GAA Covid-19 Update The GAA have proposed club competitions be permitted to return from July 31stfor an 11-week window as part of their safe return to action roadmap.
So when can I or members of my family go to our club pitch again? If you club has a designated walking track you and three others can use it from Monday June 8th providing the club has received clearance from the GAA. But this does not apply to Na Gaeil as we do not have a walking track. The pitch is off bounds until June 28th.
What happens then? Non-contact training can take place on the playing surface but there will be restrictions. Groups of no more than 10 people can train together in a designated area of the field with a maximum of two coaches.
If the social distancing restriction of two metres is still in place at that stage it must be upheld. There can be no transfer of equipment within another group and it must be sanitised after training. Access to club grounds is restricted to players, managers and designated officials only.
Do we have to do anything before that? Yes. Players and parents of under-age players must complete a module to ensure they have been briefed on risks related to coronavirus. Questionnaires will have to be completed per visit to the club grounds and temperature checks conducted to gain access. Should the questionnaire raise an issue or a person’s temperature read over 37.5 degrees celsius, they must return home.
Who checks that? A Covid-19 supervisor appointed by the club. It is expected there will be several for each club with one per team where possible. They will also have to record attendance of players and management/coaches for contact tracing purposes as well as collecting the questionnaires and sanitising the facilities and equipment.
What about the clubhouse and buildings? Until August 10th, dressing rooms are off limits. No team meetings can take place indoors until August 10th. Water bottles cannot be shared at any time and the likes of gestures such as handshakes and other close interactions are not permitted. Toilets will be available but they will have to be sanitised.
So what do players have to do until then? Arrive togged out and ready to train or play.
When will contact training begin? July 20th. That date could yet be brought forward but so long as social restrictions are in place it is a hurdle. Players and management will have to sanitise their hands before entering the club grounds.
Won’t there be a demand for pitch-time? Undoubtedly so hence the need for timetables, which the GAA have outlined in their roadmap: “Timesheets should be used to clearly show what teams are using club facilities at what times. The principle of ‘get in, train, and get out’ will apply. There should be a time interval between teams departing having completed training and the next team arriving. Attendance will be limited to essential personnel. Compliance will be necessary to ensure efficiency and harmony.”
How long then until club competitions recommence? From July 31st, club competitions will be given the green light. There will be an exclusive period of 11 weeks until October 11th for clubs to organise games. Counties are expected to begin confirming their restructured championships in the coming weeks.
Will the club championships have behind closed door matches? Not necessarily. The GAA will reveal limitations on spectator numbers in line with Government guidelines prior to the start of phase four on July 20th but it’s already planned for a separation between players and spectators.
And what of the Cúl Camps? The GAA’s Covid-19 advisory committee propose children’s involvement be limited to one camp and groups be made smaller with the same trainer/supervisor and equipment assigned to each group. Parents and guardians must drop off and collect their child or children at the club for camps or training.
Na Gaeil Volunteers Na Gaeil GAA Club volunteers continue to assist those cocooned in our community with their shopping requirements and also collecting medical supplies for them from their local pharmacies.
But demand for this service is expected to reduce over the coming weeks as restrictions on shopping for the elderly are being lifted. We thank all our volunteers for their great work. We are getting very positive feedback from the local community and everybody cocooned at home are very appreciative of the great work that our dedicated volunteers have been doing. You have made a huge contribution to the vulnerable in our community.
Please let people know that this service is still available. You can contact any of the following co-ordinators: Mícheál Herlihy (0862438902); Cathy Carey (0863554499); Eddie Sheehy (0876791460), Colm O’Súilleabháin (0879080465); Tim Lynch (0874184239). You can also contact the shops directly. Please God we will all stay safe and come back stronger. Ní neart go cur le chéile
Club Activities Suspended As you know all club activities are suspended until June 28th at the earliest when we are allowed to re-open our pitch.
Clubhouse The clubhouse will be closed until August 10th. This means that our Monday night bingo, Tuesday night lotto and Wednesday night card playing are suspended indefinitely as well as all other activities that normally took place there on a weekly basis.
Clothes Collection There is now a Clothes Collection Bin situated in Na Gaeil car park for use by all members of the public.
