Rebooting

Queensland

School Sport

2020

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all aspects of schooling including

delivery of sport. Resumption of sport may significantly contribute to the re-establishment of

normality in the schooling environment and assist with the physical, psychological and

emotional well-being of students across Queensland.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has utilised the nationally agreed Principles for

Resumption of Sport and guidelines from the Federal Government to develop a framework to

inform the resumption of sport. The AIS Framework is a timely tool for ‘how’ reintroduction of

sport activity will occur in a cautious and methodical manner, to optimise athlete and

community safety. Decisions regarding the timing of resumption of sporting activities (the

‘when’) must be made in close consultation with Federal, State/Territory and Local Public

Health Authorities.

This document will provide a consistent and contextualised platform to enable resumption of sport in the Queensland schooling environment. The Department will continue to liaise with and align to the Sports Minister’s Advisory Council Return to Play Advisory Sub-Committee and the Queensland Return to Play Guide for Queensland sport, recreation and fitness industries.

Framework for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities

Consistent with the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment high level

descriptors of activities are proposed together with recommended hygiene measures.

Preparation for resumption must include education for all athletes and personnel, assessment

of the sporting environment and agreement of training scheduling to accommodate

appropriate social distancing.

It is important to give appropriate consideration for athletes with disability and others with

medical conditions that may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. A graded return to

sport is also advised to mitigate injury risk. It is important to acknowledge and recognise that

resumption of sporting activity may not be linear and schools will need to be flexible to

accommodate and respond to changes in advice from Public Health Authorities.

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promoting more activities that developstrength, flexibility and bone healthincluding climbing, dancing and active play.

enabling action to protect, enhanceand advocate for health, wellbeing,safety and physical activity.

emphasising encouragement,sportsmanship and participationin quality sporting programs

delivering a competitive programthat is performance orientated,equitable and student-focused

HealthImproved physical and mental

wellbeing for every student

ParticipationStudents regularly taking part in

physical activity and sport

Resultsaccomplishing more through

physical activity and sport

… to achieve …

Sport in Queensland state schools…

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CONTINUING CONDITIONS • Social distancing, 1.5 metres and hygiene • Stay at home if you’re sick • Tracking, tracing, rapid response • COVID SAFE Plans

Stage 1: 15 May 2020 Stage 2: 1 June 2020 Stage 3: 3 July 2020

School Sport Engagement…Activities that can be conducted by a solo athlete or by pairs

Non contact between athletes and/or other personnel (1.5m distance at all times)

Strength and sport-specific activities permitted where no equipment is required

Online coaching and resources (e.g. videos, play books)

No spectators allowed

Activities that can be conducted by class groups.

Sharing of equipment permitted – use of skipping ropes, weights, mats, balls(must be sanitised before and after each use)

Non-contact skills activities (no wrestling, tackling, binding or holding)

Hand hygiene on entry, exit as well as pre, post and during trainingSpectators allowed (if within the 20 person limit)

Activities that can be conducted by larger groups (up to 100 people)

Sharing of equipment permitted (must be sanitised

before and after use)

Full contact training and skills activities

Promotion of Hand hygiene

Spectators allowed (if within the 100 person limit)

COVID SAFE Checkpoint COVID SAFE Checkpoint

No travel restriction

Return to inter-school and representative school sport

No travel restriction

Intra-school activities (restricted training) only Inter-school Sport competition may resume

Representative School Sport Competitions

This roadmap aligns to the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment and Queensland Return to Play Guide for Queensland sport, recreation and fitness industries and will be updated as necessary.

Prior to events going ahead, schools are encouraged to complete the COVID-19 Return to School Sport

Planning Considerations document.

No representative or school sport events Travel restricted to within 150 kms

Indoor and outdoor intra-school activities with appropriate physical distancing.

Term 3: District / Regional / Inter-regional /State competitions may resume (to be determined in response to local context).

Term 4: State Championship Events continue (refer to QSS website for championship details).

School Holidays (27 Jun – 12 Jul)

Recommended activity levels…

Activities that can be conducted by a solo athlete or by pairs Non contact between athletes and/or other personnel (1.5m distance at all times)

Strength and sport-specific activities permitted where no equipment is requiredOnline coaching and resources (e.g. videos, play books)No spectators allowed

No representative school sport events

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2Activities that can be conducted by groups (up to 20 people)

Sharing of equipment permitted – use of skipping ropes, weights, mats, balls(must be sanitised before and after each use)

Non-contact skills activities (no wrestling, tackling, binding or holding)Hand hygiene on entry, exit as well as pre, post and during trainingSpectators allowed (if within the 20 person limit)

No representative school sport events

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Activities that can be conducted by larger groupsSharing of equipment permitted (must be sanitised before and after use)

Full contact training and skills activitiesPromotion of Hand hygiene Spectators allowed

Trigger point: Queensland moves to Stage 21 June 2020

Trigger point: Queensland moves to Stage 33 July 2020

Return to representative school sport

Considerations prior to commencing school sport

Athlete and Personnel

the training

and playing

Agreed event / training

• Education to promote required behavioursof appropriate education within sporting

environments and facilitieson hygiene practices:

• No sharing of drink bottles and towels.• No sharing of mats, or equipment without an appropriate

cleaning protocol

Numbers | Illness | Injury• Shared

Courts | Change Rooms | Recovery Areas Medical beds | Therapy stations| Pools | Benches

• SharedBalls | Weights | Sport Specific Equipment |Ropes | Counters | Mats | Seating

Space available

of based on facilityto ensure social distancing, reduce

and reduce risk toshould athletes or personnel become unwell

(frequency, handwashing and equipment / facilitysanitisation)

(training, games and change over)(possible COVID-19 cases, injury and medical personnel)

Localised Events

Key Features

Go

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Athlete and

Personnel

Agreed event / training Approval to

Eventsby age group

Pre

-eve

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Tow

ard

s go

live

Athlete and Personnel andSanctioning of proposed

event by

(if required)

for essential personnel and athletes (spaced)

Access to Equipment and shared

space

No live

Considerations in practice – example of planning prior to sport activity

across regions where necessary)

of results and attendance at state championship

Results sent to

Pre-eventGo LiveApproved

Nominations | Venue finalised

Events Finalised State Championship

Athlete notifications

Additional Considerations

Financial ImplicationsCommunications

Additional Medical

Presence

Additional Workload and Resourcing

Increased Injury / Illness Risk

Additional Volunteers

For Example:Strategies and protocols to assess and mitigate illness riskspecifically relating athletes who have contracted, recentlyrecovered or have been in contact with someone whocontracted COVID-19

For Example:Families contribute significantly to the delivery ofschool sport through payment of fees, purchase ofapparel and payment of travel costs. Given the wide-spread impact of COVID-19 it is likely that cost will be asignificant barrier to participation.

For Example:Development of social distancing and sanitisationprotocols are essential to ensuring compliancewith the Government’s Roadmap. Additionalmedical officers may be required to implementthese protocols – and in some cases it may benecessary for the department to outsource thisfunction.

For Example:Development of social distancing and sanitisationprotocols are essential to ensuring compliancewith the Governments roadmap. Additionalvolunteers will be required to implement theseprotocols – and in some cases it may benecessary for the department to outsource thisfunction.

For Example:Clear and coherent communications will berequired for internal staff, external stakeholders,parents and families. Given the timelinesoutlined above, development and approval ofthese communications will be essential tosucceed.

For Example:Given the significant additional workload associated withrunning events post COVID-19 additional staffing andresourcing will be required to ensure tasks can be completedprior to events going live.