Over the last couple of days, the NSW Government has added several restrictions that significantly impact the delivery of sporting competitions in NSW. Given we have NSW teams participating in our competitions, the restrictions also impact Capital Football competitions.
In considering the application of the restrictions, we have sought advice from the ACT Government and NSW Health. Under the NSW Government recommendations, we are asked to:
- Cease activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different ‘regions’;
- Cease any activities that result in overnight stays;
- Cease face-to-face social activities relating to community sports;
- Avoid carpools or bus travel with people from different household groups where possible; and
- Limit spectators to one parent only, where the child requires parental supervision during the sporting activity.
We have a number of questions in relation to the restrictions but at this point, we need to carefully consider the games involving Griffith FC and Yoogali SC.
To play, individuals are very likely to stay overnight and/or use shared transport (carpooling or bus travel). Without the ability to stay overnight or share transport, players would have to travel 4.5 hours alone to their venue, play their match and then travel another 4.5 hours home.
We feel it is unreasonable and possibly unsafe to put our players in this position.
As such we have made the difficult decision to postpone the following matches:
- 22 August 2020: NPLY U13, U14 & U16 – Griffith FC vs Woden Valley Soccer Club
- 23 August 2020: NPL2 1sts and U23s – ANU Football Club vs Yoogali Soccer Club.
The NSW restrictions obviously impact our other NSW clubs: Yass FC, Wagga City Wanderers, Cooma SC, Tigers FC, Palerang United, Monaro Panthers, Queanbeyan City, Capital Country, and Gundaroo.
In relation to games involving Wagga, Capital Football is of the view that it is reasonable for a player to travel to their game, play, and then travel home within one day. As such at this point in time, games involving Wagga will go ahead.
In relation to games involving our other NSW based teams where travel is minimal, Capital Football is of the view the travel required is manageable for individuals and as such these matches will go ahead at this point in time.
As alluded to above, we have a number of questions in relation to the application of the restrictions. We will continue to work with ACT Government and NSW Health and will provide updates on the progress of our discussions as soon as we can.
We appreciate that this change is disruptive and disappointing but hope you understand that we have made it to ensure we meet Government guidelines and recommendations, and in the best interests of our football community.