided games.

The following must not take place during any training sessions or netball matches:

Nail checks should take place from 2mThere should be no pre-match huddle – players should remain socially distanced for any pre-match team talkNo pre-match or pre quarter ‘hands in’No shouting or cheeringNo quarter or half time huddlesNo high fivingNo post-match hug circles or handshakesAny post-match paperwork should be shared digitally (this could be e mail or photograph)No post-match team teasTeam selfies must be socially distanced

Download the social distancing infographic here.

Social Distancing

At the end of activity all attendees should leave the court straight away and leave the venue promptly. All attendees should follow any venue specific departure protocols and traffic flow systems. If attendees are U18, a safe collection procedure and point should be pre-organised.

Hygiene and Sanitisation

Changing facilities should not be used and will not be available for attendees wishing to shower. All attendees should be advised to sanitise their hands on leaving the venue and sanitise any personal equipment after every activity.

Test and Trace

Any attendee who develops COVID-19 symptoms up to 48 hours after any netball activity must report to the NHS Test and Trace scheme and notify the COVID-19 Officer if they test positive. Any positive cases must follow the information from NHS and must remain at home for the required period of time.

Download the Test and Trace – what might happen guidance here.

We have collated a library of COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions which you can access using the search tool here.

We have collated this month’s forum recordings and registration links which you can download here.

We have also collated a summary of all the links referenced on this page which you can download here.

And finally

Thank you, a lot of work will have gone into getting your netball organisation back on court and it wouldn’t be happening without you. We really do appreciate how this may feel very unusual to a typical season, but with your diligence and commitment, we are confident that netball will #RiseAgain