NNSWF Announcements on COVID

this from David Eland today at 12:29 to clubs

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Dear Member Clubs,

I write following yesterday’s announcement surrounding junior sport being able to commence from 1 July to address misinformation which is causing concern to some volunteers.

I can confirm following receipt of correspondence from the NSW Office of Sport this morning, that in a scenario where football matches are being played on a public oval, it is not expected that a club would be able to have any control over the 'non-football' public.

Any suggestion that clubs are required to appoint additional volunteers to patrol the boundaries of a public facility is incorrect. Furthermore, any suggestion that the Police will arbitrarily shut down venues and fine clubs for breaches of the Public Health Order which are out of their control is misleading.

Clubs and competition administrators are expected to take reasonable steps to schedule matches, space out arrival/departure times, promote physical distancing in queues for canteens and bathrooms used by the club, and limit non-essential match day volunteers and support staff to try and limit attendance numbers in accordance with the Public Health Order which currently permits a maximum of 500 people at an outdoor venue.

As the new Public Health Order has not yet been drafted, we're unable to confirm whether the 500 outdoor venue rule will change before 1 July when matches may commence.

Football is going to be different this year and we do not underestimate the impact on our volunteers, so it is important that we clarify misinformation that creates confusion and unnecessary concern.

With the announcement having only taken place yesterday, many venue owners/operators would still be in the process of preparing operational and venue use conditions in the lead up to 1 July. We will continue to work with government agencies including the Office of Local Government to provide support and information as it becomes available.

NNSWF has submitted Return to Play Guidelines to the State Government, which are largely reflective of the guidelines underpinning training. Clubs can be assured that these guidelines will be disseminated and complemented by a series of Zoom webinars as soon as they are approved.

Thank you for your enduring commitment during these challenging times. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Zone if you have any questions or require clarification or touch base directly with the team at Northern NSW Football here. .

Yours in Football
David Eland
CEO Northern NSW Football

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happy for everyone to discuss the return to football in your respective competition threads or centralised here

but let's try to keep the speculation and heresay to a minimum

yesterday's missive - apologies for being a day late

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A Message to Our Valued Clubs and Volunteers from the Chair and CEO

We write following the NSW Government’s announcement this week that junior community sport can proceed from 1 July to sincerely acknowledge the enduring support and outstanding contribution of the army of volunteers serving clubs throughout northern NSW.

Northern NSW Football does not underestimate how challenging it has been for volunteers during these unprecedented times. We’ve been encouraged by the positivity and how clubs have put aside on-the-pitch rivalries to discuss issues and share solutions.

We’re not going to sugar coat the challenges ahead. Football’s going to be different this year to comply with the relevant Government orders and to ensure the region’s largest sport does its bit to suppress corona virus. We can assure you that our expectations of volunteers will remain reasonable and we’ll continue to provide advice and template collateral to avoid duplication of effort and waste.

The NNSWF Board of Directors resolved to reduce Northern NSW Football’s component of the levy imposed on players by 20% in 2020 to assist clubs address the revenue that has been dropped due to lost sponsorship and fundraising. We sincerely hope that this initiative has eased the financial burden and subsequent stress on volunteers.

While Tuesday’s announcement provides a welcome green light for the restart of junior and youth football, the return date for senior football remains unset.

We want to reassure you that we are doing everything on your behalf to get clarity as to what that date will be. I know that many teams have commenced training and, like you, we are keen to get everyone back playing as soon as possible. Our dialogue with the Minister’s Office in this regard is positive and we remain confident that senior football will be also be permitted in July.

We encourage all volunteers to hang in there and confront the challenges imposed by the virus head on. Unfortunately, this might be how we need to train and play for the foreseeable future, so there’s no time like the present to respond. Your members and community are relying on you to help them reconnect through our beautiful game.

We are aware you need more help. In response, we’ll be initiating a campaign to challenge parents to step up and help their child’s club meet the increased demands imposed by social distancing regulations.

NNSWF is standing up some of our staff in accordance with JobKeeper legislation to lift our capacity to assist clubs return to training and playing. Please reach out to your Zone or complete the following form to connect with NNSWF.

We ask you forward this message to all your valued volunteers in the club, as a sign of our appreciation.

Yours in Football,

Helene O’Neill David Eland
Chair CEO

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Did anyone hear Eland (or a bad Trump impersonator) on ABC radio this morning clarifying that clubs are NOT covered by insurance if a parent/visitor to their facility catches Covid?
Leaves the clubs well open to be sued!
It’s going to be tough ask for Clubs to gear up with that hanging over their heads. Committee executive have definite legal obligations - hope you all have deep pockets.

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Originally Posted by Barry Dawson

Did anyone hear Eland (or a bad Trump impersonator) on ABC radio this morning clarifying that clubs are NOT covered by insurance if a parent/visitor to their facility catches Covid?
Leaves the clubs well open to be sued!
ItÂ’s going to be tough ask for Clubs to gear up with that hanging over their heads. Committee executive have definite legal obligations - hope you all have deep pockets.

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NNSWF insurance covers registered players, officials and volunteers who have registered with the my football app. Parents and the general public are not included. Venue public liability falls under the council which holds the governance of the park.

Social distance and you don't have problems, that's fact. If someone was to sue a club because they attended community football match and caught the flu on a cold winters morning we would all be protesting in front of their house and trolling their social media accounts as degenerates.

Stop scaremongering, many community football clubs have jumped the gun because of irresponsible assumptions about return to play guidelines that have not even been communicated. The premier clubs that have resumed training have found the nnswf guidelines very manageable and easy to implement with a very small cost burden of a couple of hundred dollars, not thousands per month as some clubs have communicated to their communities. Clubs do have legal obligations to comply with the office of sport guidelines but they are not onerous or punative, rather focusing on a return to participation. If people within the club are non compliant this needs to be communicated by staff, outside of the football group, call the Police.

Covid spreads in the community because infected people make a choice to socialise instead of isolate and often refuse to get tested when they feel ill. It doesnt spontaneously manifest in the community.

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Originally Posted by The Magician

NNSWF insurance covers registered players, officials and volunteers who have registered with the my football app. Parents and the general public are not included. Venue public liability falls under the council which holds the governance of the park.

Social distance and you don't have problems, that's fact. If someone was to sue a club because they attended community football match and caught the flu on a cold winters morning we would all be protesting in front of their house and trolling their social media accounts as degenerates.

Stop scaremongering, many community football clubs have jumped the gun because of irresponsible assumptions about return to play guidelines that have not even been communicated. The premier clubs that have resumed training have found the nnswf guidelines very manageable and easy to implement with a very small cost burden of a couple of hundred dollars, not thousands per month as some clubs have communicated to their communities. Clubs do have legal obligations to comply with the office of sport guidelines but they are not onerous or punative, rather focusing on a return to participation. If people within the club are non compliant this needs to be communicated by staff, outside of the football group, call the Police.

Covid spreads in the community because infected people make a choice to socialise instead of isolate and often refuse to get tested when they feel ill. It doesnt spontaneously manifest in the community.

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It’s easy to say that your club has had no problem implementing restrictions when it has a bottomless pit of money and endless amount of volunteers. Ask some of the clubs run by a handful of volunteers how easy it might be

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Originally Posted by Barry Dawson

Did anyone hear Eland (or a bad Trump impersonator) on ABC radio this morning clarifying that clubs are NOT covered by insurance if a parent/visitor to their facility catches Covid?
Leaves the clubs well open to be sued!
It’s going to be tough ask for Clubs to gear up with that hanging over their heads. Committee executive have definite legal obligations - hope you all have deep pockets.

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I don't think that any club/person can be sued like that, its the same as insolvency for clubs, committee members are covered in a similar way that you cant go after them in courts(unless they steel money from clubs etc).
cheers.
and as i have said on previous post, if your worried about covid, dont go there.

Clubs are the “licensed” participant in the state governments Active Kids Voucher (AKV), however NNSW have invoiced all clubs for their “share” of the vouchers.
30% stays with club
22.8% to NNSW
22.8% to Newc Football
15% to FFA
10% to NNSW for insurance
(Thereabouts)
The AKVs are to help families and help community clubs (I.e. the licensed participant).

NNSW is more like a “business” than a community group - they can reduce labour costs where clubs cannot. Many staff out there doing goodness knows what - that provides little for community clubs (e.g. Fast Fives, First Touch, TSP admin etc)

Do you think it’s fair that NNSW, NF and FFA are taking a piece of this? When clubs are struggling to make ends meet this year?

Is it even legal?

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Originally Posted by Barry Dawson

Clubs are the “licensed” participant in the state governments Active Kids Voucher (AKV), however NNSW have invoiced all clubs for their “share” of the vouchers.
30% stays with club
22.8% to NNSW
22.8% to Newc Football
15% to FFA
10% to NNSW for insurance
(Thereabouts)
The AKVs are to help families and help community clubs (I.e. the licensed participant).

NNSW is more like a “business” than a community group - they can reduce labour costs where clubs cannot. Many staff out there doing goodness knows what - that provides little for community clubs (e.g. Fast Fives, First Touch, TSP admin etc)

Do you think it’s fair that NNSW, NF and FFA are taking a piece of this? When clubs are struggling to make ends meet this year?

Is it even legal?

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This is a great point Barry. The question I would ask is: do all other recipients of the AKV have to pay some other governing body a proportion of this? (i.e. does the local swimming pool pay a percentage of the AKV for kids learning to swim to Swimming Australia?) If the answer is 'no', then something is not right here.

Clubs have obviously accepted Northern's position, or have agreed to it. But you are right to ask the question because if this is just being forced upon clubs, then it appears quite unfair.

A

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Originally Posted by Barry Dawson

Clubs are the “licensed” participant in the state governments Active Kids Voucher (AKV), however NNSW have invoiced all clubs for their “share” of the vouchers.
30% stays with club
22.8% to NNSW
22.8% to Newc Football
15% to FFA
10% to NNSW for insurance
(Thereabouts)
The AKVs are to help families and help community clubs (I.e. the licensed participant).

NNSW is more like a “business” than a community group - they can reduce labour costs where clubs cannot. Many staff out there doing goodness knows what - that provides little for community clubs (e.g. Fast Fives, First Touch, TSP admin etc)

Do you think it’s fair that NNSW, NF and FFA are taking a piece of this? When clubs are struggling to make ends meet this year?

Is it even legal?

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I don't think it is fair that $15 for FFA, $33.80 for Northern and $22.80 for Newcastle Football is what the three associations charge the club for each registered player and is to be paid regardless if an active kids voucher is charged or not.

If a player deregisters then the associations shouldn't get that money, even if the clubs are claiming they can't refund the money they should be keeping the $100. Because when those players go and register at another club (as many have) then they will be charged the $15 by the FFA, the $33.80 by Northern and the $22.80 for Newcastle. They are double dipping

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Originally Posted by Alan

Clubs have obviously accepted Northern's position, or have agreed to it. But you are right to ask the question because if this is just being forced upon clubs, then it appears quite unfair.

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Probably being forced into it, these reflect the amounts that each player has to pay the three associations when they register and most clubs build it into the fees. This seems like a way for the associations to force clubs to still pay it so they still get money coming into their coffers.

not strictly speaking a NNSW announcement but from an official source

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Clubs withdrawn from the 2020 Interdistrict season to date.

Newcastle Football Nelson Bay FC, Raymond Terrace S C, Beresfield JFC, Beresfield SSC (AA), Minmi FC, Jesmond FC, Lambton Jaffa's JFC, New Lambton FC.

Hunter Valley Football Muswellbrook, Greta Branxton, Thornton JFC, Tenambit.

Macquarie Football Barnsley, Argenton.

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Originally Posted by Goatscheese

I don't think it is fair that $15 for FFA, $33.80 for Northern and $22.80 for Newcastle Football is what the three associations charge the club for each registered player and is to be paid regardless if an active kids voucher is charged or not.

If a player deregisters then the associations shouldn't get that money, even if the clubs are claiming they can't refund the money they should be keeping the $100. Because when those players go and register at another club (as many have) then they will be charged the $15 by the FFA, the $33.80 by Northern and the $22.80 for Newcastle. They are double dipping

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I’d be saying if a player registered at a second club after the first pulled out, the original club should transfer the voucher to the new club.

Announcement from NNSWF regarding senior football (it's back!):

https://northernnswfootball.com.au/n...wa70IsLpLcQeIM

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Originally Posted by boz-monaut

not strictly speaking a NNSW announcement but from an official source

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I’d heard Thornton we’re pushing ahead.

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Originally Posted by sammydog

I’d be saying if a player registered at a second club after the first pulled out, the original club should transfer the voucher to the new club.

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They should but no club is telling them that

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Originally Posted by boz-monaut

not strictly speaking a NNSW announcement but from an official source

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You can add Lake Macquarie to that list as well.

I had heard Dudley had pulled out and so had Warners bay.

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Originally Posted by Aegon

I’d heard Thornton we’re pushing ahead.

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Never mind, spoke to a mate today. They’ve definitely pulled the pin.
Although had today’s announcement been made last week with the clubs required to make team submissions by this Friday the decision may have been different.

Attachment 16842020 Zone Leagues

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Originally Posted by boz-monaut

Attachment 16842020 Zone Leagues

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Where did you find this Boz

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Originally Posted by The Hacker

Where did you find this Boz

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I saw it on the "Zone Football Matters" facebook page

all zone clubs have this

message to the zone clubs from Russell Henry that the ZFL fixtures will be out later tomorrow or Friday

draft fixtures are with clubs now

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Originally Posted by Barry Dawson

Clubs are the “licensed” participant in the state governments Active Kids Voucher (AKV), however NNSW have invoiced all clubs for their “share” of the vouchers.
30% stays with club
22.8% to NNSW
22.8% to Newc Football
15% to FFA
10% to NNSW for insurance
(Thereabouts)
The AKVs are to help families and help community clubs (I.e. the licensed participant).

NNSW is more like a “business” than a community group - they can reduce labour costs where clubs cannot. Many staff out there doing goodness knows what - that provides little for community clubs (e.g. Fast Fives, First Touch, TSP admin etc)

Do you think it’s fair that NNSW, NF and FFA are taking a piece of this? When clubs are struggling to make ends meet this year?

Is it even legal?

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I don't understand how clubs are crying poor at this stage, if there's no players, there's no ground fees to pay to Council.
No overheads unless they've already paid for uniforms, or equipment - this is where that $30 from the AKV is remaining with the clubs.

Everyone above (ie. Zone, Fed) has taken a cut from the fees that they normally charge for a registration (except FFA).

Are clubs really scraping by each year, don't have sponsors involved with their club, and are relying on player's registration fees each year to keep them afloat?