Valley Sport COVID-19 Update Vol. 4

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Your CLUB, Your SPORT, Your VOICE. Conversations with YOU.

In order to understand how clubs are travelling in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valley Sport wants to hear from you. We are trying our very best to learn as much as we can about the impact COVID-19 is having on your club and sport. In order to do this, we need to have a conversation.Valley Sport will be actively giving a call out to club committees, we are touching base and have a few questions for you. If you are happy to tell us your story, we are happy to listen.The reason we are having conversations is because we believe it is important to engage with our sector as best we can and where possible in person! COVID-19 has put a stop on us meeting with you face to face for now so therefore we will give you a call instead.We want to hear your story as it will help inform our work moving forwards. It will also assist us advise and advocate to various levels of government about the impacts of COVID19 on the experiences of rural and regional clubs, leagues and associations.

If you would like to share your club’s story regarding the impacts of COVID-19 please call 5831 8456 or email [email protected]

COVID-19 Information for Goulburn Valley Community SportUnderstanding the government guidance – what does it mean for sport in the Goulburn Valley? It is important to know what is and isn’t allowed. The government has updated and eased some of the restrictions put in place to tackle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Some community sport and recreation activities can now resume in line with the following rules:

• Groups of up to 10 people only are permitted outdoors (or people from the same household), plus a coach/instructor or the minimum number of support staff reasonably required to run the activity

• Parents or other people are required to keep a reasonable distance or will be included in the group of 10

• No indoor activity – indoor physical recreation facilities must remain closed

• Maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres wherever reasonably possible

• All activity and training must be non-contact, and no competitions are to take place. Contact sports must be modified so that you can maintain 1.5m distance

• No shared equipment that touches the head or face or cannot be effectively cleaned i.e. soft materials or clothing

• Hand hygiene, frequent environmental cleaning and disinfection, use of own equipment where possible and minimise sharing of equipment.

The easing of restrictions means that community sport and active recreation clubs and associations can now gradually roll out a return to activity plan. Clubs and associations are encouraged to refer to State Sporting Association return to play plans to plan for the return of sport locally. This will ensure restrictions are adhered to, resulting in member and volunteer safety at all times.We are continuing to constantly monitor the current situation to get a bigger picture about the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on community sport. This information is being collated and regularly updated to ensure the Goulburn Valley sporting community can easily access the information they need.To view the most recent COVID-19 information click here: https://valleysport.net.au/covid-19-information-for-goulbu…/

Keeping Active - Older Adults

The World Health Organisation has encouraged Older Adults to follow some of these steps to keep healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.1. Keep to your regular routine as much as possible and maintain a daily schedule for yourself including sleeping, meals, exercise and activities.2. Stay socially connected. Use the telephone, video-calls or messaging to contact friends and family.3. Be physically active every day. Reduce long periods of sitting and set up a daily routine that includes at least 30 minutes of exercise. Make sure you do activities that are safe and appropriate for your level of physical fitness as indicated by your health-care worker. You can use household chores as a way to keep physically active or follow an on-line class (e.g. yoga or Tai Chi).4. Drink water and eat healthy and well-balanced meals. This will keep you hydrated, help strengthen your immune system and lower the risk of chronic illnesses and infectious diseases.While we don’t know for sure how long our lifestyles will be affected in this way, we do know periods of reduced physical activity can affect our health. Here is a sample of a home exercise program to encourage physically activity in your home. It may be useful to have a chair or bench nearby to ensure you remain balanced during the exercises.The Conversation, CC BY-ND, 2020For other ideas for Older Adults keeping active check out these resources.

• Roll back the clock at home – Bowls Australia https://www.bowls.com.au/roll-back-the-clock-at-home/ 

• Exercises you can do at home – Sport Wellington https://www.sportwellington.org.nz/active-health-and-wellness/community-strength-and-balance/exercises-you-can-do-at-home/ 

National Volunteer WeekThis year we are all celebrating National Volunteer Week a little differently. But now more than ever it is important to recognise, celebrate and give thanks to our volunteers that work selflessly to better our communities. This year’s theme is "Changing Communities. Changing Lives".

Our regions sporting community know better than most how true this is. Without volunteers community sports simply wouldn't exist, and the team here at Valley Sport would like to send out a big thank you and well done to each and every volunteer that helps change lives and better our community through sport. Volunteering Australia have put together some excellent resources and tips you can use to get involved and give thanks online! They have also published a useful paper for advice and information regarding COVID -19 Read it here: COVID-19 Position paper No.2: Safeguarding Volunteers and Volunteer Involving OrganisationsThe Greater Shepparton City Council have put together an innovative way to say thanks. You can submit an online 'Thank You' and share how a volunteer or volunteer organisation has made a difference in your life or throughout your community. To learn more and submit your online 'Thank You' head to: http://greatershepparton.com.au/community/volunteering/thanks-to-our-volunteers

A Level Playing Field for All - Gender Equality ProjectWant to take a break from the COVID-19 world for a moment? Has your club always wanted to implement better or new strategies to support women and girls within your club? Right now is an excellent time to take a break and have a look at what your club could implement for next season to increase participation of women and girls within all levels of sport, whether it be the junior squad or the game day volunteers.

Here at Valley Sport, our Level Playing Field for All project aims to make sure sport is a site for inclusion, safety and equity for women and girls. Some examples of how the project can support your club include:

• Review of your club's policies and processes to ensure they are equitable and inclusive for all.

• Provide training and workshops that help raise awareness about gender equality in sport.

• Support your club to create action plans that are practicable for your club to implement.

• Look over and provide assistance with social media communications and gender appropriate language.

• Shine a light and celebrate examples of amazing women within your club that are paving the way for others.

If your club is looking to implement strategies that will have a positive impact on women and girls in sport, then we are here to help you. Project Officer Lucy Marino is managing the Level Playing Field for All project and would like to hear from you. Whether you need assistance or want to share a great idea feel free to reach out! For more information contact Lucy via: [email protected]

A Coaches Opportunity to Upskill

Everyone in the sport community is feeling the impact of COVID-19. While coaches and State Sporting Associations work together to plan for the return of training and play, we would like to remind coaches to promote opportunities for virtual team bonding and interaction.

These virtual connections play a vital role in building physical, social and mental wellbeing of players and present an opportunity to continually build the strength of the club culture. This can be achieved by providing training sessions to do at home, empowering players to share training ideas, set fun group challenges, simply having a conversation with team members or encouraging player to player virtual interaction.

The current environment does provide an opportunity for coaches to upskill and invest in their own development from completing an online training course, watching a webinar or reading an educational book. Here are some recommended books for current and future coaches in sport:

• Switch: How to change things when change is hard, Chip Heath & Dan Heath

• Coaching better every season – A year-round system for athlete development and program success, Wade Gilbert

• The Constraints-Led Approach: Principles for Sports Coaching and Practice Design, Dr Ian Renshaw

We also encourage you to check out your State Sporting Association website or Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest return to play guidelines and current coaching courses you can complete online. For example check out MyNetball, Netball Australia and Netball Victoria who are offering some fantastic online courses that you can complete right now. Find a full list of the courses here: https://netb.al/UmpiringCoaching

Don't forget while our office is no longer open to the public, we are still working from afar and able to be contacted Monday to Friday, any time during our normal business hours, 9am – 5pm. We encourage you to contact us via email, phone on 5831 8456 or get in touch to arrange a video call. Stay safe and active. The Valley Sport Team.

Follow the Valley Sport Facebook page to keep up to date with resources and tips that will be useful for you and your club during this unprecedented period. We encourage you to share our posts with your members. Click here: facebook.com/ValleySport.GVSA

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You are receiving this e-newsletter to keep up to date with information from the sport and recreation industry regarding COVID - 19.